Ultra Mirage Full Face, Advice wanted: Irritation at seal

[lebowski8]

So tonight I planned on test driving my new alternate mask The ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face CPAP Mask. I also got the Padacheek too, and it does make the cheek straps easier.
Well, much earlier tonight at 8 pm, I spent about 20-30 minutes reading the booklet and searching for the correct adjustments-- then, finally found it. No detectable leaks, and just barely tight enough so that leaks don't occur when I turn from side to side.
I got this mask to deal with mouth breathing and drooling (therapy loss) when I have nasal congestion, which is frequent at this time of year. When I'm not congested, I don't mouth breathe, and so I can use the Swift LT.

Anyhow I was wearing Ultra Mirage Full Face during Conan O'Brien,
and here's the things that bother me, and problems I'm looking for your advice on:
1) feeling that I'm doing a lot of re-breathing and not getting enough fresh air-- i'm guessing that's just an attitude adjustment, after being so used to the Swift LT. Or is upping the pressure the answer?
2) the entire seal around my face is irritating my skin. I kept feeling like there had to be something I could use to ease the irritable, raw and burny feeling round the whole triangle of the seal. However, I don't have a red mark at the moment. Anything suggestions on things to try: face washing? mositurizers? soaking the mask in a solution?

I'm going back to bed, but with the Swift LT tonight.

[Wulfman]

If you were watching Conan while wearing the mask.......that could account for those feelings.......

No, seriously, we don't breathe the same when we're awake as we do when we're asleep.......but maybe a little more pressure (to flush CO2 from the mask) might not be a bad idea.

Did you wash the mask before you wore it? If you didn't, I would suggest it.......and if you did, you might do it again. I made that mistake when I first started.......couldn't figure out why a brand new mask would irritate my skin. I don't know what they put on them, but that seems to be a fairly common mistake amongst new users.


Den

[Rustyolddude]

At first I was thinking the rebreathing thing might just be psycological, you figure that you have constant pressure from the CPAP machine and the mask is constantly venting, there shouldn't be any exhaled breath remaining. Then I got to thinking that when you exhale, your breath doesn't fully exit the mask, a portion of it goes back down the hose against the forward flow. How much is anyones guess. I do recall reading that we only consume a small amount of 02 from each breath. Also, the hose would be purged to some extent during the pause between exhalation & inhalation. All told, I'm sure the engineers have taken all this into account. It might just be the increased humidity that is causing your discomfort.

Also read elsewhere that washing the mask several times, using vinegar as part of the wash, should decrease the irritation from the seal. Everyone has varying degrees of dermatitis, some of us can bath in gasoline & not get a rash others break out from using Ivory soap.

[LinkC temp]

a portion of it goes back down the hose against the forward flow.

Not of the valve is working correctly. Except for what tiny bit isn't flushed out of the mask's volume, it will all go out the vent. It would take Superman to force any down the hose against the flow...

[Rustyolddude]

a portion of it goes back down the hose against the forward flow.

Not of the valve is working correctly. Except for what tiny bit isn't flushed out of the mask's volume, it will all go out the vent. It would take Superman to force any down the hose against the flow...

That's good to know, didn't know if the typical FF mask vent was large enough vent an entire breath. I was making an assumption based on issues folks have exhaling against the pressure, the neccessity of C-flex etc.

[lebowski8]

If you were watching Conan while wearing the mask.......that could account for those feelings.......

No, seriously, we don't breathe the same when we're awake as we do when we're asleep.......but maybe a little more pressure (to flush CO2 from the mask) might not be a bad idea.

Did you wash the mask before you wore it? If you didn't, I would suggest it.......and if you did, you might do it again. I made that mistake when I first started.......couldn't figure out why a brand new mask would irritate my skin. I don't know what they put on them, but that seems to be a fairly common mistake amongst new users.


Den

In my haste, i quickly rinsed it. I didn't even think about doing a good wash on the new mask. Thanks for the recommendation, I'll do that for sure, and also make sure i've done a good face washing as well.
I think i might have been a little more successful if I was fully tired before I put the fitted mask on-- i knew i didn't want to be fooling around with a new mask while my wife was trying to get to sleep.