title: Treating peristomal skin problems in the community.
abstract: Adaptation to life with a stoma depends to a large extent on the health of the peristomal skin. This area of skin can become damaged in various ways, and the resulting discomfort or pain can make the use of a stoma appliance difficult. Problems such as these can be one of the major factors facing a community nurse in her/his care of the stoma patient. If the community nurse is able to recognize and correct these problems, this will enable the patient to carry on with a normal and productive life. Failure to correct stoma-related problems can have significant negative effects on patients' psychosocial well-being. This article discusses the causes and management of the commonest stoma-related skin problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Coloproctology, The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust, Hillingdon, Middlesex.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000592:standards; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004766:Enterostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D017592:Skin Care / Q000451:nursing; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D054047:Surgical Stomas / Q000009:adverse effects*