Sore nose - nasal pillow mask

[LizaLouise]

Hi all,

Any tips for preventing irritated skin just under the nostrils with a nasal pillow mask? I'm only a few days in and so far so good, just noticing the skin is a bit irritated under my nostrils in the morning. Is this indicacative of a fit issue? If not, I'd love your suggestions for symptomatic management.

Thanks!

[OkyDoky]

Sometimes this sensitive skin needs a little help getting use to something touching it. Many, including me, have used a little tube of Lansinoh. It won't take much and your nose will heal up. It is found it the baby area of most stores because it is for nursing mother's sore nipples. As far as fit the pillows should rest on the outside of the nostrils and if yours are going very much into them try the next bigger size and see how it works.

[ChicagoGranny]

Is this indicacative of a fit issue?

It could be a fit issue. Also, the straps may not be adjusted properly - search for video instructions on the manufacturer's website, youtube or cpap.com. Too tight and too loose cause problems. You have to find the happy mean.

Hose management can also be an issue. The hose should not pull on the mask when you move in bed. Observe how your hose runs from your machine to your mask. Position the machine and hose so that there is some slack. Envision how the hose will move as you shift positions. Arrange things so that after the position change the hose still has some slack.

I also use Lansinoh from time to time.

[rjezuit]

Lansinoh, Lansinoh, Lansinoh. Highly purified lanolin can be found with breast feeding supplies. Had the same problem and it works wonders.

[LizaLouise]

Thanks everyone, you guys are amazing!!! You make this process so much more manageable and I'm incredibly grateful for the time and effort that goes into it!

[reolhlains]

Hi all,

Any tips for preventing irritated skin just under the nostrils with a nasal pillow mask? I'm only a few days in and so far so good, just noticing the skin is a bit irritated under my nostrils in the morning. Is this indicacative of a fit issue? If not, I'd love your suggestions for symptomatic management.

Thanks!

G'day Liza - welcome!
I got my trial machine a few months ago from a place in Perth - wonder if it was the same place! Anyway - welcome!

I had the same issue - it kinda became a non-issue itself pretty quickly (I think I initially had the thing on too tight). I gradually loosened it off a bit (and actually now just adjust it by where I had it on the top of my head kinda thing!).

Funny - I bought my own mask on ebay - it arrived yesterday and had that super new smell again and, again, was very tight! Will loosen it off a tad tonight!

Anyway - welcome, I hope this works for you as well as it has done for me (life changing really!).

Cheers!!!