If you have had an ostomy and are living with a stoma for the rest of your days, then you are probably well aware of the worst enemy for many ostomates like yourself. That’s right, I’m talking about the cursed problem of your stoma odor and all that. No one likes to be that person that smells bad, but if you have a stoma, it is most likely that you are going to be that person from time to time. I know from personal experience that strong smells coming from your stoma can make social situations very awkward and cause a lot of anxiety for you. There is truly nothing worse than people asking, “who passed wind??”, knowing full well that it is just your stoma doing its thing. Well, if you’re like me, then you’re constantly looking for ways to reduce odor coming from your stoma and ostomy pouch. Luckily for you, I’ve spent a lot of time researching different ways in which to hide your stoma odor that have definitely made my life with a stoma a bit easier. So without further ado, here are some tips and tricks that you can use today that will help you reduce your stoma odor in those awkward situations.

If you are finding a lot of foul smells coming from your ostomy pouch on a regular basis, the first thing you are going to want to do is make sure your ostomy pouch is properly secured and has a good fit. The seal on your ostomy bag is very important and can mean the difference between your ostomy pouch leaking or keeping everything sealed nice and tight. A bad seal can definitely cause odor and gas to leak out, creating that awful smell and making all your friends and family despise you – and no one wants that! So my first suggestion for you is to make sure that you have an ostomy bag that properly fits. One way to do this is to keep the area around your stoma very clean and clear so that the seal can be a good one.

If you have body hair, it may be beneficial to shave all that off in order to get a better seal. Also, don’t use any oils, lotions, or soaps around that area in the case of them irritating your stoma or the skin barrier. If the skin is getting irritated, it might also cause the seal to not fit properly and create a leakage in your ostomy pouch system.

Another tip I have for you regarding your disgusting stoma odor is to use deodorizing products made specifically for your ostomy. Now what I don’t want you to do is to spray some random deodorant, cologne, or perfume into your ostomy pouch to try to mask the smell of your output. Sure, it might mask the smell a little bit, but it is surely not the most effective way to do so and these products can also cause irritation for your stoma and lead to further complications. Therefore, it’s best to use odor eliminators that are specifically made for ostomy pouches and are way more effective at masking the smell. It could also be more beneficial to regularly empty your ostomy pouch if you aren’t already, because this can prevent further leakages which leads to a bad odor.