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TAKING CARE OF YOUR SKIN Metro Many people with ostomies experience some degree of skin irritation from time to time. The most common causes are leakage of effluent (active digestive enzymes or urine) onto the skin, allergic reactions to the adhesive material in a skin barrier, or improper hygiene. A few simple, preventive measures will help to keep your skin free from irritation. Cleanse, rinse, and pat your skin dry between pouch changes. Avoid using an oily soap, which can leave a film that interferes with proper adhesion of the skin barrier. Choose a skin barrier that is unlikely to cause skin irritation or cause an allergic reaction. Make sure that your skin barrier is correctly applied to prevent leakage. If your skin is uneven due to scarring, etc.., such depressions may be filled with stomaheasive paste. Despite your best efforts, however, skin irritation may occur. If there is redness around the stoma and your skin is not blistered, broken or bleeding, the redness is usually due to pressure from the skin barrier. No treatment is needed. If there is redness with blistering or weepy skin, the cause is usually leakage. Leakage may also cause burning, itching, or discomfort around the stoma. Remove the skin barrier, wash the area well, and put on a clean faceplate (barrier), paying particular attention to the seal between the skin and the skin barrier. Stomahesive paste or powder may be used to fill the crevices around the stoma to give added protection. If there is reddened skin with a pinpointed rash, it is usually a yeast infection, similar to “diaper rash”. Contact your physician for the proper medication. Following these tips will help; do not “air the skin”. Discharge from the stoma may further damage the skin, so keep your pouch on. Avoid skin creams and ointments; they can interfere with proper adhesion of the skin barrier. Do not use a heat lamp to “dry” a rash, this may burn the stoma. If your pouch is not comfortable, free from leakage, skin-friendly, odor-free, secure, long wearing, and inconspicuous, contact your ET Nurse. -------------------------- WHAT IS
THE via www. ConvaTec.com & Hermet-San Jacinto, CA There are a variety of types and brands of skin barrier pastes, so check with the manufacturer of the brand you are using for specific instructions. Skin barrier pastes are used as ‘caulking’ to fill in the space between the stoma and the opening in the skin barrier. Skin barrier pastes are not’ glue’, and should not be used to keep the pouch on the abdomen. The pastes fill in gaps or uneven areas, protect the skin around the stoma, and can increase wear-time. Generally, this is the procedure you should follow if skin barrier paste has been recommended to you. 1. Remove the soiled wafer and gently clean the skin around your stoma in the usual was. Pat the skin dry. 2. Apply a bead of skin barrier paste around the stomal opening on the body side (sticky side) of the skin barrier/wafer or apply the paste to the skin immediately surrounding the stoma. 3. Let the paste air dry for about one minute. 4. Gently place the wafer over the stoma and on to the skin. Hold in place for a few minutes, allowing the warmth of your hand to mold it to your abdomen. 5. Attach your pouch to the flange on the skin barrier. 83 |