Post Operative Skin Care After Colorectal Surgery
With Dr. Emily Rice
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Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Talk to your (or your child's) care team about your situation.
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What the experts said
Following surgery on the colon, stooling patterns are likely to change, at least for a short period of time.
Patients very often have looser, watery stools and stool more often after colorectal surgery.
Loose, frequent stools can cause perianal skin to be bothered, irritated, and break down.
Children who had an ostomy are more likely to have skin breakdown once stool comes out of the bottom, because their skin has not been used to having stool on it.
Baby wipes should not be used to clean the perianal area post-operatively, as this can worsen skin irritation.
The bottom should be cleaned with mild soap and water from a syringe or spray bottle.
Skin should be patted or tapped dry with a soft cloth, not wiped.
A thin layer of cream should be left on the skin when possible between diaper changes, rather than wiping all the way down to the skin.
A thin layer of cream protects the child's skin.
When skin on the bottom is broken open or has breakdown, it should be treated with Cavaillon wipes by gently wiping the area.
Stoma powder should only be applied if instructed by the provider.
When using stoma powder, apply a light dusting, then tap or blot with Cavaillon wipes again to create a crumble or crusting.
Diaper creams should be applied over the Cavaillon barrier layer as instructed by the team.
Creams should not be applied directly on the surgical site or stitches, as they can cause stitches to dissolve faster than they should.