Coloplast Assura

Coloplast Assura is a brand of ostomy pouches and barriers featuring a unique spiral adhesive. This adhesive provides a strong hold and absorbs moisture, which reduces skin irritation. An ostomy pouch is what collects output from your stoma. A barrier, also known as a wafer, adheres to your skin and fits around your stoma. Some skin wafers have a pre-cut hole, while others allow you to cut your own hole to fit your unique stoma. A 1-piece ostomy pouch means that the wafer is connected to the pouch and cannot be removed. A 2-piece ostomy pouch consists of a separate wafer that you attach to a corresponding pouch.

Before applying your ostomy barrier, it is important that your skin is properly prepped. Using Skin Prep wipes or spray forms a protective layer on the skin. Applying an ostomy wafer to bare skin prevents it from adhering to your body properly. The ostomy barrier may peel or shift, which can result in a leak. Skipping skin prep also shortens the wear time of your ostomy appliance. Your skin can become raw or irritated from repeatedly applying and removing ostomy wafers. If you have any existing irritation, skin prep products will soothe the area and help it heal.

After prepping the skin, you can ostomy paste and, if needed, stoma powder. Stoma powder is only meant to be used on raw or broken skin to absorb moisture. This will help your wafer better adhere to your body. Ostomy paste fills in any uneven skin surface. A barrier seal, such as one from Coloplast Brava, can also be used to prevent leaks. Barrier seals are flexible strips that you mold to fit around your stoma. It is important that the barrier seal is placed up against your stoma with no gaps between the stoma and the seal. Afterward, your pouch can be applied.

Express Medical Supply carries many Hollister Ostomy Supplies that make applying your pouch easier, such as ostomy wafers with a floating flange. This type of wafer has a space between the flange itself and the fabric backing that adheres to your skin. The space allows you to put your fingertips under the flange while you are attaching your pouch. Your fingers will act as a cushion to reduce the amount of pressure on your abdomen during application. This is especially helpful for those whose bodies are sore after recovering from ostomy surgery. A floating flange wafer is suitable for any kind of stoma, whether it is convex, flush, or recessed.

If you do have a recessed stoma, Sensura Mio wafers from Coloplast can be especially helpful. These ostomy barriers feature a convex design that curves inward to gently push on the stoma, making it protrude more than it normally would. This allows your stoma to make better contact with the wafer. Better contact means a better fit, which reduces the likelihood of leaks. Sensura Mio wafers come in three levels of convexity: soft, light, and deep. One-piece pouches are available with all three levels of convexity. If you use a 2-piece ostomy system, Coloplast makes separate barriers in light and deep varieties.