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Aug 28, 2020

Treating weepy skin under a bandage - Need advice!

This topic is about dealing with a red, weepy patch of skin that sometimes develops under the tape portion of an ostomy barrier. This issue often occurs at waist level, where trousers or an ostomy belt might rub against the skin. Although the area isn't painful or bleeding, the moisture makes it difficult for the wafer to stick properly. The goal is to find a way to speed up healing without using greasy ointments that could interfere with adhesion.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. **Possible Causes**
- Friction or pressure from a belt or waistband. Ensure the hard plastic notch on the Hollister belt faces up.
- Moisture and sweat trapped in an abdominal crease. It's less likely to be a tape allergy since only one spot is affected.
- A metal allergy from a belt buckle or pant snap, though this is less common.

2. **Drying and Healing Products**
- Lightly dust the area with ostomy or stoma powder, then use a skin-barrier wipe to "crust" it. Repeat 1-3 times a day until dry.
- Use DuoDERM Extra Thin Spots from ConvaTec over stoma powder to keep the area dry while allowing the wafer to seal.
- Protect the site from rubbing with elastic barrier-extender strips from Coloplast, Hollister, or ConvaTec, or use Salts Healthcare SecuPlast Hydro Aloe Vera strips.
- Consider using FlexWear gel barrier material from Hollister to cover the sore, or a full FlexWear wafer for several days to soothe and promote healing.
- Domeboro Astringent Solution packets can be used as a rinse before applying a new wafer to quickly dry and calm irritated skin.
- If yeast or fungal overgrowth is suspected, use Lotrimin antifungal powder, Nystop powder, or Xolegel gel. Apply, let sit, then remove residue so the wafer will stick.
- Manuka honey, aloe vera gel, or colloidal silver liquid can be dabbed on, allowed to work, then carefully removed before applying the pouch.

3. **Moisture-Control Tips**
- After showering, use a hair-dryer on cool or warm for 1-2 minutes to ensure the area and the wafer back are completely dry.
- In hot weather, apply a little antiperspirant on the spot once healed to reduce future sweating.
- Consider alternating wafer types, such as Hollister Stomahesive and Sur-Fit Natura, so one material is not on the skin continuously.

4. **Mechanical Work-Arounds While Healing**
- Cut a small opening in the wafer over the sore to allow it to air-dry under the pouch.
- Create a mini dressing with gauze over the sore, secured by thin "wing" strips or a flattened barrier ring, then apply the normal wafer.
- Use an irrigation sleeve and belt or wear loose clothing temporarily to relieve pressure on the area.

5. **Vendor Contact Information and Samples**
- ConvaTec: DuoDERM Extra Thin Spots
- Hollister: FlexWear wafers, elastic barrier extenders
- Salts Healthcare: SecuPlast Hydro Aloe Vera strips

These combined measures, which focus on keeping the area dry, protecting it, ensuring appliances are fully dry, and reducing friction, have been reported to clear similar weepy patches within a few days.
See full discusison
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