Tips on How to Avoid Ostomy Odor

We’ve been there. 

You’re trying to just live your life with an ostomy, and then you smell it—the dreaded ostomy odor. 

An ostomy comes with a lot of changes, including dietary changes, and what you consume from here on out does impact the expel. So that means od of course. 

For those who go out in public, this is a huge concern. After all, you don’t want to smell bad and have it impact how others view you, right? 

Save the stress, keep your social life in check and start preparing for when you go out with these helpful ostomy tips for keeping smell at bay. 

First, Look at How Your Body Reacts to Some Foods and Drinks 

The first thing is you’re going to need to learn how to monitor your body’s reactions to the food you consume. 

Different foods create different responses, and this is something that’s different for everyone. 

There are some foods that produce a lot more gas within, and that impacts your ostomy bag. It can also create a sound, which is embarrassing too. So watch out for this. 

Those that are high in fiber and have a lot of sugars might also impact the smell and gas too. 

You should first begin by consuming food, and from there, seeing how your body reacts. This goes for fruits and veggies, but also look at how your body reacts to alcohol especially beer, soda, dairy, nuts and meats, and other foods that are high in sugar. 

Slowly introduce these in, and see how your body reacts to this, so you can see what is creating gas.  Many people don’t realize that if you monitor this, you’ll be able to see what causes reactions, so that when you’re out, you can avoid those foods. 

You can also avoid odors by eating less fish, asparagus, onions, and garlic, since they tend to create more odor. 

Empty the Pouch 

If it’s smelly, empty it out. when you let waste accumulate, it becomes stronger.  Don’t let your pouch go to over half full, and you should definitely empty it as well if it starts to feel heavy. That’s because it makes the seal loose, which then causes waste to seep out and makes it smellier too. 

If you’ve recently gotten your ostomy, talk to the nurse or doctor on the best way to do this both when out of the house, and in private too, and make sure you empty it the correct way every single time. 

You want to do this 2-3 times a day to avoid odors. 

Consider an Odor Eliminator 

If there is still trouble, consider purchasing odor eliminators. This is something that comes in multiple forms, so if you’re not sure what’s right for you, try this. 

Some options include odor eliminator sprays, deodorants, and other products you can insert. However, you should try to avoid using tic tacs to eliminate odor, since it’s dicey in terms of success. 

Get a Filter 

Consider buying a filter, which helps eliminate the gas and reduces seal strain. That way, you can properly filter out the odor without worrying about the seal on your bag. 

Get a  New Ostomy Bag 

Finally, consider a new ostomy bag, since you might not have the right one for your stoma.  The seal might also need to be replaced too, especially if you’re struggling to fit it tightly on yourself. 

Ostomy odor is embarrassing and it’s not something people want to deal with, especially with the odor leaks and implications. Luckily, there are ways to fix this. 7

How do I Clean My Peristomal Skin

Having an ostomy means that you need to also focus on one thing—cleaning your peristomal skin.

That’s the skin that’s around your stoma. It’s also very fragile, so with one wrong move it can be damaged. 

However, if you don’t clean it, it can cause irritation, infection, and a whole slew of other issues, so you need to keep this clean.

Here, we’ll go over what the skin is, and how you can clean it. 

What does Peristomal Skin Look Like? 

Peristomal skin is of course that opening in your stoma after an ostomy occurs. 

This skin is delicate, so it does require you to be diligent in your routines. 

Normal peristomal skin, is a pinkish or reddish color that is similar to the way your mouth looks. 

If you’re not sure whether your stoma looks correct, stand by a mirror, and look at it.  It should be shiny, the pinkish-red color, and moist as well. 

If you notice the skin looking any different, is irritated, and may have bleeding or even pain when touching, you should definitely contact your doctor for ways to fix this. 

If you do notice tiny painful red bumps as well, that’s also infection, or folliculitis, and you should avoid shaving to prevent this. Finally, you should also look for red rashers, since that’s a fungal infection, and that comes with both burning and itching. 

How to Keep the Skin Healthy 

You should make sure that you keep it clean whenever possible. 

This can be avoided by not using a ton of moisturizers, residue, and some oils, since this does affect the adhesion of the pouch. 

You should also look at the type of soap you’re using. If you use certain kinds of soaps, it impacts the skin barriers, weakening it and putting you at risk for leaks and irritating the skin.

When you bathe, make sure that if you use a two-piece system, you don’t remove this, since it does break down the adhesion location. 

However, when cleaning this, don’t be prudent with the soap and water.  You cannot damage your stoma with it, only if you clean it excessively and the soaps cause abrasion, so don’t be afraid to keep it clean. 

Since some products do cause adhesion and irritation, some people will only use water, which is sufficient, but make sure you clean your hands so you don’t contaminate the area. 

When using soaps, try to avoid anything too heavy, and work to a mild soap for best results. You should also avoid the following: 

• Skin creams 

• Powders 

• Lotions 

• Wipes 

• Rubbing alcohol

• Ointments and medications 

Or anything else that isn’t approved to be used on ostomates. 

How to Clean It 

This is simple. First take some warm water and run a washcloth under it. 

Then rinse the stoma area, removing any skin paste or adhesion before you do so.  You should also get rid of old adhesions as well so that there isn’t problems with attaching this again. 

Use motions that are gentle and circular, not putting a ton of pressure on that area.  :Usually, if you’re conscious of the movements, it’s simple and takes a few moments.

Never scrub hard, or use exfoliating items on a stoma. 

If you do see a little bit of blood, don’t freak out.  it might be because a couple of the blood vessels did get exposed. If the bleeding won’t stop after you clean it, talk to the doctor. 

And there you have it, everything you need to do to clean the stoma.