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In some cases, an ostomy appliance refuses to stick. Ostomy supply companies indeed do their best to develop adhesives that would do their job, but sometimes those adhesives do not work, and it could be quite frustrating.

Having an appliance that doesn’t stick can be quite frustrating, but there are always reasons behind it. Fortunately, it is easy to deal with those factors, given you know about them. In this article, we will discuss those reasons and their solutions.

Skincare products

Certain skincare products such as soap, moisturizers, shampoos, and baby wipes contain ingredients that can interfere with adhesives. Products that contain oils can result in the peristomal skin disallowing the skin barrier from making a seal.

The best way to deal with such an issue is to avoid using products that may compromise the seal between the skin barrier and the peristomal skin.

Incision wounds

Incision wounds release fluids consistently, which can result in a compromised seal between the skin barrier and the skin around the stoma.

One of the ways to avoid this situation is to cut the skin barrier to avoid incision. Be sure not to cut too much of the flange, or the leakage might occur. You may also want to use a wafer extender or medical tape to reinforce the skin barrier. If the problem persists, you may talk to an ostomy care nurse.

Body hair

Too long hair on the surface of the peristomal skin can interfere with the skin barrier. Using skin barriers on such a surface can create tunnels for the stomal output to seep through, resulting in excessive leakage.

You may want to shave off hair around the stoma to prevent the formation of tunnels due to long hair. The best equipment to use in this regard is the electric shaver because it doesn’t result in cuts on the skin. Using a razor should be the last option, or when you are sure that you can shave off hair this way without ending up having cuts.

Applying skin barrier onto the wet skin

You will want to avoid using a skin barrier into the wet peristomal skin at all costs. Wet skin can cause the skin barrier to refuse to stick.

The best way to avoid such an issue is to make sure that your skin is dry before you apply a skin barrier onto it. Use a soft cloth, and pat the skin dry. You may also use a hairdryer, but make sure not to set it on warm, or the skin will sweat.

If you want to place the skin barrier after a shower, you may want to get rid of as much humidity from the washroom as possible. You can do it by using a ceiling vent.

You can use a dehumidifier if you live in a humid area. It will create a drier environment inside your living area.

It is best to stay in touch with your ostomy care nurse to discuss options to prevent non-stickiness of the skin barrier you use. He or she will be your first point of contact in case you encounter any problem that fails your ostomy pouching system.