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Ostomy Products You May Need To Know About

The technology used in the production of ostomy supplies has improved significantly over the last few years. There is a wide range of product options from several brands available to facilitate people with ostomies. However, so much choice can make things complicated. Patients have to narrow down their options to select the most appropriate products for ostomy care.

In this article, we will discuss some ostomy care products to help you have a fundamental understanding of what you may need.

Skin barriers

A skin barrier or wafer is a part of the ostomy pouching system that attaches to the skin around your stoma. It usually consists of a hydrocolloid material. The materials used in the making of a skin barrier are ideal for ostomy care because they absorb stomal discharge; are water-resistant; protect skin from irritation; are flexible; stick to the abdominal skin to form a leak-proof seal. The warmth of the body makes the material in the skin barrier melt and flow into the tiny contours of the abdominal skin, forming a tighter seal. You can choose from a wide range of skin barriers depending on your requirements. Here are the highlights.

  • Cut-to-fit wafer: This skin barrier comes with measurements on the backing to allow patients to create a hole according to the shape and size of the stoma. This option is ideal for people whose stomas continue to change sizes.
  • Pre-cut wafer: This skin barrier comes with a hole for your stoma. This option is ideal if your stoma is round or regular-shaped. Using this skin barrier essentially eliminates a step from the ostomy pouch changing routine.
  • Flat wafer: These wafers are ideal for flat abdomens. This option is useful when your stoma protrudes adequately and its opening is not close to the skin.
  • Convex: If you have a recessed stoma, you can benefit from a convex skin barrier. A recessed stoma is the one whose opening is near the abdominal skin. This skin barrier pushes the skin around the stoma gently to promote the protrusion of the stoma.

Pouches

An ostomy pouch is a plastic container that collects urine or feces from the stoma. You can choose from a decent range of ostomy pouches. Here are the configurations you may need to know about.

  • One-piece ostomy pouches: These pouches come with a bag and the kin barrier as inseparable elements. Due to its low profile, this ostomy pouching system is more flexible than a two-piece ostomy pouch.
  • Two-piece ostomy pouches: This ostomy pouching system consists of a bag and a separate skin barrier, which can snap on the bag through a locking mechanism.
  • Closed-end: This ostomy pouching system is designed one one-time use. Once it is full with the stomal output, it needs to be discarded away.
  • Drainable: This pouching system comes with an open end at the bottom. Once the bag is full with the stomal output, you have to drain its contents.

Accessories

  • Stoma powder: This powder absorbs moisture. The reason you have to rectify the moisture issue is that it can compromise the seal between the skin barrier and the abdominal skin. Stoma powder can be applied to the weeping skin to provide the skin barrier a plain and dry surface to adhere to.
  • Deodorant drops: If you are concerned about the odors, you can add a few deodorant drops to your ostomy pouch to eliminate those odors.
  • Lubricating deodorant: Combined with the anti-odor properties, this product allows for convenient removal of the stomal output from an ostomy pouch.
  • Ostomy belt: An ostomy pouch hooks to your skin barrier and presses it against your abdominal skin.

Other common ostomy accessories include adhesive remover, paste, barrier rings, and skin barrier wipes.