Masking the Mask Marks

[Ruby Vee]

I've been on CPAP for two weeks now. I've learned a lot from the people on this board -- far more than I learned from either my sleep doctor or the DME! One thing I HAVEN'T figured out yet is how to get my mask to fit without leaving those unsightly red marks on the sides of my nose! I finally put a Breathe Rite strip over the marks last night and then put my mask on over it. It took awhile to get everything situated so there were no mask leaks, but this is the first morning I've woken up without the mask marks looking worse than they did the night before! I have hope that they might actually get better!

One thing I DID learn -- probably of no interest to the men here -- is that Bare Minerals make-up easily and completely covers the red! I wasn't even using the concealer, either, just the minerals foundation!

[Juliebove]

Hmmm... I don't get any marks from my mask or the straps. I use the Qauttro.

[LoneStar]

Ruby Vee,

I suggest you go over to http://www.padacheeks.com and look at all the mask strap pads that she has available. If she doesn't carry a strap cover(s) or pad(s) for your mask, she can design one. A lot of people swear by PadACheek products for making their mask more comfortable and getting rid of mask marks.

Lisa

[SleepyRose]

I get mask marks when I sleep on my side but I hold a HOT washcloth on my face in the morning and theyre gone.

[DyannaK]

It sounds to me like maybe your mask straps are pulled too tight and causing the mask to dig into your face. I would try loosening the straps just a little. When I used a nasal mask I made flannel strap covers for both side straps and that fixed the strap marks on my cheeks. I never could get the red mark on the bridge of my nose to go away though. I tried moleskin, a thin bandaid,and a small piece of flannel. Eventually I went to a modified Headrest nasal pillows mask and love it! No marks anywhere. I get a small amount of leakage and I am still working on that. I hope you get it figured out...

[Ruby Vee]

The marks aren't from the straps -- I have them pretty loose and the mask feels as if it's in danger of falling off until I start the CPAP and the cushions fluff up. I can get my whole hand under both sides of the straps at once, and I have absolutely no strap marks. The marks are from the silicone cushions on the sides of my nose -- they look like little zits surrounded by redness. I suspect it's because my skin is sensitive and I get rashes from everything under the sun -- including the sun itself! They've faded somewhat now that I've been using a Breathe Rite strip under the mask, and I don't have any more leaks than previously. But they just don't go away! Does padacheek make anything for the cushions themselves?

Anyway, thank goodness Bare Minerals covers the redness with no difficulty!