A stoma is a surgically created opening on the abdomen that allows waste to exit the body when the normal digestive or urinary tract is unable to function as it should. This opening is typically pink or red and moist, resembling the inside lining of the mouth. Maintaining proper hygiene and cleaning of the stoma and the surrounding skin is important for comfort, preventing health issues, and ensuring appliance adhesion.
Gathering Your Cleaning Essentials
For routine stoma cleaning, simple supplies are generally sufficient. You will need a soft washcloth or non-woven wipes, which are gentle on delicate skin. Warm water is the primary cleaning agent. A mild, oil-free, residue-free soap may be used if recommended by a healthcare professional, as some soaps can interfere with appliance adhesion or irritate the skin.
A clean towel for gentle drying is important. Having a disposal bag readily available will help manage waste and used supplies. Adhesive removers, available as wipes or sprays, can be helpful for gently detaching the ostomy appliance without causing skin irritation.
Daily Stoma Cleaning Steps
Before beginning the cleaning process, ensure your hands are thoroughly washed with soap and water to maintain hygiene. Carefully remove your used ostomy pouch and skin barrier, gently peeling it from the top down while supporting the skin with your other hand. This technique helps prevent skin stripping and discomfort. Dispose of the used pouch in a designated disposal bag.
Gently cleanse the stoma and the surrounding skin with a soft cloth moistened with warm water. Wipe gently around the stoma, removing any waste or adhesive residue. If using a mild, recommended soap, apply a small amount and rinse thoroughly to ensure no residue remains. Pat the area completely dry with a clean, soft towel. Dry skin is important for secure appliance adhesion and to prevent irritation.
Caring for the Skin Around Your Stoma
The skin immediately surrounding your stoma, known as peristomal skin, should ideally look similar to the skin on other parts of your abdomen. Maintaining the integrity of this skin is important to prevent discomfort, infection, and appliance adhesion issues. Healthy peristomal skin forms a protective barrier against irritating waste.
Leakage of waste under the skin barrier can quickly lead to skin breakdown, characterized by redness, itching, or soreness. To prevent this, ensure the opening in your skin barrier or wafer fits snugly around the stoma, typically 1-2mm larger than the stoma itself, to minimize exposure to effluent. Routinely inspecting the peristomal skin with each pouch change allows for early detection of any irritation or changes. Specialized skin barriers, powders, or protective wipes may be recommended by a healthcare professional to further safeguard the skin.
When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
Monitoring your stoma and the surrounding skin for changes is an important part of daily care. Certain signs and symptoms indicate a need to contact a healthcare professional. Persistent redness around the stoma that does not resolve, or the appearance of a rash, blisters, or sores on the peristomal skin, warrants medical attention. These can be signs of irritation or a developing skin complication.
Changes in the stoma itself, such as unusual color changes to pale, blue, purple, or black, or if it appears dry, should be reported immediately. Other concerning signs include ongoing pain, swelling that does not subside, pus-like discharge, or increased bleeding from the stoma. If the stoma output significantly changes (e.g., consistently watery, or a complete lack of output for an extended period), or if you experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting, seek medical advice.