A complete guide to choosing an ostomy bag and preventing skin complications

Ostomy bags are indispensable medical products in the daily lives of people with anorectal, urethral, or double-lumen stomas. Their selection and use are directly related to the patient's comfort and quality of life. However, improper selection or improper use of ostomy bags often leads to skin complications, causing additional pain to patients. Therefore, it is particularly important to master the correct selection method of ostomy bags and the prevention strategy for skin complications.

Key points for choosing an ostomy bag:

Consider stoma size and type

The choice of stoma bag should be based on the size and type of stoma. A belt-style stoma bag is a good choice for stomas up to 4 cm in size, while an adhesive stoma bag is more appropriate for larger stomas. In addition, a closed bag is ideal for patients with colostomy who have regular, dry bowel movements, while an open bag is more appropriate for patients with ileostomy who have large and frequent bowel movements.

Pay attention to the shape of the stoma.

The shape of the stoma is also an important factor to consider when choosing a stoma bag. If the stoma is sunken or retracted, a deep convex stoma bag with a leak-proof ring/cream and a belt will work better; if the stoma is flush with the skin, a slightly convex stoma bag is more suitable.

Personal habits and needs:

Everyone has different habits and needs, so the choice of ostomy bag should also vary from person to person. One-piece ostomy bags are usually more cost-effective and suitable for users in the early postoperative period, the elderly, or those who need to change ostomy bags frequently, while the bag part of a two-piece ostomy bag is easier to clean, suitable for users who have higher requirements for cleanliness.

Strategies for preventing skin complications

Keep the skin around the stoma clean and dry.

The occurrence of skin complications is often related to the moisture and uncleanness of the skin around the stoma. Therefore, keeping the skin around the stoma clean and dry is the key to preventing skin complications. Every time you change the stoma bag, you should wash the skin with warm water and mild detergent and gently dry it with a soft towel.

Correct selection and use of ostomy bags

Correct selection and use of ostomy bags are also important measures to prevent skin complications. The size of the ostomy bag should match the size of the stoma. When sticking it, make sure that the skin around the stoma is dry and grease-free, and avoid frequently tearing off the base to reduce the risk of skin damage.

Handle abnormal conditions promptly.

During use, if you find abnormal conditions such as redness, swelling, leakage, itching, etc. around the stoma, you should handle them promptly. Mild skin problems can be treated with skincare powder and protective film; in severe cases, you need to seek medical attention in time to avoid the worsening of the condition.

Stoma patients often face great psychological pressure and distress. Therefore, psychological support and health education are also an important part of preventing skin complications. Medical staff should give patients adequate psychological support to help them build confidence in overcoming the disease; at the same time, they should also strengthen health education to improve patients' awareness of stoma bag use and skin care.

In summary, the selection of ostomy bags and the prevention of skin complications are issues that need to be focused on in the daily lives of ostomy patients. By mastering the correct selection methods of ostomy bags and the prevention strategies of skin complications, patients can effectively improve their quality of life and reduce unnecessary pain and distress. For more information on Innomed®Skin Protective Powder, refer to the Previous Articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; You Wholeheartedly. At longterm medical, we transform this data by Innovating and Developing Products that make life easier for those who need loving care.

Editor: kiki Jia