Sometimes You See It, Sometimes You Don't
From redness to irritation, to no visible signs of complication, itchy peristomal skin is a very real problem. No one should have to accept skin concerns as part of life with a stoma.
How much do you know?
Uncover facts about peristomal itching and other skin concerns in this interactive quiz.
- How many people experience itchy skin around their stoma?
- How many ostomy nurses hear about itching from their patients?
- Do people with healthy looking skin experience itchy skin around their stoma?
Misconception #1 - Peristomal skin complications are expected
Reality: While it's true that skin complications around the stoma occur for many people, they shouldn't happen. If they are, it could be due to an improperly fitting skin barrier or changing the skin barrier too frequently. Watch how the cycle of unhealthy skin develops.
Misconception #2 - Itchy skin always looks red or inflamed
Reality: Many people living with a stoma experience itching while the skin around their stoma looks healthy. Many stoma care nurses have also seen this in their patients. See what they said in the Peristomal Itching Survey.
Misconception #3 - It's all about skin barrier fit
Reality: The fit and formulation of the skin barrier go hand in hand. Your pouching system will not maintain a good seal without proper fit. Without the correct formulation, the skin around your stoma can be at risk for complications. See how fit and formulation work together.
Misconception #4 - All skin barriers are the same
Reality: A recent study called ADVOCATE explored how the ceramide-infused CeraPlus skin barrier compared to skin barriers without ceramide.* People using the CeraPlus skin barrier had more positive results in key areas. Learn more about the findings of the ADVOCATE study.
Making the connection between peristomal skin health and quality of life.
Health-Related Quality of Life
- An individual's well-being and skin health can be important indicators in the successful management of a stoma
- One way to measure well-being is to assess health-related quality of life
- Tools used to measure health-related quality of life provide numerical "preference" values or "weights" of utility
Learn more about the impact of peristomal skin complications on quality of life.
Helpful Ostomy Care Routines
For your pouching system to adhere properly, the skin around your stoma must be healthy. Establishing healthy habits around skin cleaning and measuring your stoma size regularly can help you manage your care. Watch this video to get started.
Ceramide-Infused Ostomy Products
Ceramide is a component of healthy skin. It is the skin's natural protection against dryness. Learn more about how ceramide works to help maintain healthy skin.
Hollister Secure Start Services
With the right pouching system and healthy skin for it to adhere to, the risk of leakage goes down. And with less leakage, you'll have greater peace of mind. Achieving the right balance is possible with the proper help and support. Here's how we can help.
CeraPlus Skin Barrier
Helps keep your skin healthy from the start.
Ceramide-infused formulation helps protect against damage, dryness, and itching.
The CeraPlus skin barrier comes in a range of fit options including one-piece, two-piece, flat, firm, convex, soft convex, tape border, and tapeless.
* compared to non-ceramide skin barriers from Hollister Ostomy Care
1, 3, 5, 8, 9 Consumer Survey of Pruritus, Hollister Incorporated, 2016. Data on file.
2, 4, 6, 7, 10 Clinician Survey of Pruritus, Hollister Incorporated, 2016. Data on file.