Bathing and Showering with an Ostomy
Bathing and showering with an ostomy should not interfere with your regular cleaning routine. With the right information and products, bathing can still be a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
- You can bathe or shower with or without wearing your pouching system. Normal exposure to air or water will not harm or enter your stoma.1
- If you're showering without your pouch, remove the skin barrier too. Try to create a routine that coincides with when you're due for a pouch change. Once out of the bath or shower, your skin should be completely dry before applying a new skin barrier and pouch.
- If you're showering with your pouch system, check your pouch seal. Before getting in the bath or shower, make sure your seal is secure. It is recommended to wear the entire pouching system (skin barrier and pouch). Wearing only the skin barrier may decrease wear time.
- Use all-natural products. If you shower with your pouch off, make sure you use a soap that is oil and residue-free. Shower gels, bath foams, and some moisturizing lotions will be hard to rinse off, making it difficult for your pouching system to adhere.
- Listen to your body. If possible, select a time when your stoma is less active.
- Using a filtered pouch? Place a filter cover sticker over the filter opening before bathing.
Blogs
2024-11-28
Date Night With An Ostomy
Date Night with an Ostomy
Are you feeling nervous at the thought of date night after ostomy surgery? With a little planning ahead, you can be sure to have a great night out.
Read more2024-04-24
Fashion Tips For Living With An Ostomy
Fashion Tips for Living with an Ostomy
Just because you’ve had ostomy surgery, your wardrobe can still reflect your personal style.
Read more2024-04-24
Swimming with an Ostomy
Swimming with an Ostomy
You can swim or be in the water while wearing your pouching system.
Read more2024-04-24
Managing Humidity
Managing Humidity and Extending Ostomy Pouch Wear Times
The me+ support team has put together some useful tips just for you to help optimize your pouch wear time.
Read more2023-10-19
me+ community
Randy Henniger 2011
When he was only 30 years old, recently married and the father of two boys, Randy Henniger was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
Read more2023-10-19
me+ community
Lisa Becker
From the tender age of 13, Lisa Becker has lived with Crohn’s disease. Today, just over 20 years later, she is turning her years of adversity into her career passion with a “fashionable” business that caters to helping fellow ostomates feel more confident in everyday life.
Read more2023-10-19
me+ community
Alexander Coe
Born in China, Alex Coe was left incontinent due to an imperforate anus that doctors tried to repair with a pull-through procedure. The procedure left Alex with complications that would not be resolved until the age of 10.
Read more2023-10-19
me+ community
Kent Cullen
Dr. Cullen was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1968, a few years after he became a board certified colon and rectal surgeon, and underwent ileostomy surgery in 1983.
Read more2023-10-18
me+ community
Jearlean Taylor
At two years of age, Jearlean developed a rare form of cancer. Doctors feared she would not live to celebrate her third birthday. They performed a urostomy and colostomy on the toddler, and hoped for the best.
Read more2023-10-18
me+ community
Rob Hill
Today, Rob continues to break down barriers for people living with intestinal diseases, letting them know that "it's okay to talk about these conditions and not something to hide behind.
Read more