UOAA Discussion Board

I have used Convatec's Eaken Seal since 2007, though I found that immediately after I put the ring on the Coloplast one piece Sensura Ostomy wafer and applied the ring with wafter to my skin, it would melt right on top of the stoma, and I would have to repeat another bag change within one hour of my initial bag change, as my ileostomy would leak since the stoma would sink under the ring! I finally switched to Adapt Cera Ring a few months ago, and the same situation happens to me! I am not sure if my skin is just ultra warm or what though I am having the exact same situation happen all over with the second ring. Every two to three bag changes that happens to me, and I don't have a solution to this situation! I started refrigerating the rings before I apply them onto the wafer, though the rings continue to melt when the wafer is applied to my skin. Anybody have a similar situation happen to them?

Jayme

In my experience it's been best to use the same manufacturers products with one another as they have been tested to be compatible with each other on a physics and chemical basis.

To also avoid certain patent infringements products are not all exactly the same as other makers products.

There are some exceptions of course, like I have been using one makers stoma powder with another's everything else and suffered no ill effects or degradation of performance. But it's just stoma powder and locked into place with barrier spray etc.


I use Coloplast SenSura Mio wafers and their pectin no alcohol based paste with no issues.

Perhaps your not getting a good skin bond?

I noticed if my skin isn't really, really, REALLY clean, oil free and dry, even the paste will just slide off my skin.

So this is my process now:

Remove water using oil free eye makeup remover

Dry wipe stoma, use no water!

Chisel off remaining stuck on whatever with flat edge of a butter knife, wipe and discard.

Soak oil free eye makeup remover around stoma area to remove any fine invisible adhesive residue and moisture the deep tissue. Ensure skin is absolutely clean. Sometimes a soft fingernail on healthy skin to remove further. Wipe and clean area well with eye makeup remover.

Take a shower and wash 3x the stoma area with ivory type (non moisturizing) soap, just that area and let nothing else get on that skin. This removes the slight greasy feeling left over by the oil free eye makeup remover so successful bonding to the skin can occur. It doesn't dry out the skin because the deep tissue was moisturized earlier, now it's just a matter of removing the surface contamination.

Finger test that the skin is absolutely squeaky all around, this is important.

Dry thoroughly and apply stoma powder just a light dusting to wounds only, brush off any excess and lumps etc that get removed by rubbing lightly or paste or ring will not stick there and leak. Damp wipe off stoma powder off healthy skin or it won't bond. Dry for 2 minutes.

Coat with a LIGHT spray of barrier spray to lock it on, too much will make it smooth and less adhesion. Wait 60 seconds.

I now use Coloplast PREP Dabbler Bottle just to target the wounds, cheaper and more direct, rougher surface, but stings a little as it contains alcohol. Dry for 60 seconds, important!

Apply my paste or ring to the skin side down first to ensure successful skin adhesion.

I don't like rings for the fact that they get handled while stretching and loose some of their adhesion, so paste applied directly from the tube works for me as I don't touch it at all. If things don't stick you start over. If you get output on the skin, you start over. Never use spit to clean, only fresh water and ivory soap.

Once ready slap the wafer on and use a toilet paper tube to hold press hard around the stoma for 3 minutes. Important!

Press the wafer adhesive down as flush to the skin as possible and hold for another 2 minutes.

Apply extra large barrier strips as close flat down to the skin as possible especially in the belly button area. Trapped air under the wafer will cause a humid environment which lossens barrier adhesives so this might be the cause of your problems.

I now, 2 years later, finally getting a steady 3-4 day wafer wear time on a hindged belly fold stoma which is the absolute hardest one there is due to so many complications. I also now can shower daily (not too hot) with the bag on no sweat(ing).

So if you need further help just ask and provide more information. Type of ostomy etc.

Below is a structured, practical response based on ostomy mechanics rather than product marketing. I will keep this tight and solution-oriented. - ChatGPT 5.2


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1) Direct answer

Yes—this does happen, and what you are describing is not “normal melting,” but thermal softening + compression collapse of hydrocolloid barrier rings around a flush or slightly retracted ileostomy. When the ring softens, it flows inward under wafer pressure, effectively creating a dam that the stoma sinks beneath, leading to near-immediate undermining and leakage.

Refrigeration delays this briefly but does not change the underlying mechanics, which is why it keeps recurring.


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2) Why this is happening (step-by-step)

1. Hydrocolloid physics

Eakin and Adapt Cera rings are designed to absorb moisture and soften.

At body temperature (especially if skin runs warm), they soften rapidly—sometimes within minutes.



2. Mechanical compression

When the wafer is pressed onto the abdomen, downward force is applied.

The softened ring flows laterally and inward instead of holding vertical structure.



