January/February 2000
All About Stoma Paste
Speaking to thousands of ostomates at support groups and conferences, I have found that most of us have tried stoma paste and considerably more than half of us use it on a regular basis as part of our ostomy appliance. What is it? Technically, stoma pastes are skin barrier compounds manufactured by several companies that are moulded around stomas or skin surface irregularities to provide additional protection and a uniform sealing surface around the stoma and under the appliance barrier. It usually comes in a tube similar to toothpaste. If I had been asked to select a name for this compound, regardless of the manufacturer, I certainly would not have chosen "PASTE". It is not, as the name implies to some, a glue that is used to adhere the wafer or barrier to the skin. What does it do? When applied, stoma paste provides an additional degree of protection around the stoma and on any exposed skin between the base of the stoma and the opening in the wafer or appliance barrier. It can be used to fill in any irregularities such as wrinkles, folds or suture scars on the skin underneath the wafer. The easiest way to think of how stoma paste works is to compare it to the caulking around your bathtub. It is used to fill in the voids.
Via: Monterey County UOA and Evansville, Indiana Chapter Re-Route Online, January 2000
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