C3Life - Lifestyle: Skin Care

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FAQs

Who said beauty was only skin deep...

Almost everyone faces skin issues from time to time, and wonders about how to best care for their skin. At C3Life.com we've addressed some of the more frequent problems ostomates can face.

FAQs

I have developed a rash underneath the tape portion of my skin barrier. The rest of the skin around my stoma is fine. What should I do?

The paste stings when I put it on the skin around my stoma. Is this normal?

I have a very hairy abdomen and when I remove the skin barrier I pull most of my hair and it hurts. Should I shave the hair off?

I have a urosotomy and I developed a rash under the skin barrier. My doctor prescribed a cortisone cream which only made it worse. What should I do?

A friend of mine recommended using methylated spirits to make sure my skin was dry before applying my pouch to make it stick better. Is this a good idea?

I have developed a rash underneath the tape portion of my skin barrier. The rest of the skin around my stoma is fine. What should I do?
It’s quite possible that this is tape sensitivity but it may also be skin stripping. Make sure when you are removing your product that you’re removing gently by pressing the skin away from the tape instead of pulling the tape straight off. Sometimes remover wipes can assist with a more gentle removal. If this persists, you can try a skin barrier without tape and see if this fixes the problem.

The paste stings when I put it on the skin around my stoma. Is this normal?
Pastes generally contain alcohol. If your skin is broken, the paste will sting on application but this usually goes away as the alcohol evaporates. There are lower-alcohol pastes available or you can try using a seal or ring instead of paste to fill in these uneven surfaces. These generally are alcohol-free.

I have a very hairy abdomen and when I remove the skin barrier I pull most of my hair and it hurts. Should I shave the hair off?
No. This is generally not a good idea as the shaving can sometimes either nick the skin leaving it open to infection or the hairs grow back underneath the skin giving unusual bumps or pimples. Using a clipper would be better as this allows a small amount of ‘stubble’ on the skin that still allows the barrier to stick and avoid unnecessary pain on removal.

I have a urosotomy and I developed a rash under the skin barrier. My doctor prescribed a cortisone cream which only made it worse. What should I do?
It might possibly be a fungal infection and not a rash. It would be best to get your skin tested by a dermatologist to see if it’s indeed fungal. Sometimes cortisone cream can make this rash worse. If you are prescribed an anti-fungal cream, make sure it’s an oil-free preparation or your skin barrier may not stick.

A friend of mine recommended using methylated spirits to make sure my skin was dry before applying my pouch to make it stick better. Is this a good idea?
No. You should dry the skin only with a dry towel, or if you have time, allow it to air dry. You may possibly damage the skin with something flammable so you should avoid using that.

I started using a convex product to stop leakage. The leakage stopped but now I have red shiny skin where the product is and it’s a little sore. I don’t want to leak but what should I do about this?
You may need to consider several options. If you are wearing an ostomy belt, that may be causing too much pressure. You could try wearing the product without the belt. Also some convex products cause a lot of pressure, you might want to try another manufacturer. It might be wise to see a stoma care nurse as well. A simpler solution may be a seal or ring on a flat product to stop the leakage.

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