Horrible Itchy Rash

I'd say dermatologist for something to treat the rash.

There are wafers w/out adhesive on them that you hold on w/a belt. Others here have experience -- might be a good idea until it gets better. You can call your supplier for samples/ideas.

Sounds awful....so sorry, hope it gets better soon.

There's also something called karaya, which is gentler and might be helpful. Glad you have a dr visit today, hope it helps!

It sounds like a fungal infection to me. I have battled those for about a year now. Really annoying. They can get so bad if left untreated that the little fluid filled things will become one big open wound. It itches like CRAZY. You can take care of it quick by taking an oral antifungal (prescribed by surgeon), and then if you can get it, you should use nystatin powder (also prescribed by surgeon) and seal it with some barrier wipes before applying the wafer.

My infections kept coming back so finally I started taking some really powerful acidophilus/lacto... pills, and now I take those probiotics regularly and it's helped everything.

Creams are definitely no good regardless of applying and wiping off...it should be a GEL that will absorb & leave no film.

Eakin seals work very well but a bugger to get all the residue off...the Adapt rings by hollister hubby found easier to remove. If you use adhesive remover wipes be sure to wash well and get any residue off from the remover wipes from the skin. He does not use the seals any longer but did need them initially due to his weight loss and he had a definite crease at the 3&9 o'clock area to the right and left of his stoma. We also used the paste to the right and left to fill in the crease. When he gained some weight back the crease filled in so that stopped the leaking problem for him and he stopped using the seals and paste. The main thing is making sure the seal hugs/turtlenecks around the stoma and the opening on the wafer is not too large. If you use a seal keep the outer wax paper on it when handling it...remove off one side and apply to stoma area but keep the paper on the outer side so your fingers don't compromise the tackiness. Some people like to warm it up a bit so it sticks quickly to the skin. When you apply the wafer and pouch keep gentle pressure on it to help get a better seal with the body and appliance.

Does he need a convex wafer perhaps? My husbands stoma protrudes but not a lot (surgeon had a tough time making his stoma...his insides were a total mess) and the nurse said he needed the convexity for a better fit & to ward off leaks and the convexity sure helped when you needed to add a ring underneath it.

Also the barrier wipes are harder to use I find as you need to pat it over the powder so you are not removing the powder. We have a spray by Smith and Nephew that is so much easier to apply especially if using powder whether it be regular stomahesive powder or anti fungal powder. The wipes are fine when that is all you need to use and no powder is involved. Spray first then powder needs to be applied very thinly and blow off excess and spray again to seal it in..when tacky apply wafer.

My husband came home using the Hollister 2 piece New Image wafers and did so for 2 months then WHAM his skin did not like the outer adhesive at all. We switched to the New Image tapeless ones but they did not adhere that well. So we then tried the Convatech moldable type which seemed to be better but the adhesive on the outer edge gave him trouble too after awhile. So now on to the 3rd one by Coloplast Sensura brand with NO adhesive whatsoever and this is working very well for him for the past 3 months plus. He changes every Sunday and Wednesday and there are no leaking problems (he plays golf every Tuesday and sometimes on Thursdays too).

Of course you need to get the skin issue taken care of...but you need a gel for a topical dermatology treatment to speed things up and the applying of powder and skin barrier under the wafer should help too.

The dermatologist told my husband once you get the skin cleared up do NOT go back to using the wafer that gave you problems as it will only happen again as your skin for whatever reason does not like that wafer and its properties.

As inconvenient as it might be the trick might also be to change BEFORE a leak starts if that is possible. Since the matter is so acidic if it gets on the skin it just keeps the viscious circle going and harder to clear up altogether. Once it does get cleared up and you have an appliance that seems to cooperate you will have a better sense of when to change before the skin gets into trouble again.

I am no expert by any means....hope a little piece of info here and there noted above of our experience can help.

This exact same thing happened to me. Here's what worked for me:

For a couple of weeks, I had to use an adhesiveless system. This is where you don't peel off the plastic backing on the wafer, just put a little paste around the stoma and stick the wafer on with that. Then use an ostomy belt, worn tightly, to hold it on. It is not ideal, it does leak (only at night though, really), but the thing is that with irritated skin, it's probably not sticking so well anyway, is it? This system really helps because it leaves the peristomal skin uncovered, allowing it to heal up, and also allowing you to have daily access to the skin in order to apply products to it.

For products; I HIGHLY recommend seeing a dermatologist. My dermatologist prescribed me a steroid cream called Clobetasol which cleared up my extremely irritated skin within a few days. The thing is that the wafer will not stick to your skin if you put these creams on, so you'll need to use the adhesiveless system during the time that you're using the cream.

Then you want to identify what it is that he's allergic to, because otherwise the problem will start right back up again once you go back to your regular system. Definitely, definitely have him apply a small patch of each product to his skin somewhere else on his body. Watch them for a few days to see if he develops a reaction. I found out that all my irritation had been caused by the adhesive remover - I am extremely allergic to it - and once I cut that out I was fine. I was also allergic to the barrier wipes, so be careful about using those because it could be making it worse! I also switched to Coloplast as their system is supposedly the most hypoallergenic.

Good luck!!

Post Edited (elddiReMsihT) : 10/8/2011 9:47:32 AM (GMT-6)

motherofteen
I used to have leaks and irritations. I now use a liquid called Friars Balsam Compound Benzoin Tincture. It is a first aid product similar to iodine. It dries to a sticky film. It helps open skin or rashed to heal. I use no barriers or wipes....just water to clean. I use a Q-tip to cover the entire wafer area. When I remove the wafer to change the Friars comes off with the wafer. It is about $35 for 100 ml bottle. Website WWW.rougier.com under first aid. Phone in Canada 866-470-6886.

Dan