Caring for your ostomy

Why do I need to care for my ostomy?

You need to care for your ostomy because:

• You eliminate body waste through the end of the exposed intestine (stoma). Elimination of body waste must be done to ensure health.
• Without proper care, skin irritation is possible, making it difficult to maintain a good seal between the skin and the barrier.
• You want to continue to live a full life. Understanding how to care for your ostomy will help you live comfortably with it. See living with an ostomy.

Test Your Knowledge

Test your knowledge about why you need to care for an ostomy.

1. One reason you need to care for an ostomy is to prevent skin irritation.

1. False
2. True

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Author:	Douglas Dana Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: February 1, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology
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