YOUR SKIN & GENERAL HINTS

- Never lie down immediately after putting on an appliance. Wait about 15 minutes because any liquid that may be on the skin will effect the faceplates’ adherence.

- Sleeping comfort can be attained by sewing a pocket inside the pajamas into which the appliance pouch can be placed.

- If pouches won’t stick well, are you applying them right after showering in a high-humidity bathroom? Skin must be perfectly dry to hold the appliance well.

- Before trimming a new appliance belt to fit, run it through the washing machine to pre-shrink it. If you don’t you may have to lose weight to use it.

- Do you use stomahesive while using an electric blanket? Beware of setting the blanket too hot! Your stomahesive may melt out of place.

- Karaya washers should be kept in a plastic bag in a cool place. Washers that are too old or that have been exposed to air, develop a vinegar odor and should be discarded, as they would only irritate rather than protect.

- Polident and Efferdent are very effective to soak your appliances. They deodorize, clean and remove stains.

- Some have found that you can spray “Pam” cooking spray into your appliance to keep the contents sliding down, and not pooling next to the stoma.

- Spraying skin prep on top of paper tape helps to waterproof it for a shower or swimming.

- Skinprep is also said to work on mosquito bites. Spray it over mosquito bite to seal the bite and take away the itch.

- Reusable pouches may be stuffed with nylon net when hung up to dry.

- A small amount of Kaopectate or Metamucil in the pouch can help harden the contents.

- When bits of adhesive have sloughed off into the pouch making it hard to clean, fill the pouch with ice water and let it stand for a while. The adhesive bits should harden and flake right off.

- Having trouble with the skin under the pouch. Especially in summer? Cut the toe off a white cotton sock and slip it over your appliance to protect the skin from the plastic. (This applies only if you are not using the pouches with the outside cover built in.)

- Listermint, Scope, Lavoris or Cepacol mouth wash items, are all good ostomy pouch deodorants. And you can even add a couple of ‘ALTOID MINTS’, for more coverage. Listerine can be used also, but watch out for sensitive skin, it may cause problems.

- For hard to deal with itchy, irritated skin due to tape burns, scar healing, friction of pouch on skin, etc., doctors often recommend a cream ointment with cortisone in it. Two products of this nature are available without a prescription: Cortaid and Dermolate.

-When the skin under the porous tape becomes irritated, simply rub Calamine lotion over the tape. It seeps through and soothes the skin.

- Stomahesive is a hypo-allergenic (doesn’t cause allergic reactions), wafer based on pectin. It is highly recommended for skin that is red and weepy. It promotes healing of irritated skin. Also, it molds into folds and crevices so helps prevent leaks from this source. ConvaTec has a stomahesive strip and Barrier Rings, and Hollister has Barrier Rings that work the same way, plus fill in gaps etc.

- In addition to proper appliance fit and mechanics of affixing it, there are several other factors which can influence the duration of the appliance wear. These include, Weather, Skin Characteristics, Weight changes, Diet, and Activity, Presence of scars, Folds and Gullies near the stoma, and the Nature of the stool.

- Physical activities will have some influence on your appliance wearing time. Swimming, Very Strenuous Sports, or Work which causes perspiration may cut down on appliance wearing time. Illness, inactivity, and lying in bed can also decrease the length of time the appliance will stay on.

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