UOAA Discussion Board

A recent Ostomy question in the Phoenix Summer 2023 caused me some concern so I am posting here to find out what the current collective wisdom is.

"Hair Under Wafer
I was told after surgery not to shave around my stoma, but it hurts something fierce when I pull off the wafer and the hair gets ripped out. What can I do about this problem?

H.T."

I never heard this advice ever, even after surgery 17 yrs ago and I am wondering if it is true.

The answer however really surprised me because it seemed to validate the no shave instruction. The concern seemed to be with accidently cutting the stoma. I don't think that ever happened to me and I think would be difficult to do unless there are also vision or coordination concerns. There could also be skin issues which would deter that option.

I would like to suggest to Phoenix that the posted is answer is not necessarily the only or best.

Other than not using a straight razor is there any concern about shaving around a stoma if the skin is healthy?

MikeM

Fortunately I don't have an issue with hair around my stoma...at least not a lot of it anyway. I could be mistaken, but I've reasoned that shaving around the stoma COULD lead to infections under the flange. When you shave, you could possibly open up the hair follicles to allow bacteria to set up and allow an infection to begin. On uncovered skin, this isn't an issue because you can wash the bacteria out of the follicles before an infection begins. Skin under a flange doesn't really get the opportunity to remove bacteria in that way. That's just my way of making sense out of that recommendation.

That said, I totally agree with you that that advice is not necessarily the only or best way to go. As an experienced ostomate, you know full well that these little wonders are unique as the individuals that have them, and that there is a no "one size fits all" to almost everything ostomy!

David

Nope.
I don't shave anywhere under my wafer / tape. I have an edge of tape.
Convetec.
I do use a spray adhesive releaser. As I'm pulling it all off I spray and what little hair I have is not pulled out. The releaser is like gold in a can to me. It all just drops off.
Easy peasy..
Richard.

I had my operation 10 years ago, and I have shaved during nearly every appliance change I ever had. I don't have much hair in the area of my stoma, but my thinking has always been that any stray hair under the seal not only causes pain when the appliance is removed, it also creates a possible access-way for fluids to help break the seal between my skin and the appliance. I think David's statement regarding possible infection is extremely valid so I will probably be less carefree when shaving, but unless something causes me to have to stop, I plan to continue doing so....just more carefully.

SeaQuest

Hi all i,ve had my ilieo. for 30 some years and have shaved around my stoma once a month when starting a new box of wafers, thats my reminder, i dont shave right next to my stoma i stay about a quarter inch or so away from it