Anyone else w summer skin issue?

[ileo73]

I'm assuming this is due to increasing heat. I live in Philadelphia.

When I changed the ostomy on Saturday, it seemed better adhered than usual. I also noticed a large red strip next to stoma. I put powder and Cavilon - the crusting trick - on. Changed this morning, seemed just as red. Also a new bit of torn looking skin a bit further out. Used hollister barrier cream, then crusting, then some thin foam bandage away from the stoma.

I'm thinking the top layer of skin is getting partly peeled . According to web searches, barrier and powder way to go. Amy other ideas ? Not painful, perhaps a tender spot.

[Shamrock4806]

Yes that's what it sounds like, the heat is making it bond to the skin harder. Aren't you using adhesive remover? The skin shouldn't be tearing any.

Also the crusting method is for weeping wounds usually to dry them out so adhesive will stick in my experience. If the wound is dry on its own it shouldn't be necessary really. And if so, just a very fine dusting and nothing comes off of brushed.

I don't have much experience using barrier creams because in my experience anything like that interferes with adhesive bonding to the skin.

Sometimes the skin needs to shed so you have to rub it off.

You might be getting an allergic reaction to the wafer adhesive because of the heat.

Try using oil free eye makeup remover as an adhesive remover and for cleaning the skin under the wafer. Use no water at first until the skin is clean. You need to use a little soap and water afterwards to wash it off but it leaves the skin soft and squeaky clean.

If the wounds are dry to the touch then just try applying your ring or paste directly. If your using Adapt paste the alcohol in it will sting the wounds unfortunately. I use Brava no sting paste myself.

See how that goes for the peristomal skin but further out does sound like a wafer adhesive reaction or it could be a fungal infection if it itches. You may need to switch product makers. Hollister makes me itch rather bad too.

[ileo73]

Thanks, Shamrock. It’s not an itch and pretty localized, so I’m assuming it’s the increased bonding.

I use adhesive remover wipes. I also put Aquaphor and Head and Shoulders on skin before going into shower.

[Shamrock4806]

Ah the adhesive remover wipes are worse than the sprays. Good for emergency portable needs but that's about it. No wonder your tearing the skin.

The adhesive remover spray isn't as good as actually soaking it on using a cloth or toilet paper neither, I've found that's the best.


And oil free eye makeup remover really does a great job by me to leave absolutely squeaky clean skin. Yes it squeaks when you run your finger on it. So what I'm thinking is your adhesive is not being adequately removed and building up, bonding harder to the new wafer like coating two sides of wood block to stick together. It's a stronger bond that way.

Some people develop an allergy to the lanolin in the Aquaphor, maybe that's responsible or your drying the skin out too much with the shampoo. Head and Shoulders never really cured my dandruff or itchy scalp anyway.

If you want to lesson the wafer adhesion some you can coat just that skin area with something like Flonase or a generic equivalent. I noticed using that often makes the skin bond less effective. The wafer just peels off easily almost. Don't use it under the paste or ring though or it will leak.

Ideally I think you should use the minimum stuff under the wafer as possible, the oil free eye makeup remover to remove all adhesive then a mild soap and water wash and sufficient drying. Apply nothing else and let the skin heal instead of always bombarding it with new and different stuff, some of it not designed to be trapped under the wafer.

I farted around trying all sorts of internet advice myself, the tendency to over apply is very hard to resist. Sometimes less is better.

[ileo73]

Everyone’s skin is different- for example, mine can’t abide tegaderm- but the stuff I’m using, I’ve used about five years now.

The Aquaphor in fact was an experiment. All that hand washing during pandemic was beating up skin on hands so wife suggested Aquaphor and it worked nicely. So I tried rubbing it into skin before showering. Immediate visible improvement.

I like the makeup remover idea. Will pick some up. Was using adhesive wipes for portability

[GeorgeS]

Whenever my skin around the stoma gets a little raw, I use a Ceramide-infused barrier ring. This tends to heal that up within the use of the barrier/pouch. I get 5-7 days with my one-piece. I tend to shoot for seven, but lately I feel the burn after five days. Then I tap into my two-piece pouches to get me to my regular Saturday change day. Those only last me a couple of days due to the odor.

[ileo73]

Thank you, I forgot those were an option.

[Shamrock4806]

Yes rubbing a moisturizer to absorb into the skin works great but the surface has to be washed with mild soap and water to remove it off the top or adhesive won't bond as well.

The Neutrogena oil free eye makeup remover has aloe and cucumber extracts that's been great at keeping my skin smooth. I even use it on my exposed scar tissue now as nothing else was working. But it took needs to be regular soap washed off the top of the skin under the wafer area so it's squeaky clean, it actually squeaks when one runs one finger around it.

The skin will heal pretty much all by itself as long as it's not hit by more output, so as soon as the burn is felt and the stoma is quiet it's time to replace the thing. I'm on a 2-3 day bag because I have a flush stoma in a belly fold, most difficult. I'll likely never see a five day wear time unless I want to be in constant pain. Sitting gets me all the time, I have to stand or lie down most of the time. I can straddle just fine though.

By the way after rinsing the bag out leaving a dollop of toothpaste into the bag will nearly 100% eliminate the bag odor.