You should never hesitate to consult your ostomy nurse, as soon as you experience skin problems or complications. However, spotting signs of leakage early can help you stop a potential skin problem even before it develops.
Start by looking for ostomy output, either on your skin or on the back of the barrier. Even if there is no direct visual sign of leakage, be aware of anything unusual, such as if the barrier looks 'melted' (because the barrier has reacted with the output).
Signs of mechanical irritation
If your skin is red, sore and moist, maybe even bleeding a little, but you have not had any leakage, the issue could be 'mechanical'. That means your skin is simply being irritated from removing the pouch too often, too vigorously, or from cleaning or scrubbing the skin to roughly.
To avoid mechanical irritation, try to be as gentle as possible, both when removing your barrier and when cleaning the skin. Try to peel the barrier off slowly, rather than ripping or tearing off. Using a "push-pull" technique can help reduce stress on the skin.
