Karaya Powder - K-Gum™ Karaya for Peristomal Skin Protection

K-Gum powder has three sizes:

• 1 ounce
• 3 ounce
• 16 ounce

Karaya ostomy powder is most often used on open or denuded skin, the powder provides an absorptive and protective layer, allowing the wet skin to dry before applying the baseplate.  K-Gum (karaya gum powder) is a remarkable powder that absorbs moisture in open, weepy, skin and promotes granulation in open wounds.  Karaya powder is made from the highest quality karaya gum powder available and has the highest standards of uniformity, cleanliness, and performance. Karaya is plant based and a natrual hydrocolloid. It has excellent skin care properties.

How To Use Karaya Powder:

• After bathing, pat dry the peri-stomal skin (skin around the stoma)

• Dust K-Gum stoma powder onto skin peri-stomal skin that is red or irritated. Karaya will protect raw and weeping skin by creating a sticky gel.  Let powder dry or crust

• Apply the skin barrier/ostomy appliance as normal

Crusting Technique Steps Explained Using Karaya K-Gum Powder and a protective barrier spray

What Is Crusting?    Crusting describes a technique using ostomy powder and a skin barrier spray or wipe. A protective "crust" is created on the skin when combining these two products.

When Should I Use Crusting On My Stoma?    If your peristomal skin is wet, weeping, denuded, excoriated using the crusting technique will help improve your skin health.

Ostomy Crusting Procedure Steps:

1. Clean the skin with a very mild skin cleanser or simply water.

2. Dust a layer of ostomy powder (i.e. K-Gum powder) over the treatment area. Brush off excess using a piece of gauze. Your goal is to have completely covered the "wet" area of skin.

3. Spray protective barrier spray over powder and allow it to dry. 

4. Reapply daily or as directed by your stoma nurse.

 Hollister discontinued its Karaya™ product line — including Karaya 5 one-piece pouches and Karaya seal rings — at the end of 2023 due to a shortage of raw karaya gum. If you relied on that natural karaya seal for sensitive skin, K-Gum karaya powder gives you the same base material (natural karaya gum) in a versatile loose-powder form. It won't replicate a molded seal ring, but combined with a barrier spray using the crusting technique described above, it creates a similar protective, moisture-absorbing layer around the stoma — and it works with any ostomy pouch brand, not just Hollister's.

 FAQ  Section

1. Is K-Gum karaya powder the same as Hollister's discontinued Karaya products? It's made from the same base ingredient — natural karaya gum — but in loose powder form rather than a molded pouch seal or ring. It's a skin-protection powder, not a one-piece pouch replacement.

2. What happened to Hollister Karaya 5 pouches and Colly-Seal rings? Hollister discontinued its entire Karaya™ line, including Karaya 5 pouches and karaya seal rings, effective December 31, 2023, citing shortages of raw karaya material. Remaining stock has been sold through distributors, but no new production is planned.

3. Can I use karaya powder with any ostomy pouch brand? Yes. K-Gum karaya powder is applied directly to peristomal skin before the pouch or barrier goes on, so it works underneath any brand of one-piece or two-piece system — Hollister, ConvaTec, Coloplast, or otherwise.

4. Is karaya powder safe for broken or weeping skin? Karaya is a natural hydrocolloid commonly used on open, denuded, or weeping peristomal skin because it absorbs moisture and helps the area dry before a barrier is applied. For persistent skin breakdown, check with your stoma nurse or physician.

5. What sizes does K-Gum karaya powder come in? 1 oz, 3 oz, and 16 oz bottles, starting at $4.25.

6. What's the difference between karaya powder and karaya paste? Powder is used to dry and protect wet, weeping skin before a barrier is applied. Paste is thicker and used to fill in skin folds or uneven contours so the barrier lies flat. Some ostomates use both — powder first, paste for contouring.

7. How do I use the "crusting" technique with karaya powder? Clean the skin, dust a light layer of powder over the irritated area, brush off the excess, then seal it in with a barrier spray. Let it dry before applying your pouch. Repeat daily or as directed by your stoma care nurse.