Nasal Mask making a dent in bridge of my nose

Have been using a cpap for over ten years. Recently got a new machine and tried out the nasal pillows because I have always had trouble with mask making a dent that is red and sore in the bridge of my nose. Couldn't handle the pillows - just didn't seem secure having just the pillows in my nose. Finally found a mask that is softer and was told it shouldn't cause the same problems I had before. Well, it does. Have a red, sore nose and what looks like a permanent dent. Any suggestions?

My nose is so narrow at the top that I had similar issues (with FFMs), so I persevered and got pillows (P10) to work. Some practice and some nasal rinsing worked for me.

Very happy now. Even when I'm quite congested...

Have you tried mask liners? They help with red marks and leaks. Go here for Pad-A--Cheek liners: http://www.padacheek.com or here: https://www.cpap.com for RemZzzs liners, which are also available from many DMEs.

Welcome to the board.

What types are the old and new masks? Someone here might have suggestions.

Please look at my signature line and fill in the equipment on my profile.

I wanted to second the liners suggestion. I first used RemZzzs due to skin irritation and they helped my skin heal but curled after a couple of uses so were pretty disposable. Then I ordered Padacheek and my nasal mask fits comfy without leaks. The bridge of the nose has more padding than the RemZzzs. You put Padacheek on and leave it until it needs washing. RemZzzs are placed on every night.

I started out with a WISP mask and could use that very well. Then I started to get a sore on the bridge of my nose. The hard plastic inside was touching my bridge. I got a Medium and then Large, nothing helped so had to go with nasal Pillows (AirFit P10) The mediums were awful and I am a little girl, well maybe with a big nose! Finally settled on the Large after many masks. Did you try a different size, larger?

+1 for pad-a-cheek.... it solved all my issues with dents or red marks on my nose using the Mirage Quattro FFM.

I just got a pad-a-cheek liner, and it's making the leaks worse. It looks like it would solve my problems (especially padding to save my poor nose) but I can't get the mask to fit now. I tried loosening it and tightening it and I can't figure it out. Is there a trick to these things?

what were your leaks before the pad-a-cheek liner?

It'd be nice to know what the current "worse" is when compared to your leaks before using the liner.



I highly recommend that everyone with an FFM read the blog below.. While it is oriented to the Quattro, the tips for solving leaks, properly setting headgear, etc... applies to all of them.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Pad-a-cheek may not work for everyone, but it works awesome for solving nose dents & leaks at my high pressures!

MbMinx wrote:I just got a pad-a-cheek liner, and it's making the leaks worse. It looks like it would solve my problems (especially padding to save my poor nose) but I can't get the mask to fit now. I tried loosening it and tightening it and I can't figure it out. Is there a trick to these things?

I used to be able to set my mask so that there were virtually no leaks. Now it is blasting air out around my eyes and cheeks.

MarilynnJH wrote:Have been using a cpap for over ten years. Recently got a new machine and tried out the nasal pillows because I have always had trouble with mask making a dent that is red and sore in the bridge of my nose. Couldn't handle the pillows - just didn't seem secure having just the pillows in my nose. Finally found a mask that is softer and was told it shouldn't cause the same problems I had before. Well, it does. Have a red, sore nose and what looks like a permanent dent. Any suggestions?

I had the same exact problem with masks that sit on the bridge of the nose -- it wasn't friction, it was the mask putting pressure on the bridge of my nose causing those pressure dents (even with a lighter weight nasal mask). So liners did not help because they don't relieve that pressure on the bridge of the nose. Maybe the issue is thin skin on the nose bridge, I don't know, but it would only take a couple of nights before an angry red welt would develop followed by skin damage.

Nasal pillow masks do feel weird at first but they're the only solution for me and I did adjust to them. If your only issue with the NP mask was "didn't seem secure," I think you could probably adjust too. You might try a couple of different NP masks because they're not all the same. But most do pretty well in terms of leaks and freedom of movement in the bed. And they leave the bridge of your nose alone.

Denial Dave wrote:what were your leaks before the pad-a-cheek liner?

It'd be nice to know what the current "worse" is when compared to your leaks before using the liner.



I highly recommend that everyone with an FFM read the blog below.. While it is oriented to the Quattro, the tips for solving leaks, properly setting headgear, etc... applies to all of them.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Great link. Thanks for posting.

I didn't have much luck with mask liners...they made the mask seem too tight, especially around the nose, had it feel like it was slipping around my face, and kinda claustrophobic. I do however find its helpful to use Lanolin + gentle medical tape on the bridge of my nose as needed. The Lanolin is soothing to the damaged area and makes it so the tape doesn't stick too much (and take the skin with it). Several layers of tape could be used if needed.

They also make various cushions for the bridge of the nose, even gel, but the reviews are a bit hit & miss, often saying they were so thick they caused leaks into the eyes.

It may be worth continuing to try other masks though, and possibly even a different size, to hit your nose at a different spot. Do you have a brick & mortar DME to work with who has a tech who actually fits masks & gives specific advice on fit, or at least who has a mask swap policy? Best wishes.

I use band aids under my full face mask. I put one over my nose in the evening and take it off in the morning. It's a bit of a hassle but cheaper and in my experience better than CPAP liners. It's also less of a chunk of plastic attached to me each night.

I used to have dents and red marks on my nose that were so visible I thought about buying man-makeup to cover them up. Since using the band aids, they're gone.

I posted this in another thread. It will work with air cushion style nasal masks:

[quote][/Lie down in bed. Loosen ALL the straps on the [mask] (fold the Velcro over to catch loosely) and place it over your nose.

Turn on the machine.

Tighten the lower straps first. Then tighten the upper straps just enough to stop leaking. Now roll over to your preferred sleeping side and readjust as necessary, trying to put as little pressure as possible on the top of your nose.

The mask should be fairly tight under your nose, but loose on the top, letting the air cushion fill and hug your nose to create the seal. quote]