Stoma Paste - Necessary or Not? What's Your Experience?

Hi! Is everyone using stoma paste? I started out using it because my stoma nurse told me to but after a while I stopped just due to it being so messy and I didn’t really think it was doing anything. I watched countless videos with folks who didn’t use it and have never had issues. Your thoughts??

Hi Karlie, I used to use paste as I have a slight dip around the bottom of my stoma, and it was the same when my stoma was on the right side. But now I just use a Coloplast Brava thin ring and my wafer on top of that, and it's good for 3 days and I change in the morning of the fourth.

Hi K,

Most don't use it. Its primary function is to fill in uneven or irregular skin to give the barrier a flat surface to stick to. If you don't need it, don't use it. Think of it as caulk for filling in gaps, since that's what it does and is just as messy. It also breaks down faster than the ceramide your ring and barrier are made of if it comes into contact with moisture. It definitely has its place and helps people with skin irregularities, but it's not needed if your skin is relatively flat.

;O)

I have never tried it. I use a Salts ring with aloe, the best I found. I get 10+ days before I change out. I also use a skin prep. Sometimes I find a little seepage but my skin is in good shape.

35 very lucky extra years living with an ileostomy and never used paste once in all that time. I have a dip all the way around my stoma from the wound opening up after surgery, but it never caused any problems with bags sticking. I have nothing against paste; it's a very good product and makes a big difference to those who need it, but sometimes less is best. If you don't need something, don't use it.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Ileostomy for 33 years. Using paste is what I was taught by my ostomy nurse at John Hopkins.

I use it around the round wafer cut out.  

Where do you use the paste?

I used paste once - because that's the number of times I will usually try almost anything. That then gives me the experience I need to know whether or not I will use it again. In the case of paste, the answer was a definite NO!.
Paste was far too messy for my taste.
Best wishes

Bill 

Thank you for your input, Ron. I have never tried a Brava thin ring. Might need to look into that.

Thanks for your comment Bill. I did use it last wafer change due to seeing a tiny dip on one side of my stoma.  Took ten minutes and a ton of hot soapy water to get it off my fingers.  I’m pretty sure that’s the last time for me. My skin is in good shape.

Thanks for your comment. I'll have to look up Salts Ring. Haven't heard of that before. You reminded me I need to order some skin prep. All these supplies, geeze!

Hello! I was taught to use it around my stoma to prevent ridges that invite infection. I used it religiously for a few months and then just got tired of the mess. 

Thanks for your comment!

Never been anywhere near paste, +1 on the salt rings 👍 I've tried others only to come back to them.

Hi K........don't bother. Salt's products aren't available in the US. Those UK folks get all the good stuff!!

;O)

What's a Salts ring?

I have a near flush stoma with a belly fold with some leak burns, which I want to ensure adhesion is occurring to the wounds. Thus, I first use a thin coat of paste premixed with stoma powder (to ensure it's activating) around the stoma to about 1/2" around, then apply wafer bonding level after that, also mixed with stoma powder.

Paste can be messy until one learns how to use it, keep it off unwanted skin (or anything), and use a small flat coffee stir stick to apply. Use toilet paper to remove it off the stick if needed (like removing wet paste off a wound that wasn't blow-dried enough).

Another tactic is to squeeze from the tube and press/pinch off onto the skin to end.

Paste gives unparalleled adhesion because one can use as little or as much as one needs. In the case of my belly fold, I need as much as possible.

The only problem with paste is the alcohol versions, but there are no-sting versions, and of course, watery products that don't set up, even after 24 hours, hence the additional stoma powder.