A stoma bag can leak for any reason. What’s important is how you are going to deal with it if it happens in public. There are some ways to prevent or deal with leakage. In this article, we will mention a few tips.

This article is mainly about preventing leakage.

Peristomal skin health

How good your peristomal skin health is determined by its ability to keep the ostomy pouch in place. Placing an ostomy pouch over an irritated skin area will only make it susceptible to coming off. That is why you are going to have to be proactive with your peristomal skincare.

• First, you will need to make sure that you are following skincare tips from your ostomy care nurse.
• You may want to use a ceramide-infused skin barrier because it can support skin health.
• Contact your doctor or ostomy care nurse right away when you notice any signs of skin complications in the area around the stoma.

Properly fitting skin barrier

Ensuring the proper fitting of your skin barrier around the stoma is all you need to prevent leakage in most cases. No matter what the size or shape of your stoma is, you shouldn’t have any issue as long as it is opening into the ostomy pouch.

You may want to consider the following suggestions to ensure a leak-proof seal of the skin barrier.

• Be sure to measure your stoma before creating an opening in the skin barrier. You can do this by using a measuring guide.
• While applying the skin barrier, make sure that it fits well around the stoma in the area where the skin and the stoma meet.
• Make sure that there isn’t a visible part of the skin between the skin barrier and the stoma.
• You may want to use stoma powder before applying the new ostomy pouch.
• Stop using stoma powder when the skin is no longer weepy.

Changing ostomy pouch

It is crucial to change your ostomy pouch before it starts leaking. An overfilled or overweight ostomy pouch is more susceptible to coming off due to extra strain on it.

• The best practice is to change your ostomy pouch according to a set schedule, whether or not leakage occurs.
• You will need to determine the wear time of your ostomy pouches by looking at your preferences, stoma type, and stomal output.
• You may want to change your ostomy pouch twice every week.

Securing pouch while exercising

You may want to wear particular types of clothes if you are to engage in physical activities or other sports.

• Using support garments or ostomy wrap can help you keep the ostomy appliance in place.
• You may want to use different sports attire to keep your ostomy appliance concealed.
• Emptying your ostomy pouch before any physical activity may also be helpful.

What to do in case of a leakage

If you are experiencing leakage, find the source of the problem. You may want to speak with your ostomy care nurse in this regard. He or she will make a proper diagnosis and suggest the right action.