Itchy skin

Hi Ewok

Welcome to the community. Sorry to hear that you are having some issues with your pouches. 

I too have the itching from time to time. The skin can become very dry and moisture by isn’t an option really as the sticky baseplate tends not to like it. I found that it was worse when I didn’t have an adhesive removal spray.  If you’re not using this, ask the stoma nurse to add it to your prescription, it was a game changer for me. Also, I know it sounds obvious but try not to scratch the skin. This definitely makes things worse. Finally, I tend to change my pouches after showering.  The moisture in my skin seems to stop the skin drying out as much and becoming too itchy. 

I hole this helps but please do ask your stoma nurse what she thinks on Monday. 

Best wishes

Hi Ewok nice to hear from you again but sorry that you've had to come to us because of itchy skin.

As you know the biggest culprit for causing itchy skin is leakage from the pouch irritating the surrounding skin and causing the itch.

You say you've tried different skin protectors and wonder if you've tried Infusion barrier and protector BW2, it's like a lollipop and has the barrier protector all round and puts a good layer of protector between the skin and base plate.

You can obtain samples and further details here 

Independence Products sample request

My stoma nurses at my hospital recommended them to me a year ago and I wouldn't use anything else now.

It has an added bonus in as much as it really makes the peristomal skin very sticky and helps the baseplates to adhere extremely well.

Apply for a sample this afternoon and if you're seeing your stoma nurse on Monday ask her if she has some samples in her bag.

Another good product that comes from the same company is their flange extenders called ACUBOND strips reference SB2, these flange extenders are different from of the other flange extenders as they move with your body.

You can obtain samples by using the same application form above.

You may want to ask your stoma care nurse about Coloplast SenSura® Mio pouches as the base plate has some elasticity and moves gently with your skin.

Do hope you can get some relief from the itchy skin soon.

Best regards

Ian

Ewok wonder if you can anything to the post from  about irrigation and chemotherapy, would be great if you could. Many thanks.

(Wife still out!!!!!!)

Hi , it’s great to hear from you again. Ian that’s extremely useful.

I am using SS Mio’s...I think it’s the Dansac sleeve that aggravates it though and when I put the Mio on it struggles.  I have some flanges but I’ve not really cottoned on to their significance. They’re from Coloplast too.

 I’ve seen your heads up too and will investigate. Anytime I can be of assistance I’m happy for a PM. 

Many thanks

Thanks for replying to my post ..I think I’m following all the rules.. that’s the problem, but you never know.  The only thing I can say is showering is something I can’t do, which is a pity because we only have a bath. We have thought about it though. Is it something that makes a difference? 

Hi Ewok

Sorry I seem to have missed your message somehow. 

I expect you’ll get the same results from a bath as a shower. Just allows the skin to have some extra moisture before applying the pouch. 

Hope things are settling a little for you. I’ve been having a similar issue which I’m not unconvinced isn’t to do with the humidity at the minute. 

Wishing you the very best

Ewok.                         

I read with interest about "moisture" and itchy skin and as we all know that moisture between peristomal skin and the pouch base plate can have a detrimental effect of having a securely fitting pouch and the skin should be perfectly dry which is not easy with the humid weather we are having just now making our skin clammy or when we visit hot countries on holiday which can also mean changing more often.

I'm a great believer in letting my stoma, anCnoc, seeing the light of day and leaving it uncovered for as long as possible before enclosing it in a pouch especially after a shower or a bath, sometimes he even behaves himself and doesn't start spouting.

Washing the peristomal skin around the stoma without soap or shower gels is preferred and avoid the overuse of body sprays around the pouch base plate is also advisable

To help with dry or damaged skin you could try this to moisturise your skin and if used liberally should not affect the adhesion of the base plate and doesn't need wiping off.

Brava® Barrier Cream

Don't overspray the adhesive remover and make sure that it is washed off before applying new pouch also avoid using perfumed wet wipes, water based baby wipes are best.

Ewok

When you mention sleeves are you referring to seals/washers that you place around your stoma between skin and baseplate. I would maybe try without using one to see how you get on and if the SenSura ® Mio that you are using is not concave I would suggest you ask Coloplast for a few samples as they are designed to hug you body.

Ian.

SUMMER TIME TIP

Apply pouch before applying sun cream and keep away from base plate

Hi

Thanks as always for your advice. I think you may have misunderstood about the moisture in the skin advice I gave to Ewok. I didn't mean that the skin should be wet or even damp when the pouch is applied.  I apologise if anyone thought this was the case and has struggled because of it. Just that allowing the skin time to absorb moisture when bathing or showering has helped with the dryness I experience from the sticky plate that can cause the itching around the edge I have had. Because of the position of my stoma, the barrier creams are not very affective and inhibit adhesion of the pouch. 

I think at times, because we all so very different, trial and error with different methods is inevitable. 

Thanks again and hope you’re keeping well.