The study, conducted by researchers from the UGR and the company Notaliv Cosmética Natural, will be aimed at people who have to wear an ostomy pouch (mainly following colon/rectal cancer), which is a small bag that collects the waste eliminated by the body
The deterioration of the peristomal skin (the area of skin surrounding the stoma, where the pouch is attached) is one of the main problems that affect the quality of life of these patients
Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) have signed an agreement with the company Notaliv Cosmética Natural to develop an important line of research to test the efficacy of its products in caring for peristomal skin. Under this agreement, the company will donate natural skincare products that are based on extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). The donation is being made through the UGR’s Technical Directorate for Social Outreach, Sponsorship and Patronage.
For over a decade, the ‘CTS-436’ Research Group has been developing a line of research on the care of people with ostomies. These are people who—mainly after suffering colon/rectal cancer—have to wear a device or pouch that collects their intestinal waste products. The investigations carried out to date and all the available evidence point to the fact that damage to the peristomal skin (the area of skin surrounding the stoma, where the pouch is attached) is one of the problems that most affect the quality of life of these patients.
Caring for this skin is essential, as it acts as a protective barrier against the external environment. In stoma clinics, it is usually the stoma therapy nurse who is responsible for monitoring and supporting self-care among people with ostomies. Among the objectives of the care plan in these cases is to recommend the right products for the hygiene and protection of the peristomal skin, this being a field under constant scientific investigation.
Throughout history, the value of using olive oil for hygiene and skincare purposes has been verified. It has been in everyday use in hospitals and health centres for decades, as a compound of products used for different purposes. It has been shown to be effective in the prevention of ulcerated wounds; and its potential in the prevention of skin cancer has also been recognised. Ecological varieties of EVOO have recently been studied as solutions in the prevention and treatment of painful, cracked nipples among breastfeeding women.
Notaliv is a manufacturer of natural cosmetics, located in the town of Villacarrillo (Jaén). Its cosmetics are based on natural products including olive oil and other natural oils. Alongside product manufacturing, the company aims to raise awareness of the value of the topical use of EVOO. Hence, this agreement helps to strengthen its commitment to research in this field.
The area of research that is to be developed using this company’s products includes the application of gels and creams that ensure the correct functioning of the ostomy device, especially regarding its attachment and removal. The known moisturising, regenerative, and protective properties of EVOO suggest that it will be effective in keeping the vulnerable peristomal skin intact.
The ‘gAOVEstoma’ project is the first study of this kind to be launched. As a pilot study, its primary objective is to test the efficacy of a gel based on ecological EVOO in the hygiene-care of peristomal skin. The gel product in question is entirely neutral, which is a feature recommended by ostomy-care guidelines. The use of an organic variety of EVOO not only points to its potential for skin protection but also presents the added value of being obtained through a pro-environmental cultivation process that has less potential for toxicity.
The lead researchers are César Hueso Montoro and Concepción Capilla Díaz, both lecturers from the Department of Nursing of the UGR and researchers from the ‘CTS-436’ group. The study will be carried out in stoma therapy consultations at the “San Cecilio” University Hospital (HUSC) and the “Virgen de las Nieves” University Hospital (HUVN), in Granada. The nurses responsible for these consultations, also participating in the study, are Josefa Martín Cebrián (HUVN) and Rosa Huertas Fernández (HUSC), who will have the support of two other nurses, also experts in stomatherapy: Inmaculada Sánchez Crisol (HUSC) and Noelia Moya Muñoz (HUVN) .
Overseeing the work will be Francisco Pedro García Fernández, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Jaén and also its current coordinator of the Chair for Advanced Studies in Wound Care. The study has now been approved by the Granada Provincial Research Ethics Committee.
Image caption:
Mixing machine used to make the gel, to which EVOO is added
Media enquiries:
Cesar Hueso Montoro, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada
Email: cesarhueso@ugr.es
