Skin allergy. Fibromyalgia. Giving up for now.

[DebiB]

I have now had 5 separate types of masks cause skin irritation, ulcers, sores, and pimples. I wash them all daily and I only use organic, non chemical products in my home. I've tried liners. I still have a scar on the bridge of my nose from the chunk of skin that basically just fell off when using the Wisp.

So I'm just giving up for now. I do have a Sleepweaver in small on order (the original Sleepweaver they ordered me was way big) but no clue when that might get here. Seems I've had every imaginable issue now and since the sleep techs are clueless what to do, I'm just going to let my skin heal and get some actual sleep (which I wasn't doing with C-PAP). I don't even know what to ask of them anymore to help me since they're clueless too.

[chunkyfrog]

Have you ever tried a mask liner? Pad a cheek liners are washable and reusable.
Your symptoms do not sound like allergy, but contact dermatitis.
I was a jeweler for several years, and most suspected allergies are a matter of
trapped moisture feeding microbes.

[DebiB]

Have you ever tried a mask liner?

Yes, as I posted, I have tried liners. This struggle is just too hard. I have fibromyalgia....I MUST sleep.

[chunkyfrog]

Oh, you have fibro.
Please alter your title to include fibromyalgia.
Then others with experience can chime in with what worked for them.

[DebiB]

Oh, you have fibro.
Please alter your title to include fibromyalgia.
Then others with experience can chime in with what worked for them.

I don't understand. My only reference to the fibro is about sleep being so necessary with fibro and I'm not sleeping with C-PAP. It's not part of the problems with my C-PAP, it's why I MUST sleep, with or without C-PAP. Know what I mean?

I posted all the issues I'd been having in another thread but I stopped getting responses so I'm just stepping back from C-PAP for a while. My care is through the VA and they're clueless what to do with me at this point.

[jtravel]

I have the same issue and found I need to rotate thru using different types of Masks.
When a sore or tender area occurs I switch to a different mask that does not put pressure on the sore area.
Some people claim if the mask is properly fitted you won't have problems with soreness.
My experience is you can have the perfect mask fitting but if you sleep with your head on the side or shoved into a pillow then mask will get pressure applied
to possible sensitive areas of mask contact.
The only way I have found to avoid this it to have a perfectly fitted mask and sleep on my back so that no pressure is put on the mask.
I however can't sleep on my back all the time and need to sleep on my side from time to time and that is when the mask gets pushed into my face causing sore areas to occur.
Having multiple masks and rotating them as needed is the solution that has worked for me.

[chunkyfrog]

Fibromyalgia presemts many problems that the rest of us have no chance to understand.
Put fibro in your title line, and reach others who share this disorder.

[DebiB]

I have the same issue and found I need to rotate thru using different types of Masks.
When a sore or tender area occurs I switch to a different mask that does not put pressure on the sore area.
Some people claim if the mask is properly fitted you won't have problems with soreness.
My experience is you can have the perfect mask fitting but if you sleep with your head on the side or shoved into a pillow then mask will get pressure applied
to possible sensitive areas of mask contact.
The only way I have found to avoid this it to have a perfectly fitted mask and sleep on my back so that no pressure is put on the mask.
I however can't sleep on my back all the time and need to sleep on my side from time to time and that is when the mask gets pushed into my face causing sore areas to occur.
Having multiple masks and rotating them as needed is the solution that has worked for me.

Looks like my original response to you disappeared. I really appreciate this info! Much of your experience applies to me as I can't sleep on my back long either and miss getting really comfy on my side with my face half in my pillow. The vent of my Swift blowing on my pillow is crazy annoying. Anyway, I'm going to keep this in mind once I try again!

[DebiB]

Fibromyalgia presemts many problems that the rest of us have no chance to understand.
Put fibro in your title line, and reach others who share this disorder.

OK. I'll just go with it. LOL

[Pap-Daddy]

Write down the issues you are having in your notebook so you can tackle each one when you try again. You are keeping a journal right? This is so you won't forget what problems you were having and what you have tried.

I'll toss out some thoughts which may or may not apply to you.
Some people have a reaction to the chemicals used when making a mask. New masks often need to outgas and/or be washed a few times. This is why changing masks too frequently can be a problem for some.

And for those who like to wash wash things often - hopefully you are using a face soap or something that is not new to you or irritating to your skin? I don't follow the recommended schedule for that reason. I think way too often people damage their mask when trying to clean it but some like to use those disinfecting wipes too.

Mask movement - I think this happens to many people. If your mask moves each time you breath it will certainly rub the skin. If you multiply the breaths you take each minute time the minutes you are sleeping you will get an idea how many times a loose or poorly adjusted mask will rub your skin.

I think some people switch out a mask for this reason (applying pressure at diff points on diff nites). And in time some may get adjusted to this kinda like getting a callus from constant pressure in one spot.

[DebiB]

As always, thank you Pap-Daddy. I don't have everything written in an organized manner but I will organize it better. Thanks for the reminder.

The masks seem to bother me more after wearing them for a bit. My soap is organic and very gentle and one I use daily and have for a long time. It's also the only thing I've cleaned anything with.

My Eson didn't move at all but it began causing horrible sores on my nose, even with lining. Any of the pillows move like crazy for me, often coming unsealed. However, the pillows also have the headgear that I have to try to clip into my hair but always moves through the night so yes, lots of movement all the way around with them. The headgears ALL itch me like crazy too.

And a callous of sorts on my nostrils and just under my nose sure doesn't sound very attractive or comfortable. LOL But I get what you mean.

[ChicagoGranny]

masks cause skin irritation, ulcers, sores, and pimples

-----> Dermatologist.

Maybe the doctor who is treating your fibro can recommend a dermatologist who has good results treating fibro patients.

[BlackSpinner]

One member with similar reactions used a coat of milk of magnesia along with liners to help her deal with the skin issues.

[Mum's The Word]

I would suggest going to an allergist. My husband's allergist is also a rheumatologist.
For years he suffered from sensitive skin. He also had heat rash all summer long.
He had one very bad episode last year while away on business. He needed steroids to calm down the skin rash.
Allergy testing revealed that he was very allergic to sodium laurel sulfate and coconut. He is literally allergic to soap.
The more foamy and luxurious the product, the more SLS and/or coconut it contains.
He also stopped eating foods and cereal which contain coconut.
He was allergic inside and out!

Now, he uses an old fashioned soap made from lard and lye. We get him a type of toothpaste that is SLS free.
He uses a paste of baking soda to wash his hair and rinses with apple cider vinegar.
His dandruff is gone. He feels so much better now. He's not in a constant heightened allergic state.

I am hoping that sharing our experience could help you or others.
We treated individual irritations when they happened. We never suspected it was a sensitivity to coconut.
We never thought that his daily shower was the problem.

Mum's The Word

[DebiB]

masks cause skin irritation, ulcers, sores, and pimples

-----> Dermatologist.

Maybe the doctor who is treating your fibro can recommend a dermatologist who has good results treating fibro patients.

I'm no longer being actively treated for the fibro. The NSAIDs were the only meds helping and I can no longer take them due to GI issues. I do currently use turmeric and a lower inflammatory diet. Additionally, the VA will not allow Rheumatology to see fibro patients because there are too many of us and not enough Rheumatologists. I could ask my primary care to see a Dermatologist but I have no way of getting to one who may be more experienced with fibro patients.

Is there a fibro/dermatological link I'm unaware of?