Barrier rings, pastes, powders and adhesive removers

Once the pouching system is chosen, the accessories decide whether it actually holds. Barrier rings, pastes, powders, films and adhesive removers are cheap relative to the appliance, and getting them right is usually the difference between a barrier that lasts three days and one that fails in six hours.

This guide explains what each accessory is for, which ones most people genuinely need, and how the main products compare.

Freshness check, September 2026 — we re-confirmed every product detail and link in this guide.

What each accessory is actually for

Barrier rings and seals

Mouldable putty rings placed between the skin and the barrier, around the stoma. They do three things: fill the small gap between the stoma and the barrier opening, level out dips and creases so the barrier is not bridging a gap, and absorb moisture at the point where output first meets skin. For most people with a leak problem, a ring is the single most effective accessory.

Ostomy paste

Despite the name, paste is not an adhesive. It is a filler for uneven contours, applied like caulk to fill a scar, dip or crease that a ring cannot follow. Most pastes contain alcohol and sting on broken skin. Rings have replaced paste for many people, but paste still wins on genuinely awkward topography.

Stoma powder

A hydrocolloid or pectin powder for weeping, broken skin only. It absorbs moisture so the barrier has something dry to adhere to. On healthy skin it does nothing useful and gets in the way of adhesion.

Barrier film

A no-sting liquid film, in a wipe or spray, that leaves a thin protective layer on the skin. It protects against adhesive stripping and against output, and is the second half of the crusting technique used on raw skin.

Adhesive removers

Sprays or wipes that break the bond between adhesive and skin, making removal gentler and clearing residue. Alcohol-based versions are cheaper and evaporate fast but sting; silicone-based versions are kinder to sore or fragile skin.

How the main ostomy accessories compare

Product	Type	Typical price	Stands out for
ConvaTec Eakin Cohesive seal	Barrier ring	from ~$6 each	The most forgiving on wet or weeping skin; the widest range of sizes and shapes
Hollister Adapt CeraRing	Barrier ring	from ~$6 each	Ceramide-infused, aimed at dry or already-damaged peristomal skin
Coloplast Brava moldable ring	Barrier ring	~$57 / box	Resists erosion and absorbs excess moisture; alcohol-free and sting-free
ConvaTec Eakin Cohesive paste	Paste	~$16	Filling scars, dips and creases a ring cannot follow
Coloplast Brava paste	Paste	~$22	The main alternative filler paste
ConvaTec Stomahesive powder	Powder	~$13	Weeping, broken peristomal skin
Coloplast Brava adhesive remover	Spray or wipes	~$13–15	Gentle removal and residue clearing; wipes travel well
ConvaTec Esenta / Niltac	Silicone remover	~$15–20	Silicone-based, sting-free; the pick for fragile or sore skin

Top ostomy accessories by category

Best ostomy barrier ring overall: ConvaTec Eakin Cohesive seal (from ~$6)

The long-established default, and the most forgiving product in the category when skin is wet or weeping. It comes in the widest range of sizes and shapes, and can be stretched, moulded or stacked to build up a deeper seal. If a leak is the problem and only one thing is going to be tried, this is it.

Best barrier ring for damaged skin: Hollister Adapt CeraRing (from ~$6)

Infused with ceramide, matching the approach Hollister takes in its CeraPlus barriers, and aimed at peristomal skin that is dry, stripped or recovering.

Best moldable barrier ring: Coloplast Brava moldable ring

Designed to resist erosion from output and to absorb excess moisture, and made alcohol-free and sting-free, which matters if the skin around the stoma is already sore.

Best ostomy paste: ConvaTec Eakin Cohesive paste (~$16)

Where topography is the problem — a deep scar, a fold, an old drain site — a paste fills what a ring cannot follow. Use it as a filler, not as glue, and expect it to sting if the skin is broken.

Best stoma powder: ConvaTec Stomahesive powder (~$13)

The standard hydrocolloid powder for weeping skin. Apply to the raw area, brush off the excess so only a thin film remains, and follow with a barrier film wipe if the skin is very wet.

Best ostomy adhesive remover spray: Coloplast Brava adhesive remover (~$13–15)

Effective, widely stocked, and available as both a spray and individually wrapped wipes. The spray is better at home, the wipes are better in a bag.

Best adhesive remover for sensitive skin: a silicone-based remover

Silicone-based removers such as ConvaTec’s Esenta and Niltac lines do not sting and are markedly kinder on fragile or already sore skin than alcohol-based products. They cost a little more and are worth it for anyone changing frequently or with thin, older skin.

Best adhesive remover wipes for travel

Individually wrapped wipes, in any of the above brands. They are compact, do not count as a liquid, and are the practical choice for a bag or a suitcase.

How to get a good seal, step by step

1. Empty the pouch first so you are not working against a full bag.
2. Remove the old barrier by pushing the skin away from the adhesive, working from the top down, rather than pulling the adhesive off the skin. Use a remover if the skin is fragile.
3. Clean with plain water only. No soap with moisturiser, no oil, no wipes containing lanolin. Residue is a leading cause of adhesion failure.
4. Dry completely. Hydrocolloid will not bond to damp skin.
5. Treat broken skin if present: powder, dust off the excess, then a barrier film wipe. Repeat if it is still wet.
6. Size the opening to clear the stoma by about 2 mm.
7. Fill dips and creases with a barrier ring, or paste for awkward contours.
8. Warm the barrier between your hands before applying it.
9. Hold a hand over it for 30 to 60 seconds. Body heat is what activates the bond, and this step is the one most often skipped.
10. Change on a schedule, before the barrier is due to fail rather than after it has.

What most people actually need

Not all of it. A reasonable starting kit for someone whose skin is healthy is a box of barrier rings and an adhesive remover. Powder and barrier film are for when skin breaks down; paste is for difficult contours. Buying the full range on day one usually means most of it sits in a drawer.

If leaks continue after the seal steps above, the issue is more likely the stoma’s position or shape — flush, retracted, or sitting in a crease — than the accessories. That is a conversation with a stoma care nurse, and often a move to a convex barrier:

• Ostomy bags and pouches compared — barriers, convexity and why pouches leak
• Ostomy odour control compared — deodorants, lubricants and pancaking
• Where to buy ostomy supplies — suppliers, Medicare and insurance
• Ostomy belts compared — taking weight off the adhesive

The bottom line

Barrier rings are the accessory with the highest return: they fill the gap where leaks start, they are cheap, and they suit almost everyone. Paste is a filler for difficult skin contours, not a glue. Powder is for broken skin only. A silicone adhesive remover is worth the extra cost if your skin is fragile.

And the free part matters as much as the products: clean with water, dry properly, size to 2 mm, warm the barrier, and hold it in place while your body heat does the work.