Case closed: An economical treatment protocol for peristomal skin excoriation.

Introduction Approximately 45% of stoma patients experience peristomal skin excoriation.1 Common causes include mechanical trauma, infectious dermatitis, and pyoderma gangrenosum. Pyoderma gangrenosum most often is associated with inflammatory bowel disease; presentation may begin with mild excoriation that rapidly develops into painful, pyogenic ulcers within hours or days. Regardless of the cause, the consequences of peristomal excoriation are troublesome for the patient and costly from a health-economic viewpoint. Early intervention and treatment of excoriated skin results in better outcomes for patients.2