Support for life after ostomy – by an ostomate, for ostomates.
If you are trying to troubleshoot leaks, sore skin, or a pouch that never seems to sit quite right, it is very common to hear about stoma paste and ostomy powder. The confusing part is that they are often mentioned together, even though they are used for different reasons.
In simple terms, stoma paste is usually used to help fill uneven areas around the stoma so the barrier can sit more securely, while ostomy powder is used to absorb moisture on irritated or weepy skin. Ostomy Canada notes that accessories such as paste are often used only when necessary, and that many nurses take a “less is best” approach to pouching accessories. Coloplast also describes ostomy powder as a product that absorbs moisture and helps keep the skin dry.
If you have ever wondered whether you need paste, powder, both, or neither, you are not alone. The right answer depends on what problem you are actually trying to solve. This guide breaks down what each product does, when it may help, and when adding more accessories may not be the real fix.
If you want to explore related products, our ostomy accessories page is a helpful place to start.
Stoma paste is not really meant to be a glue. It is better to think of it as a caulking or filler that helps create a more even surface around the stoma. If the skin has dips, folds, scars, or uneven contours, paste can help fill those areas so the barrier has a better chance of sealing properly.
That is one reason paste is often used when someone is dealing with leaks caused by uneven skin rather than by general moisture. Ostomy Canada specifically notes that pastes can act as fillers to even out skin contours and help prevent leaks.
Some people use a small bead of paste around the stoma opening or in a crease where the barrier tends to lift. The goal is not to use a lot. It is to use just enough to improve the seal without creating extra mess or making the routine harder.
If you are trying to improve fit and wear time, you may also want to explore our understanding ostomy barriers guide and our barrier rings and strips.
Ostomy powder is used for a different issue. It is generally meant for moist, irritated, or weepy skin around the stoma. The powder helps absorb that moisture so the skin barrier has a better chance of sticking.
Hollister explains that there is no medication in stoma powder. Its purpose is to absorb excess moisture and improve the chance of the skin barrier adhering to the skin. They also note that excess powder should be brushed off because too much can interfere with adhesion. Ostomy Canada’s educational guides similarly caution that too much powder or misuse may interfere with the pouching system sticking properly.
That point matters. Powder is not something most people need on healthy, dry skin. It is meant for specific situations where moisture is getting in the way of a good seal or making the skin more vulnerable.
If your skin is broken down or repeatedly weepy, it may be worth reviewing our wound and skin care options as well.
The simplest way to think about it is this:
Paste helps with uneven skin
Powder helps with moisture
Paste is usually there to improve the seal by filling gaps, dips, or creases. Powder is there to help dry irritated skin so the barrier can adhere better.
They are solving different problems, which is why choosing the right one starts with understanding what is actually happening around your stoma. If the issue is leakage because your barrier is not sitting flat, paste may help. If the issue is moist, irritated skin that will not let the barrier stick, powder may help.
Sometimes people use both, but not always at the same time and not always as a first step. Hollister’s skin care education notes that powder can be used on broken skin, and that paste may sometimes be applied over powder to help seal it in, depending on the situation.
Stoma paste may be worth considering when:
the skin around your stoma is uneven
you have folds, creases, scars, or dips near the barrier edge
the barrier tends to lift in one specific area
leaks seem to start from an uneven contour rather than from widespread skin moisture
Paste can be especially helpful if your abdomen shape has changed, or if your stoma area is harder to fit than it used to be. Ostomy Canada’s skin irritation guidance specifically mentions using stoma strips to level the skin and then applying paste and other products as needed to improve the seal.
The key is to use a small amount and give it a little time to settle if the product instructions suggest it. More is not always better.
Ostomy powder may help when:
the skin around your stoma is moist or weepy
the barrier will not stick because the skin is too damp
there is irritation that needs to be dried before applying the barrier
a clinician has suggested a crusting technique or similar approach
Coloplast describes ostomy powder as a product that reduces skin irritation related to moist skin by absorbing moisture and helping keep the skin dry. Hollister also advises brushing off the excess so the barrier can still adhere properly.
If the skin has healed and is no longer moist, powder is often no longer needed. Continuing to use it on healthy dry skin can sometimes make adhesion worse instead of better.
Sometimes, yes. In some situations, powder is used first on moist or broken skin, and then another product is used to help seal and protect the area. Hollister’s skin care guide notes that paste can be applied over powder in some cases to help seal the powder in. Ostomy Canada also references the crusting technique, where powder is used with a skin barrier wipe or spray.
That said, combining products does not automatically make a pouching system better. If too many layers or too much product are used, the barrier may actually stick less well. If you are not sure whether to combine products, it is often best to start simple and get guidance from a stoma nurse if the problem keeps coming back.
One of the most common mistakes is using the wrong product for the wrong problem. If the issue is moist skin, paste alone may not help. If the issue is uneven skin contour, powder will not solve the root cause.
Another common mistake is using too much. Too much powder can interfere with adhesion. Too much paste can make the routine messier and may not improve the seal. Several patient education resources emphasize that accessories should be used thoughtfully and only when they address a real need.
It is also easy to fall into the habit of adding more and more accessories when the real issue may be fit. If leaks or skin irritation keep happening, the answer may be a different barrier shape, a convex option, a better fitting routine, or support from a clinician rather than simply layering on more products.
Sometimes paste or powder can help, but they are not a substitute for a pouching system that truly fits. If you are having frequent leaks, persistent redness, ongoing skin breakdown, or trouble getting more than a short wear time, it may be worth stepping back and looking at the whole setup.
Questions to ask include:
Is the barrier opening the right size?
Has your abdomen shape changed?
Is your stoma flush, retracted, or difficult to fit?
Would a different barrier shape help more than another accessory?
Ostomy Canada and other educational resources consistently point toward fit, skin condition, and body contours as major factors in whether a pouching system works well.
Ostomy accessories
Wound and skin care
Understanding barriers guide
Barrier rings and strips
Ostomy Canada accessories guide
Ostomy Canada guide to uneven skin around your ostomy
Hollister: Ostomy accessories, when and how to use them
UOAA living with an ostomy
What is stoma paste used for?
Stoma paste is mainly used as a filler to help create a more even surface around the stoma. It can help improve the seal when there are folds, creases, scars, or uneven skin contours.
When should you use stoma powder?
Stoma powder is usually used on moist, irritated, or weepy skin around the stoma. It helps absorb moisture so the barrier has a better chance of sticking.
Is stoma paste adhesive?
Not really. Stoma paste is better thought of as a filler or caulking material rather than a true glue. Its job is to help level uneven skin and support a better seal.
Can you use paste and powder together?
Sometimes, yes. In some cases powder is used first on moist or broken skin, and then paste or another protective product is used to help seal the area. But using multiple products is not always necessary, and too much can interfere with adhesion.
Stoma paste and ostomy powder can both be useful, but they are not interchangeable. Paste is usually there to help with uneven skin and improve the seal. Powder is there to help manage moisture on irritated skin. Knowing which problem you are actually trying to solve is what makes these products much easier to use well.
If you are exploring products to improve comfort and pouch security, take a look at our ostomy accessories, wound and skin care, and barrier support products to build a routine that feels more secure and repeatable.
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