Itching under full face mask

[rkadams]

Hi folks. Congratulations to you all for creating and maintaining this great and most informative forum.

This is my first post and it concerns itching under a full face mask. I use:
-Remstar C-Flex; using the C-Flex setting at 2.
-Humidify at a 4 setting.
-Auto pressure setting between 4 and 15.
-Fisher Paykel model 431 full face mask (which I find comfortable to wear).

I've been using this set-up for about 4 months or so, and have tried different settings without noticeable changes as it relates to the itching. The problem is not the contact area of the mask but everywhere else within the enclosed area, including inside the nasal passages. It's not severe, certainly nothing a good scratch can't resolve, but of course the mask gets dislodged if and when I do this, and the result is the inevitable mask leak, c/w with the wind tunnel noises that accompany that, which invariably leads to me removing the mask for the rest of the night with all the negative consequences resulting from that.

I don't believe I am allergic to the mask material, and never get a rash or any other visible sign of an allergy. I have tried face creams, and even Aveeno anti-itch cream (which, for obvious reasons, can't be used inside the nasal passages anyway) all to no avail. This problem doesn't appear to be related in anyway to ambient weather conditions as it's spanned summer/fall/ and the current winter like conditions.

Has anyone out there had the same problem, if so, any suggestions you may have to resolve, or at least lessen the problem, will be really appreciated?

Thanks, and best regards

Roger

[jum001]

I have read about this in other posts but haven't had the problem myself. They recommended vigorously rubbing the face before putting on the mask. No mention was made of the problem re the inside of the nose but I suppose you could try that too with a qtip or something. Good luck.

[Offerocker]

rkadams:
I had this problem, and the vigorous rubbing of the face prior to placing the mask really helped.

'Could be' that your face is reacting to the moisture?
For the nose/nasal passages, some of us have had success with a saline gel, one of which is called "Ayr" gell. It REALLY helped me in the first few months, until I got the magic formula down for all my settings and mask.

It is very inexpensive, and what you're using for your face should be OK; if it's not the humidity, I'd ask your pharmacist's opinion on that topical to use.

Keep us all posted, and good luck.
That's my best so far .