Stoma Care: Your Stoma and Skin

Here are images that show how to care for your stoma and the skin around it.

FacebookXLinkedinEmailCopy LinkPrint

Step-by-Step

Person peeling ostomy bag down and away from stoma on belly.

1. Gently peel the old pouch down and away from your skin.

Ostomy bag tied in plastic bag being placed in trash.

2. Put the old pouch in the trash.

Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

3. Wash your hands.

Getting folded cloth wet under faucet with running water.

4. Wet a soft wash cloth.

Person holding shirt up with one hand and other hand wiping skin around stoma with wet cloth.

5. Wipe the skin around the stoma.

Hand wiping stoma with wet cloth.

6. Gently clean the stoma.

Person holding shirt up with one hand and other hand patting skin around stoma dry with folded cloth.

7. Pat the skin and stoma dry.

Person holding shirt up with one hand to show stoma on belly and other hand holding mirror to look at stoma.

8. Use a small mirror to check your stoma for problems.

Wipes in package with corner of package peeled back.

9. Use a skin barrier wipe, if needed.

Person using wipe on skin around stoma.

10. Apply the wipe to the skin around the stoma.

Person putting ostomy bag around stoma.

11. Change the pouch as directed.

Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

12. Wash your hands.

Content provided by WebMD Ignite (“WebMD”) is intended for general, informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied on solely for clinical decisions. WebMD makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy, reliability of our Content, however; users understand that information contained in the Content may become outdated or incomplete due to new research, findings or clinical guidelines. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. WebMD does not guarantee that all content will always be current, error-free or complete.