Urostomy: How do you care for skin under the wafer?

Good question, @katydid77. I'm calling in fellow members to help answer, like @engelee @bcstew @jshollett @mlmcg @candywocrn @amyp304 @jimmy2248 @formydad and @nickkarenl

How is his skin about the stoma? Is it irritated?

Hi @katydid77, The best way to care for your peri-stomal skin is with water. When you remove your pouching system, clean the skin really well with warm water. Then pat the area dry before placing your wafer back on your skin. Try to avoid soaps with lotions added. If your skin is irritated, you can try some stoma powder and skin protectant under the wafer before applying to help. Here is a link to an article on tips for skin care around your stoma: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/living-with-an-ostomy/newsfeed-post/peristomal-skin-care/

There is also a great website that you can use to help diagnose issues that may arise with the skin around your stoma. It is called the Peristomal Skin Assessment, https://psag-consumer.wocn.org/#home.

What tips do others have to maintain healthy skin around their stoma?

He should be getting wafer prep moist pads from your supplier (I use 180Medical for my ostomy supplies - they are excellent).
When he removes the wafer and pouch for a redressing, he should shower, use a mild loofa to prep the area (the stoma can handle this - just not aggressive rubbing) and then dry very thoroughly. After drying, use the prep pad to introduce a roughed up area around the stoma. Keeping it dry is the most important practice. The area to keep very dry should be about 4" - 5" in diameter to make sure the wafer surroundiing area is totally dry.
Take the adhesive papers off of the wafer and press hard all around (both the outer adhesive area plus the circular cushion pad right around the stoma).
That should do it.

I used to have skin problems especially when it is very hot and humid. Now every time I have to change my ostomies ( I have 2) I take a shower without wafers, just open. At one point I soap up with Ivory soap and wash each stoma. After the shower ( hopefully without leaks don’t drink several hours before changing.) when the stoma is quiets and area clean AND DRY I apply 2 Sensicare adhesive wipes to the area. No stoma powder etc. The important thing is to make sure skin is DRY when wafer applied . When really hot, you do have to make adjustments in lifestyle and avoid heat,direct sun.

Thanks @engelee. Do we need to give the adhesive wipe time to dry also before applying the wafer? His skin has not broken down yet but is very irritated. We have been using the wipes and he showers without the wafer when it is time to change it.

Thank you for your reply @jshollett. I did not know about using a loofa. We have finally (we hope) learned how to apply the wafer and to get it to be leak-free for more than two days. We found that eliminating the barrier ring and using a Coloplast convex wafer works best for his anatomy. I hope the ring is not a necessary item to protect the stoma.

@candywocrn, thanks for the links. We appreciate all the help.

Yes it is, but so far, no lesions or fungus. Thanks for helping.

Yes. I just wave a 4x4 over it for about 30 seconds

I would be worried about a loofa. I think it’s an unnecessary action with potential problems if any part of it is loose