It is very important to make sure that your persitomal skin, the skin around your stoma, is healthy. And for that purpose, there are a few tips that may be very helpful.

Bath and shower

There shouldn’t be any issue with bathing and showering. You can go ahead with this important part of your physical hygiene in the normal way just like you had been doing before the surgery. Also, it’s up to you whether or not you want to bathe with the pouch on. You are going to have to avoid oil-based and moisturizing soaps because they can leave soap residue, which is not good for your stoma. It may be worth remembering that soap and water do not flow into your stoma and damage it; so it is not something to worry about.

A well-fitted ostomy barrier

• The fitting of skin batter upon the skin around your stoma is one of the most important things you have to take into consideration. You don’t want the stomal output to get into contact with your skin because it can cause irritation. A well-fitted skin barrier prevents this unwanted contact.
• It is important to measure the size of your stoma before you apply skin barrier. You will be able to learn about this measuring from your ostomy care nurse who will teach you about the right way to use the measuring device to accurately determine the size of your stoma. Based on this measurement, you can select a cut-to-fit, pre-cut or moldable skin barrier.
• Your stoma is going to change its shape for 10 weeks after the surgery. Therefore, you will have to measure your stoma periodically.
• Certain factors or actions that can cause changes in your abdomen such as pregnancy, exercise, weight loss/gain and certain medical conditions may lead you needing a new pouching system.

Changing the pouching system

• Change of pouching system can be done at the time of your preference. But yes, you are going to have to schedule this regular practice. The primary purpose of pouch change scheduling is the prevention of adhesive erosion which can let the urine or feces to come in contact with the skin, leading to the skin irritation. You can discussion about this scheduling with your doctor or ostomy care nurse.
• While changing the pouch, make it a habit to look at the skin around your stoma. Check if there is any redness or irritation in that peristomal skin. If there appears to be any such issue, you need to notify your ostomy care team.
• Ripping or tearing off the kin barrier can damage your peristomal skin. Barrier removal is a procedure that requires gentle approach. Begin removing skin barrier from one corner and slowly remove the remaining adhesive. If the adhesive doesn’t seem to lose hold of the skin easily, you can use adhesive releaser spray or remover wipes.
• It has to be ensured before attaching the new pouching system that your skin is completely dry. That will help ensure a better seal.

• ostomy care