skin irritation around stoma/non-adhesive appliances
Mon, August 11, 2008 3:43 PM
I had a colostomy performed a year and half ago and have tried many brands of appliances since. I was wearing Cymed until recenlty since it seemed to give the most skin freedom. For the past several months, however, I've been dealing with a painful irritation around my stoma. Its not stemming from stool around the stoma, its set back about a half inch or more from the stoma. It has gotten so bad at times that nothing will adhere to it since the skin weeps so much. I've seen both an ostomy nurse and a dermatologist. Both have provided some assistance but I'm still having problems. The dermatologist has prescribed creams which of course keep any kind of appliance from sticking to my skin. So the only thing I can wear is the nu-hope non-adhesive appliance with a belt. This worked for a few weeks, but I still get irritated skin and these appliances don't seal well at all. Particularly if you are active (even just sitting at a desk and getting up and down all day). Plus the cream leaves your skin greasy so the no-hope ring tends to slide around.
Has anyone had any experience dealing with appliances and skin irritations? Are there any sensative skin appiances anyone is aware of?
My dermotologist had me apply a small piece of my appliance to an area on my arm and wear it for a few days to see if I was alergic to it. After a few days, I couldn't tell I even had it on. No pink or redness at all. So what I'm dealing with doesn't seem to be a reaction to the appliance itself. Its like crohn's itself. Your body always telling you it doesn't like what's going on.
Joined Aug 11, 2008
Mon, August 25, 2008 8:15 PM
Reply posted for steph821.
Thank you Steph. 
Ive never heard of the Mylanta trick. What you said makes sense though. I will be giving that a try. I never thought anything like that would work, but if it dries up and forms a seal, that would work. Ill try the strips too. Right now, I think even the Eakin seals are irritating my skin. It seems to get the most red under that when I wear an adhesive appliance. I also recently tried some Hollister appliance samples. Mixed results. They sent me closed end, so they ballooned terribly, so I couldnt really wear them long enough to tell if they would bother my skin. It is true that exposure to the air is about the best remedy. My dermotologist said that wearing an appliance was comparable to leaving a band aid on too long.
Joined Aug 11, 2008
Sun, August 24, 2008 11:20 PM
Reply posted for ducks.
Oh and forgot to tell you get a list from the internet of appliance companies call or email them all for free samples of whatever you want to try, they have always been very helpful to me!!!! Dont forget to include colostomy and your opening size.
Joined Aug 24, 2008
Sun, August 24, 2008 11:17 PM
Reply posted for ducks.
Hi, I have an ileostomy for about 20 years now and while this is a bit different from your coleostomy the pains are the same, I LOVE coloplast, seems that once I first got off the steriods years ago my skin started breaking down under my bag,(convatec at the time) first your skin is used to breathing and not having something covering it all the time,(water and air are your friends at this point) anyway my rednes and blistering,weepiness is caused by your acid stomach juices hitting the area and possibly also a reaction to the adhesive on different bag systems. I have found that mylanta/maylox dabbed on a cottonball dabb the area and let dry, then you can crust the area with you stomahesive powder and skin prep wipes (the only skin preep that does not sting is more expensive but well worth it is "cavilon" made by 3M and forget the awful tube paste that burns go for the coloplast paste strips, mold into any scars crevices and apply it around your stoma opening on your skin or bag. GET CREATIVE!!!! take paste strips and mix them together with an eakin seal roll into a ball and shape like playdough chuncks where you need it the most!! Also a nice shower and some time to air out the area under the bag helps immensly, right now I alternate between coloplast and nuhope because one day one irratates me and the same with the other. I hope this help at least some!!! My heart really goes out to you:) steph
Joined Aug 24, 2008
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