I have sensitive skin. Wait, scratch that. I have really sensitive skin.
My skin is so sensitive that bandaids superglue themselves to my skin and hair products irritate my scalp. My skin is so sensitive that scented lotions cause breakouts on my legs and products that are too harsh strip my face of all moisture. So as you can imagine, learning that I would have an ileostomy bag attached to my skin for.. well.. the rest of my life, I was a little (or a lot) nervous. When I had my temporary loop ileostomy before my third surgery, I had a lot of problems with leaks due to the two openings instead of one. The second opening, located close to the base of my skin, would cause the adhesive on my bags to un-stick in a matter of a day. Due to this, I ended up with horrible red, inflamed skin that felt like fire at all times. Needless to say, I did not want a repeat of that with my permanent ileostomy.
So my hunt for the best ostomy products for sensitive skin began. My mission was to find products that were gentle and kind to my temperamental and sensitive skin. The process has not been easy, to say the least, but I have finally rounded up a group of products that work for my skin and I stray from only on occasion to try something new.
I hope this list helps someone who may have extremely sensitive skin like me find one of two products that work for them. With that being said, however, I must include a disclaimer: everyone's body is so different. What may work wonders for my skin might irritate yours and vice versa. It is all about trial and error and finding what works best for your body. Use my suggestions as a starting point to guide your journey to finding products you love.
Hollister Flat One-Piece Drainable Pouch
I have been using these bags since receiving my very first ileostomy. I have switched to different sizes as my stoma has shrunk, but the bag has stayed the same. These bags are a little on the larger side at about 12 inches long. This can be a bit of a disadvantage at times because the bag can extend to your legs and the clip at the bottom can be a bit uncomfortable. I have personally gotten used to this and do not even notice the bag there much of the time, though. These bags are transparent on the front, so I wear bag covers to silence some of the sound of the plastic and make it more comfortable on my skin. You can find bag covers on Etsy or even make your own!
These bags are flat, meaning that they are not convex. This is 100% personal preference depending on what you feel comfortable with, and I believe Hollister makes a similar bag in a convex option. The wafter is soft and quick drying if it is to become wet and sticks great to the skin without causing irritation.
Overall, the Hollister one-piece drainable pouch is comfortable, sensitive skin-friendly, and moves with your body. I have used this pouch walking, running, at the gym, and it has held up wonderfully. There are many different size options to suit your stoma, as well as a cut-to-fit option. As I mentioned above, these bags do have a clip, which is a negative for some.
Request free samples here!
Hollister Barrier Rings
These barrier rings are a holy grail product in my ostomy supplies basket. They are soft, moldable rings that you place over your stoma to provide extra protection from leaks and skin irritation at the base of the stoma. Because they are moldable, these rings can fit any size stoma and as they are worn for several days, they hug the stoma closely, creating a wonderful barrior between output and your skin.
I like to apply the barrier rings after my skin protectant and before putting on my bag. You simply adjust the size (if needed), place the ring over top of your stoma, gently press it down on your skin to get it to stick, and put on your bag. This simple product has saved me so much skin irritation and even helped me get by with bags that are a little too big until I can find the appropriate size. I highly, highly recommend these!
Request free samples here!
smith&nephew No-Sting Skin-Prep Protective Wipes
I cannot stress the importance of having a skin protectant of any kind in your bag change routine. Whether you have sensitive skin or not, having something on your skin in that area constantly can cause clogged pores, skin irritation, and more, sometimes leading to bigger problems down the road. The smith&nephew no-sting skin protectant wipes are wonderful for providing a barrier between the adhesive of your bag and your skin and bonus: they are no-sting, which means they will not irritate or sting any exisiting irritated skin that you might have. Whether it is these wipes, another brand of wipes, or a spray, I encourage everyone to use a skin protectant.
Buy the wipes on Amazon here!
Hollister Adhesive Remover Wipes
By the end of this article you may be tired of hearing my preach about protecting your skin, but it is just too important not to stress! Equally as important as skin protectant wipes are adhesive removing wipes. These wipes are for assisting in the removal of your bag and any adhesive that is left. They reduce the amount of irritation from pulling the bag off, especially if you change your bag often. I never change my bag without these little wipes and they drastically cut down on any discomfort that I may feel removing the adhesive from my skin as well. Protect your skin!
Just as with the skin protectant, there are many different brands and forms in which you can find adhesive remover. Some formulas come in sprays, while others may be full-size wipes. The Hollister adhesive remover wipes have worked for me and are easy to access, so I have stuck with them.
Request free samples here!
Hollister Karaya 5 Stoma Powder
If you find yourself with any sort of skin irritation, especially around the base of the stoma, you need stoma powder in your routine. I am going to be completely honest: when I was first introduced to stoma powder, I was a huge doubter. How could a scentless, baby-powder-like substance heal my skin? I quickly learned that this seemingly unnecesary powder was just about as close to magic as you can get. Whenever I have any skin irritation at all, I reach for my stoma powder. Most of the time, my irritation is right at the base of my stoma, so after applying skin protectant and before applying my barrier ring, I wll sprinkle a small amount of powder around the base of my stoma.
Disclaimer: this powder will sting if you have irritation! Do not let this alarm you, though. The stinging should only last a few minutes and the powder works incredibly fast at healing any raw, irritated skin. Still not convinced? Ask your stoma nurse for a sample size and give it a try for yourself. You will not be disappointed. That is a promise!
More information on the powder can be found here!
So there you have it: my favorite ostomy products for sensitive skin! Now, while these products work wonders on my sensitive skin, that is not to say that I do not battle the occasional irritated skin. My biggest piece of advice for you is to stay on top of the irritation. Do not wait until you are absolutely miserable to finally take action to clear up your skin. Tackle any irritated spots right away and keep a good barrier on the rest of your skin to prevent the irritation from spreading.
Having an ostomy opens up a world of choices for products to care for your ostomy and these can be super overwhelming at times! Talk to your stoma nurse, read reviews, reach out to others who may use similar products, and find what works for your skin. Everyone is different and no two people are going to have the exact same bag change routine.
Have you found a life-changing product that you love for your ostomy? Let me know down below in the comments!
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