acne

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
stugots
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acne

Post by stugots » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:08 pm

Having a problem with acne with mask use. I'm bald so its pretty embarassing and VERY obvious. I used a buff to cover my whole face to prevent marks from the straps (which worked) but now I have the bad acne, help!!

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Wulfman
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Post by Wulfman » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:12 pm

Go up to the top of the page to the Search function. Do a search on "acne" and you'll get about a page of threads to look through.

Good luck.

Den
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socknitster
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Post by socknitster » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:23 pm

Stugots,

I'm experiencing the same thing from using my Swift II. I talked to my dermatologist and he said what I have is called milia. It looks like little whiteheads that are under the skin. They are almost impossible to get rid of without a dermatologist doing something to them. They are actually hard little things under the skin, sometimes called oil seeds. They are not standard acne. The dr reassured me it was not a sanitation issue (I clean my headgear a lot) but more of an abrasion issue. I don't know if this is what you have, but it is what I am experiencing.

My solution is to buy the Headrest nasal pillow which doesn't touch the face.

And, after the baby is born I will have some kind of procedure done at my derm office. Either laser or photodynamic light therapy with ALA. They can also do it manually by scraping the skin with a scalpel and then using a blemish extractor. My skin would benefit from the other treatments though, so that is probably what I'll do.

Jen


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Babette
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Post by Babette » Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:56 pm

I don't have cpap related acne - I just have regular acne. I'm using a new regime, which, so far, is non-irritating, and has cleared up 90% of my acne. I'll post pix if/when I'm ever 100%.

http://www.acne.org

I bought the products he developed, just because I wanted to try them, and have been quite pleased so far. No irritation - even when I use the BP gel alone at night without the moisturizer. So ar, two weeks in, I've just used the 1/2 finger full with no itchy or redness. I guess it's time to up to a full finger full. (see his videos on the website to explain)

I think I've refined his "rubbing" technique though, and gotten it a bit quicker. The trick is to get your fingers dry. Since I have acne that continues down my bosom, I can quickly rub that area dry, then work back up to my face, and get that area rubbed dry faster than HE's doing in his videos.

That said, my chinstrap does aggravate the acne that was already on my chin and on my temples. But it doesn't look like the milia Jen describes. It looks just like the acne I've always had in those areas.

Cheers,
Babette


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catbirdgirl
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Post by catbirdgirl » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:55 am

I get zits, for which I use tea tree oil and other cleansers and such- and I also get these milia, but I started gettign those when I got heavy, and I didn't know what they were called! You can get them out, but it involves a lot of pinching and such, and frequently makes the skin very irritated.

what causes them?

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Post by Guest » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:25 pm

Hey Jen, I thought you'd appreciate this.

I clearly angered the Acne Gods with my previous post. I am this AM sporting a nice little cyst on my left jaw just below my mouth...

Anyone else seen that Tyra Banks scene where she's ranting and raving about wanting to pop her zits? It was on 'The Soup' this weekend. HILARIOUS!

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Babs

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socknitster
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Post by socknitster » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:09 am

catbirdgirl wrote:I get zits, for which I use tea tree oil and other cleansers and such- and I also get these milia, but I started gettign those when I got heavy, and I didn't know what they were called! You can get them out, but it involves a lot of pinching and such, and frequently makes the skin very irritated.

what causes them?
Apparently lots of things can cause them. I've heard everything from abrasion to too much cholesterol in the diet. Obviously no one knows for sure. Since cholesterol isn't my problem, I am guessing the derm is right about abrasion since my milia are in a neat line on each side of my face exactly where my Swift II mask sits at night. Picking at them is not advised--it can lead to scarring or infection. And anyway, I have too many to possibly do that.

Gotta love the soup. Tyra is always good for a laugh!

Jen


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jqp
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Post by jqp » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:12 am

I was getting really deep zits on my forehead and on the back of my neck where the straps hit me.

Doc gave me some Rx antibiotic pads to wipe down the areas with before going to bed. Worked like a champ.

YMMV

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KimberlyinMN
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Post by KimberlyinMN » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:25 am

Ah.. so this explains why I get what I thought was acne on my scalp (above my ears, etc.)... it's where the straps of my CL2 sit. Hmmmm.... very interesting. So I wonder if those Clearasil acne pads will work to help "unclog" or whatever these things? Man, I just recently had one that was so painful - it hurt to wear my earmuffs or put my sunglasses on. (Both a necessity on a sunny winter day.)

Kimberly