Can Stoma Powder Cause Skin Irritation?

Can stoma powder irritate the skin? I changed my bag today, and right around the stoma, the skin was red. No signs of a leak; I didn't see any stool spread across the flange. Before I put on a new flange, I sprinkle some stoma powder around my stoma and then dab it with a barrier wipe to get the crust. Then, I put the sticky ring around the stoma. Am I doing anything wrong? Should I stop using the stoma powder?

Hi AL,

Stoma powder isn't meant to be used all the time, only when you're having issues with your skin and adhesion. Most people tolerate it well, but yes, it can irritate the skin if used for long periods of time. I'm sure others will say they've been using it for years, and that's because everyone is different. But it's not designed to be a continual use product. The term 'stoma powder' is a catch-all, as everyone's formulation can be a bit different. The main ingredients typically are pectin (made from citrus fruits), cellulose (plant fiber), and gelatin (animal collagen), but each company's secret sauce that they add to those ingredients usually includes talc, cornstarch, modified cornstarch, butyl ester, butanol, ethanol, and other copolymers. So if your skin doesn't agree with any of those things, you'll get irritation. And sometimes it takes some time for the adverse reaction to occur.

That's the very long answer to your question. The short answer is... yes.

;O)

Yes, you can be allergic to the powder, and it can cause skin irritation. It could just be that brand.

Yes, it can, unless you have been advised by an ostomy nurse to use powder at every bag change for skin problems. I would go without it for a few weeks to see how your skin gets on without using any powder.

It very well could be that you are allergic to the powder. Everyone is different.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister