Effect of aloe vera gel on healing peristomal skin complications in patients with colostomy and ileostomy

Background
Peristomal skin complications are major problems that have a great effect on the quality of life of patients with colostomy and ileostomy. Therefore, there is a need to use safe products with the least side effects to soothe these complications and reduce pain. Nowadays, the use of aloe vera in the treatment of different diseases and skin problems is on the rise, with a significant positive effect.

Objectives
In this study, the effect of topical use of this medicinal plant on peristomal skin complications was investigated.

Material and methods
The study sample consists of patients with colostomy and ileostomy who had referred to selected clinics in Shiraz. The control group used standard treatments, but the experimental group used aloe vera gel instead. The convenient sampling method was used. The participants were divided into experimental and control groups via random allocation by the even and odd method. The control group used standard treatments, but the experimental group used aloe vera gel instead. For data analysis, statistic tests such as Wilcoxon, U Mann–Whitney, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, t-Test and non-parametric tests were used.

Results
There was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups from the point of view of demographic variables and clinical characteristics. The rate of peristomal skin complications before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups. In the experimental group, the rate of peristomal skin complications after the use of aloe vera gel decreased significantly (p = 0.008). In the control group, there was also no significant difference in the rate of peristomal skin complications before and after the intervention (p = 0.604).

Conclusions
Regarding the healing of peristomal skin complications in both groups in this study and the few side effects of aloe vera gel, being economical and having the ability of home use by patients, the use of aloe vera gel can be useful as an efficient method in the treatment of peristomal skin complications.