Excess is Not Always Best: Use of a New Innovative Silicone Skin Barrier Spray for the Management of Exposed Peristomal Skin and Peristomal Skin Covered by a Solid Barrier

One of the most challenging aspects of living with an ostomy is often the management of peristomal skin and the peristomal skin disorders that may evolve. Peristomal skin disorders are common problems experienced by people with any type of ostomy, especially skin problems resulting from moisture associated dermatitis.[1]  Skin affected by peristomal moisture associated dermatitis often has an impact on the ability to adhere the ostomy pouching system to peristomal skin. Use of ostomy powder with a skin sealant, also known as a crusting technique, has been the traditional management of choice to promote moisture absorption and protection of the affected skin. Implementing a new and innovative approach utilizing a silicone skin barrier spray to protect peristomal skin affected by moisture, provided protection and decreased the number of ostomy pouching system skin barrier changes. Leakage from ostomy output under the ostomy pouching system skin barrier is a significant cause of peristomal skin disorders.[2] In a global ostomy study, results demonstrated that the most common skin disorder (48%) was irritant contact dermatitis.[3]The output of an ostomy may be damaging to the skin, especially those containing digestive enzymes that can erode healthy skin often causing moisture associated or irritant dermatitis. 

Further use of the silicone skin barrier to protect peristomal skin from effluent resulted in practice changes with positive results.

1)    Using the new silicone barrier spray over the traditional method of using ostomy powder and skin sealant greatly increased the ostomy pouching system barrier wear time.

2)    Peristomal skin was well protected from fistula output often without the use of additional barriers such as paste.

3)    Irritant contact dermatitis often improved with this single product application method.