About
An ostomy wafer or skin barrier is a part of the ostomy appliance that goes against the skin and forms a seal. It has a hole that allows the stoma to open into the ostomy pouch. A skin barrier is also known as a flange.
The side of the skin barrier that has to go against the peristomal skin is laden with an adhesive. The application of a skin barrier to the peristomal skin causes the adhesive to come into action to form a leak-proof seal. The primary purpose of this part of the appliance is to keep the ensure pouch attached while you walk or engage in your routine activities. The flange also prevents the stomal output from coming in contact with the peristomal skin.
In a two-piece ostomy appliance, the flange and the pouch are two separate elements that combine to make the appliance functional. You can use multiple pouches with a single flange without removing it from the peristomal skin. However, not all pouches are compatible with all ostomy barriers. In a two-piece ostomy appliance, the flange is a coupling element with a slot where you can snap-in the pouch.
In a one-piece ostomy appliance, the flange is an inseparable part of the system. It means that if you want to remove the pouch, you are going to have to take the skin barrier off the skin as well.
There are different types of ostomy wafers or skin barriers.
In a two-piece ostomy appliance, the flange and the pouch are two separate elements that combine to make the appliance functional. You can use multiple pouches with a single flange without removing it from the peristomal skin. However, not all pouches are compatible with all ostomy barriers. In a two-piece ostomy appliance, the flange is a coupling element with a slot where you can snap-in the pouch.
In a one-piece ostomy appliance, the flange is an inseparable part of the system. It means that if you want to remove the pouch, you are going to have to take the skin barrier off the skin as well.
There are different types of ostomy wafers or skin barriers.
Precut ostomy barriers
These flanges come with premade holes of the most common sizes and shapes of the stomas. The opening in a precut ostomy barrier is mostly circular, although you may also ask for the flanges with oval-shaped openings. The significant benefit of using a precut skin barrier is that it saves you from the trouble of creating an opening. If your stoma has a regular shape, all you have to do is to measure the size of it to get a precut flange that fits your requirements.
Cut-to-fit skin barriers
Cut-to-fit skin barriers do not have premade holes, which means that you are going to have to create an opening yourself. These skin barriers come with markings that allow you to create an opening of the shape and size of your stoma. These skin barriers are an appropriate option for people who have irregular-shaped stomas. The task of cutting a skin barrier before its application may seem like a hefty task at first, but you can manage it by cutting multiple skin barriers in a single sitting to avoid hassle at the time of application. This approach is especially helpful when you are packing several ostomy supplies for air travel.
Moldable wafers
A moldable wafer is generally an even better option than a cut-to-fit flange. This flange comes with a moldable material, which is necessarily stoma safe. It has a small opening, which you can enlarge by rolling the inner edges of the opening outward. Once the opening is big enough, you can place the flange over the peristomal skin, allowing the stoma to pass through the opening. Next, you will need to roll the edges back until the moldable material forms a collar around the stoma. By pressing this material a little against the skin, the flange will settle around the stoma nicely, forming a leak-proof seal.