Symptoms of ostomy leakage
How to spot leakage and how it is different from mechanical irritation and other complications.
If you experience skin problems or complications, you should always consult your stoma care nurse straight away. However, spotting evidence of leakage early can help you catch a potential skin problem even before it develops.
Start by looking for any stoma output, either on your skin or on the back of the adhesive plate. Even if there is no direct visual sign of leakage, be aware of anything unusual, such as if the adhesive plate looks 'melted' (because the adhesive has reacted with the output).
Leakage is a big concern for many people, so it is useful to find ways to prevent leakage.
To secure optimal adhesion the baseplate should be applied to clean and completely dry skin. Clean water is sufficient for the cleaning of your stoma and skin around it.
When it comes to fitting your ostomy baseplate, the hole should be cut so that it fits the diameter and shape of your stoma exactly. A good rule is ‘not too loose, not too tight’.
Signs of mechanical irritation
If your skin is red, sore and moist, maybe even bleeding a little, but you have not had any leakage, the issue could be 'mechanical'. That means your skin is simply being irritated from removing the pouch too often, too vigorously, or from cleaning or scrubbing the skin to roughly.
To avoid mechanical irritation, try to be as gentle as possible, both when removing your adhesive baseplate and when cleaning the skin. Try to peel the plate off slowly, rather than ripping or tearing off. Using the other hand to hold the skin tight can help reduce stress on the skin. Adhesive removers may also help when removing the appliance.
IMPORTANT! If you have any concerns – such as skin problems or how to use new products – you should always consult your stoma care nurse.
How can Coloplast Care make a difference for you?
- Reliable advice, whenever you need it
- Supplement the education and advice you get from your stoma care nurse
- Guidance on selecting the right products
- Easy access to samples of relevant products
- Free home visits by Coloplast Stoma Care nurses
Life with an ostomy isn't always straightforward. So why go it alone?