Keeping the skin around your stoma (peristomal skin) healthy is important. You can steer clear of many complications by following these simple suggestions:
Bath and shower tips
- You can bathe and shower just as you did before surgery, with your pouch on or off — the choice is yours.
- Because soap residue can cause your skin barrier to lift, avoid oil-based and moisturising soaps.
- Soap and water will not flow into the stoma and cannot damage it.
Choose a well-fitting baseplate
- To help keep the skin around your stoma healthy, it is important that your skin barrier fits properly. Choose a well-fitting pouching system to help prevent irritating stoma contents from coming into contact with your skin.
- Your stoma nurse can teach you how to use a measuring guide to determine the size of your stoma and select a cut-to-fit, pre-cut or mouldable baseplate. Your stoma size will change up to 10 weeks after surgery, so you will need to measure it periodically.
- Changes to the abdomen caused by pregnancy, exercise, weight gain/loss or certain medical conditions may also require a new pouching system and/or size.
Tips for pouching system changes
- Make an easy-to-follow schedule for your pouching system. This will ensure your baseplate is changed before the adhesive has eroded, reducing the chance of urine or faeces coming into contact with your skin. Your routine should be personalised based on your system type and the advice of your doctor or stoma care nurse.
- At each baseplate and pouch change, make a habit of looking at the skin around your stoma. Redness, swelling or a rash are signs of irritation. If you see any of these, or other signs of irritation, notify your stoma care nurse or an Amcare Group Nurse.
- Never rip or tear off your baseplate. Instead, remove the baseplate gently by beginning with one corner of the baseplate and slowly pulling off the remaining adhesive. Adhesive remover spray and remover wipes can make pouch changes easier and ensure clean skin, ready for your next baseplate.
- Make sure your peristomal skin is completely dry before replacing your pouch and baseplate. Dry skin ensures a good adhesive seal and helps reduce the risk of fungal infection.
- A skin care routine including skin barrier spray or wipes can help ensure healthy, comfortable peristomal skin for years to come.
- In hot, humid locations, consider using a pouch with a fabric backing. This will keep the pouch from sticking to your skin and causing skin irritation.
