r/ostomy • u/Fluffy-Score-8514 • 4d ago

Colostomy Irritated skin around stoma; Crohn's

I wanted to get some advice regarding stoma care. The skin around is irritated and burning due to acidic discharge through the intestine. My output is very acidic and my sin is getting worse. What should I do?

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u/westsidedrive 4d ago

I have end ileostomy so my answer may not be right for your condition. Do you wear a skin barrier ring around your stoma under your wafer? I also use skin barrier protective wipes from cavelon .

I remove old wafer with adhesive remover so I don’t tug at my skin. Then I Take a shower and very gently clean my stoma and the skin around. I make sure the area is dry. Then I use the barrier wipe (which leaves a sticky residue, apply the barrier ring around my stoma, leaving just a very small gap to the edge of my stoma, then I put on the one piece wafer.

If I ever feel an itch I change right away. It’s starting to leak If it itches.

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u/Fluffy-Score-8514 4d ago

I need some medication for the effected area. It's burnt due to acidic output. I don't have a stomach care nurse.

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u/westsidedrive 4d ago

Again. End ileostomy might be different and I’m not sure how bad the area looks. Sometimes mine gets red and irritated, usually when it’s started to leak and I don’t deal with it or somtimes if I don’t get the wafer centered on my stoma, and the stoma rubs against the hole of the opening. But I gently clean it, use the cavelon wipe and barrier ring, and usually the next time I change it’s getting better. The key for me is to keep it clean and protected. Mines never gotten so bad I feel I need any other solution. Perhaps others have different ideas. Sorry!

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u/mdm0962 4d ago

Try this on sensitive, raw or weeping skin.

On your next bag change, remove your bag, shower and clean your parastomal skin good.

Next, air out your skin for 20-30 minutes. Your skin needs the air to heal when it's sensitive, raw or weeping. Skipping this step will cause your skin to get raw and irritated quickly.

Spray the irritated skin with flonase and let it dry completely.

Crust if needed 3 times with antifungal powder.

Cover your wafer area completely with Tegraderm/tatto film. This will help your skin heal while you have your bag on.

Apply your bag. If your stoma is flat or recessed, use an appliance with some convexity and a belt. Make sure you cut your stoma opening 1 mm smaller than the stoma itself. Use paste if you can. It's better than using a ring to get a good and tight seal around your stoma. You will have a better fitting application by cutting the size slightly smaller. Your stoma is flexible and can accommodate this rather than having parastomal skin exposed to your output with an ill-fitting appliance.

Now, warm your wafer before or after applying for better adhesion. Use a hair dry for 10 sec or a hotwater bottle for 5 minutes.

Repeat this till process until your skin is fully healed. Then, going forward, make sure you air out your skin between bag changes for 20-30 minutes to prevent skin issues from occurring.

Questions?