Your Link to Healthy Skin
Is your skin irritated or weepy under your pouching system's skin barrier? Wondering what causes it and how to resolve it? The Peristomal Skin Assessment Guide for Consumers may be able to help. It's an easy-to-use digital tool designed to help identify common skin problems through actual photographs, suggest next steps for care or management, and appropriately prompt individuals to seek advice from a Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse (WOCN) for additional support.
The original guide, sponsored by Hollister Incorporated, was developed by the WOCN Society for use by clinicians only. But it soon became clear that it would benefit people living with ostomies. The same development team put their heads together and created a new version for consumers.
"Seventy-five percent of people with ostomies have a peristomal skin issue but don't know it's a problem and don't seek help," states Karen Spencer, Director Global Clinical Education Ostomy, Hollister Incorporated. "So having photos of what's normal and what's not is a good idea."
Since its launch in June, more than 5,486 people have accessed the guide from across the globe - the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Brazil. And the numbers are growing every day.
"Hollister believes in helping people with ostomies move on with life," says Karen, "and peristomal skin health is one important step in the journey."
What are you waiting for?
Find the guide on the WOCN Society website at psag-consumer.wocn.org.
The Peristomal Skin Assessment Guide is available from the WOCN Society through an educational grant from Hollister Incorporated.
The Peristomal Skin Assessment Guide is available from the WOCN Society through an educational grant from Hollister Incorporated.