3. Stoma height interaction

If the stoma is flush, short, or momentarily retracts with peristalsis:

The ring becomes taller than the stoma.

Output pools at the base instead of exiting cleanly into the pouch.




4. Result

Output undermines the wafer from the inside.

The stoma appears to “sink,” but in reality the ring is rising relative to the stoma.




This is why the failure occurs within an hour and only intermittently—it depends on temperature, output timing, and abdominal pressure at that moment.


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3) What will actually fix this (not generic advice)

Option A — Stop using full rings entirely (most reliable)

For ileostomies like yours, rings can be the wrong tool.

Instead:

Use thin paste (Brava / Adapt paste) applied as a narrow bead only to skin irregularities, not as a full donut.

Leave the area immediately adjacent to the stoma ring-free so output drops directly into the pouch.


This eliminates the “dam effect.”


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Option B — Modify ring geometry (if you insist on rings)

If you continue using rings, do all of the following together:

1. Stretch the ring thin and wide (pizza-crust thin).


2. Cut the inner diameter larger than the stoma by 2–3 mm.


3. Do not stack height near the stoma opening.


4. Apply ring to skin, not wafer, and let it sit 30–60 seconds before wafer application.



This reduces inward flow.


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Option C — Switch to a firmer convex solution (often overlooked)

Your description strongly suggests soft convex + ring = collapse.

Consider:

Light or firm convex wafer

No ring

Optional belt support to maintain outward pressure


Convexity provides vertical structure that rings cannot once softened.


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Option D — Abandon hydrocolloid rings entirely

Some people with warm skin or liquid output simply cannot use hydrocolloid rings.

Alternatives:

Paste only

Very thin hydrocolloid strips placed laterally (not circumferential)

Barrier sheet cut flat, not raised


This is not uncommon in long-term ileostomates.


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4) Practical action plan (what I would test first)

1. Next change:

No ring at all.

Thin bead of paste only where skin dips or scars exist.



2. Observe:

Does output immediately drop into pouch?

Does the stoma remain visually proud relative to the seal?



3. If leaks stop:

Rings were the failure point, not adhesion.



4. If leaks persist:

Move to light convex wafer without a ring.




Refrigeration is a workaround, not a solution.


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Bottom line

Your issue is mechanical, not user error, and not specific to Eakin vs. Adapt. Rings are collapsing faster than your stoma can stay proud, and every time that happens, leakage is inevitable. The fix is reducing vertical bulk at the stoma—not changing brands.

If you want, tell me:

Stoma height (flush / slightly budded / retracting)

Output consistency

Whether your current Sensura is flat or convex


I can narrow this to a single configuration instead of trial-and-error.

ChatGPT 5.2

Hi Shamrock,

Thank you for your response!

Jayme

Hi Sun i found the eakin rings are kinder on my skin but not very durable so i switched to coloplast brava rings that hold up longer, i cut thru one side and start at the bottom of my stoma and wrap it around as snug to base of stoma and then my wafer also starting at the bottom of stoma and if there,s a gap at the top the ring will swell some and fill the gap.

HI Ron,

Thank you for your suggestion! Your suggestion sounds like a good thought! I will attempt that if my strategy doesn't work that I attempted this morning. I found that the Eakin Seals were nice and thick which I loved, though sadly, the other rings out there are much thinner and not as strong. I have a feeling that having warmer skin like I have seems to have an effect on the two rings I have experimented with. I am attempting a different strategy which I have done this morning. After I change the bag and take a shower, I apply a cold pack to the newly applied wafer which seems to make my 1 1/2 inch stoma protrude out of my wafer and helps to take away the warmth which makes my stoma collapse and the ring to melt. It seems to have helped somewhat and I was able to keep this wafer on without having to change it a second time, which it seemed like it was going to fail on this particular bag change, yet again. It helped just temporarily. I continue to have challenges with this particular bag change. I am nervous about having supper at my Mom's tonight with this particular wafer on. I think I am going to attempt what you suggested and see how that works after I attend my ostomy meeting this morning.. I will get some suggestions from the WOCN at the meeting, as well.

It seems to me that your trying to replace wafer convex with a thick ring.

Are you using a convex wafer? It's like a bubble wafer that gets closer to the skin.

Rings and paste melt and run if they don't stick well to the skin and are too high, like your trying to fill in space between the wafer and the skin. The wafer itself should be as close to the skin as possible.

I think you need to do what I do, use the wafer cutout piece cut lengthwise, sticky side up, around the wafer hole. Double stack if you need it.

The wafer cutout won't melt and makes up more distance between the wafer and the skin so you can use a thinner ring or paste to catch the dips etc.and form a seal.

With less paste or ring to melt, it shouldn't blow out on you provided it's well adhered to the skin.