Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Skin problems around a stoma | CION Cancer Clinics
Sore skin around a stoma is most often caused by output leaking under the baseplate. Treatment starts with finding and fixing that leak, cleaning with plain water, drying well and fitting a bag that seals. Powders and barrier films help once the cause is sorted. This page explains the common skin problems, what to do at your next change, which home remedies make it worse, and when to call. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Why is the skin around my stoma sore, and how is it treated?
- What are the common kinds of skin problem around a stoma?
- What can I do at home at the next bag change?
- Which home remedies make stoma skin worse?
- What are the products a stoma nurse might suggest?
- When should I see a stoma nurse, and what can this page not tell me?
- Common questions about sore skin around a stoma
The short answer
Why is the skin around my stoma sore, and how is it treated?
Sore skin around a stoma is most often caused by output leaking under the baseplate and sitting on the skin. The treatment is to find and fix that leak, keep the skin clean and dry, and let it heal under a well-fitted bag. Creams and powders help only once the cause is sorted.
What healthy skin around a stoma looks like
The skin under the bag should look much like the skin on the rest of your tummy. It should not be red, broken, weeping or itchy. Some people think soreness comes with having a stoma. It does not, and it is worth fixing early.
Why it gets worse quickly
Output from an ileostomy contains digestive juices that act on skin within hours. Urine from a urostomy keeps skin wet. Once the skin is raw and weeping, the baseplate cannot stick properly, so it leaks more, and the skin gets sorer. Breaking that cycle early is much easier than treating broken skin later.
On your report or clinic letter this may be called peristomal skin, which simply means the skin around the stoma.What causes it
What are the common kinds of skin problem around a stoma?
Each looks slightly different, and each needs a different fix. A stoma nurse can tell them apart by looking.
Leak irritation
Red, wet, sore skin in the shape of the leak, often on one side. The most common problem by far.
Usual causes
- Hole cut too large
- A skin fold or dip near the stoma
Stripping
Patchy, raw skin where the top layer has been pulled off with the baseplate. It comes from changing too often or peeling off too fast.
Allergy
Redness and itching in the exact shape of the baseplate or a product you use, even where there has been no leak. A change of brand or product often settles it.
Fungal rash
An itchy red rash with small spots at the edges, common in hot, humid weather and after antibiotics. It needs a treatment chosen by a nurse or doctor.
Inflamed hair roots
Small red spots around hairs under the baseplate, from hairs being pulled. Trimming the hair with scissors, not a blade, usually helps.
Small raised lumps
Red, moist bumps on or at the edge of the stoma that bleed easily, often where the baseplate rubs. On a report they may be called granulomas. A nurse or doctor should look at them.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
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When sore skin is not the main problem
Call your surgical team or go to the emergency department the same day if the stoma turns dark purple, grey or black, if the skin around it is hot, hard and spreading red with a fever, or if the stoma is bleeding and will not stop with gentle pressure. Do not try a new cream first and wait to see.
At your next change
What can I do at home at the next bag change?
Look at the old baseplate
Peel it off slowly, holding the skin down. Turn it over and see where the output has tracked. That shows you where the leak starts.
Clean gently with water
Use warm water and a soft cloth or dry wipe. Avoid soap, oils, antiseptic liquids and baby wipes with lotion, which stop the bag sticking.
Dry the skin completely
Pat dry. Damp skin is the most common reason a new baseplate fails. Take your time here.
Re-measure the stoma
Check the hole is just slightly bigger than the stoma. A hole that was right last month may be too big now.
Photograph and report
Take a clear photo of the skin and the used baseplate. If the skin is no better after a few changes, send it to your stoma nurse.
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Commonly believed
Which home remedies make stoma skin worse?
"Coconut oil will soothe the soreness."
Oil, ghee, talc and most ordinary creams leave a film that stops the baseplate sticking. The bag then leaks, and the skin gets worse. Use only products your stoma nurse has suggested for use under a bag.
"Leave the bag off for a few hours to let the skin breathe."
Output does not stop while the bag is off. Leaving the skin uncovered usually means more contact with output, not less. A well-fitted bag protects healing skin better than open air.
"Antiseptic lotion will keep infection away."
