Once you have a stoma from the procedure required to install a urine pouch, you must put in the time to maintain the skin there. The peristomal area is the ring of skin that's visible right under your bag.
For one thing, you're going to want to make sure that bowel movements or urine do not touch your skin since that will negatively affect the skin there. This can cause inflamed areas around the stoma. You're going to want to learn how to prevent potential skin problems that can occur due to the Stoma, and how to treat any problems that could happen.
If you do get sore parts or even infected parts around your Stoma, this could also have an effect on your bag since it needs to stick to the skin there. If this happens, you could end up with leaks, making the whole issue even worse.
Size Your Pouches Correctly
Whoever cuts your bag, or if you do it yourself, make sure that the pouch fits perfectly around the Stoma. In general, the nurse involved in your care will be the one to do this initially. She should be able to help you learn how to measure the area correctly. If the bag you cut is too large, then you're going to leak and the leaking will lead to angry skin around the area. If you cut this “wafer” bit too small, then you could end up making it so that the bag actually cuts into your skin.
This could also lead to leaks, or it could narrow the output making it so that there's build-up.
Fill in Uneven Bits Around the Bag
Leaks can also happen if you don't make sure that all the urine is going right into the bag. If it's too uneven or if there are cracks or gaps, you're going to want to use various tools to keep this from happening. For example, a barrier ring could help to prevent leaking, as could special paste for the Stoma.
If you don't do this, the seal may be imperfect, and your stoma could leak under the bag and into your skin, which will inflame the area.
Keep Dry
Don't apply your pouch until the skin is dry. If you don't, it may not stick right and you will end up leaking. It might even make it so that the bag falls off, which would be very bad.
Only Use the Adhesive Remover for Removal
You need to use a special adhesive remover to change out your pouch. If you just rip it off, it's going to hurt and even worse damage your skin. Ask your doctor about this for it to go smoothly.
Inverted Stoma
In the case that you have an inverted Stoma, you might want to get a different kind of bag. This is useful if your bag is sitting below the level of your skin. A convex bag will make it so that the stoma flow goes into the bag instead of underneath it. Make sure that your doctor agrees that it's needed, however. Otherwise, it can actually hurt your Stoma.
It's also important to make sure that you treat any angry skin as soon as it happens. Nurses can guide you through this procedure.
