Your best defense is preventative care
Keeping your skin healthy is important. You can prevent many problems or complications simply by making sure you follow the steps listed on this page.
CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE STOMA PLACEMENT
The first step in preventative care starts with the selection of the best place for your stoma. A poorly placed stoma can cause the pouching system to fail, in addition to causing skin and leakage problems. If this is an elective surgery, and there is time, it is important to discuss the placement of your stoma with your healthcare specialist. Depending on your medical condition, this may happen either in advance of or after, admission to the hospital.
Here are some important guidelines to follow:
- The stoma site should be viewable and easily reached so that you can manage pouching changes on your own.
- The stoma ideally should not be placed near or around skinfolds, scars, or bony prominences, so that the pouching system can be adhered flatly to the skin.
- Placement should be evaluated in the sitting, standing, and sleeping positions.
MAKE SURE THE POUCHING SYSTEM YOU CHOOSE FITS WELL
Choosing a well-fitting pouching system can help prevent irritating stool, urine, or mucus from coming into contact with surface skin. To help you maintain the best fit, use a measuring guide to measure your stoma. This will help you determine the size of your skin barrier opening. Resizing in the months after surgery may be needed. ConvaTec offers a variety of skin barriers, with cut-to-fit, pre-cut, and moldable openings.
SCHEDULE POUCHING SYSTEM CHANGES
Make an easy-to-follow schedule for system changes based on the type of pouching system you use and the advice of your healthcare professional. This will ensure your skin barrier is changed before much of the adhesive has eroded reducing the chance of stoma output coming into contact with your skin.
BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING YOUR POUCHING SYSTEM
Never rip or tear the skin barrier off the body. Instead, remove the skin barrier gently, being careful to support the skin. Begin in one corner of the barrier and slowly pull off the remaining adhesive. You may also use ConvaTec AllKare® Adhesive Remover Wipes to aid with removal and to ensure a clean skin surface before adhering the next skin barrier.
KEEP YOUR SKIN DRY
By keeping the skin dry, you can ensure a good adhesive seal. It will also help to reduce the risk of candidiasis (a fungal infection).1
MONITOR CHANGES IN YOUR BELLY
Changes in the belly caused by pregnancy, exercise, change in weight or lifestyle, and some diseases may require a new pouching system or size.
References [+]
- Rolstad BS, Erwin-Toth PL. Peristomal skin complications: prevention and management. Ostomy Wound Management. Available at http://www.o-wm.com/article/3023. Accessed January 2, 2007.