This topic is about the experience of people with an ileostomy noticing a decline in the need to shave the area around their stoma over time. A person who has had an ileostomy for five years observed that hair growth around their stoma has slowed down significantly, requiring only minimal shaving. They are curious if this is a common experience among others with long-term ostomies. Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

- The frequency of shaving varies greatly among individuals and often decreases over time:
1. After 13 months, some people shave once or twice a month.
2. After 10 years, some shave twice a week, similar to facial shaving routines, as skipping can lead to skin wounds.
3. After 30 years, some who used to shave weekly now do so every three weeks.
4. Some people find that the adhesive from the wafer has permanently removed most of the hair, eliminating the need to shave.

- A major reason for thinning hair is the removal of adhesive. Repeated changes of the wafer can pull out hairs, leading to less hair to shave over time.

- Shaving or closely trimming before each appliance change can help prevent hair from being pulled out during removal, reduce skin irritation and ingrown hairs, and improve the seal of the appliance.

- Many people prefer using electric shavers to avoid nicks around the stoma. Some recommended options include:
1. Panasonic ES3831 cordless electric foil shaver, which is inexpensive and has a long battery life.
2. Remington rechargeable facial-hair trimmer from a 4-piece kit, where some users skip the foil head to leave a slight stubble.

- Those who experience frequent liquid output and need to change their barrier often may shave with each change to maintain healthy skin. Others who can wear a wafer for 7 to 10 days might only need to shave weekly or monthly.