Skin Care Guidelines for Colorectal Patients
Careful attention to skin care is very important for colorectal patients. After surgery the stool will be loose and the increased frequency of bowel movements can be irritating to the skin. Your child will require frequent diaper changes with good skin care.
View the skin care guidelines (PDF).
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- Clean with warm water and mild soap.
- Pat dry with dry cloth, do not wipe.
- Apply Cavilon No-Sting Wipe on the skin.
- Apply layer of Hydraguard or another skin barrier cream on top of the Cavilon.
- Do not use baby wipes as they can cause irritation.
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- Clean with warm water and mild soap.
- Pat dry with dry cloth, do not wipe.
- Apply Cavilon No-Sting Wipe on the skin.
- Apply layer of Z-guard or Zinc based diaper cream on top of the Cavilon.
- Do not use baby wipes as they can further irritate the skin, causing more breakdown.
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- Cleanse with warm water and mild soap.
- Pat dry with dry cloth, do not wipe.
- 1st: Apply a dusting of stoma-adhesive powder to clean skin.
- 2nd: Apply the Cavilon No-Sting Wipe to set the powder creating a crusting effect.
- 3rd: Apply layer of Triple Butt Paste (You will need a prescription).
- Finally, you can place a layer of non-adherent dressings such as Vaseline gauze or telfa on each buttock to help hold the creams in place and keep the stool off the area.
- Do NOT use baby wipes as they can further irritate the skin, causing more breakdown.
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- If cleared by the colorectal team you may put your child in the tub with warm water and gentle soap. This will help clean the skin and remove all the products.
- Try to only wipe off the top layer of cream during diaper changes and reapply ointment as needed. Do not scrub to get old cream off of the buttocks!
Contact Information
If you have any questions about your child’s skin care regimen, please call 202-476-COLO (2656) or email us.