Antiseptic liquids dry and irritate the skin and can sting raw areas. Plain warm water cleans the skin around a stoma well enough.
"A skin rash means the stoma has a problem."
Most rashes are a skin problem caused by the bag or a leak, not a sign that anything is wrong inside. The stoma itself is usually healthy. That is why fixing the fit is often enough.
Products you may hear about
What are the products a stoma nurse might suggest?
- Stoma powder
- A fine powder dusted onto raw, weeping skin to dry it so the bag can stick. Brush off the extra before fitting.
- Barrier film
- A spray or wipe that leaves a thin protective layer on the skin without stopping the bag sticking.
- Seal ring
- A soft, stretchy ring placed around the stoma to fill dips and stop output reaching the skin.
- Adhesive remover
- A spray or wipe that loosens the baseplate so it comes off without pulling the skin.
- Convex baseplate
- A curved baseplate that presses gently to help a flat or sunken stoma sit out and seal better.
Being straight with you
When should I see a stoma nurse, and what can this page not tell me?
See a stoma nurse if the skin is not improving after a few careful changes, if it is broken and weeping, or if leaks keep happening. Do not keep trying new products on your own. The cause is often something you cannot see from above, like a dip that shows only when you sit.
Who is more likely to have trouble
People with an ileostomy, a stoma near a skin fold or scar, a flat or sunken stoma, diabetes, or skin made delicate by chemotherapy tend to get sore skin more easily. Hot, humid months are harder for everyone. A bulge around the stoma, called a parastomal hernia, can change its shape and break the seal.
What this page cannot do
It cannot tell you which of the problems above you have. Several look alike in a photo. It also cannot tell you which cream or medicine to use. Some rashes need a prescribed treatment, and using the wrong one can make things worse. Your stoma nurse or doctor will choose it.
Bring a used baseplate and your current products to the appointment. They help the nurse find the cause quickly.Questions we are asked
Common questions about sore skin around a stoma
How long does sore skin around a stoma take to heal?
Mild redness often settles within a few changes once the leak is fixed. Broken, weeping skin takes longer. If there is no improvement after about a week of careful changes, or it keeps getting worse, show it to a stoma nurse rather than waiting.
Can I use a nappy rash cream under the bag?
Most nappy creams are greasy and stop the baseplate sticking, so the bag leaks and the skin gets worse. Ask your stoma nurse for products made for use under a bag, such as stoma powder or a barrier film. Do not start a medicated cream without advice.
Why does my skin itch under the bag but look normal?
Itching can be an early sign of a small leak, sweating under the baseplate, or a mild reaction to the adhesive. Check the back of the old baseplate for staining. If there is no leak and the itch persists, ask your nurse about trying a different product.
Should I shave the hair around my stoma?
Trimming with small scissors or an electric trimmer is safer than a razor, which can nick the skin and cause spots. Trim only when needed, and keep the blade well away from the stoma. Hair pulled out with the baseplate is a common cause of red spots.
The skin is so wet the bag will not stick. What now?
Dust a little stoma powder on the raw area, brush off the extra, and if your nurse has suggested it, dab a barrier film over the top. Let it dry before fitting the bag. If the bag still will not stay on, contact your stoma nurse the same day.
Is sore skin worse in summer?
Often, yes. Sweat loosens the adhesive, and heat and damp encourage fungal rashes. Loose cotton clothing, drying the skin well and checking the seal more often all help. Store your bags away from heat, as warm adhesive sticks less well.
Can chemotherapy make stoma skin worse?
It can. Some chemotherapy makes skin thinner and more delicate, and it can loosen the output. Take extra care peeling the baseplate off, use an adhesive remover if advised, and tell the chemotherapy team about skin changes. Do not stop any treatment on your own.
Does a skin problem mean my stoma needs another operation?
Rarely. Most skin problems are fixed by improving the fit, changing a product or treating a rash. If a hernia, a stoma that has sunk in, or a narrowed opening is causing constant leaks, your surgical team will explain the options and what they weigh up.
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Sources
- American Cancer Society — Ostomies
- NHS — Ileostomy
- NHS — Colostomy
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Cancer information and support
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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