beard & no beard before & after results w/ full face mask

[jt1]

ok, i was having trouble getting rid of leaks with a full face mask and my beard. i tried two different masks, the resmed airfit f10 and the respironics amara full face w/gel. couldnt keep leaks in control. so i shaved. instant success!! i was unsure the beard was my problem as i couldn't feel or hear any leaking with the beard. i was sure i had a good seal. but, i'm from the show me state and the only way to know FOR SURE is to shave my beard and see. well, i was wrong and found out quickly just how sensitive this therapy is!! the beard indeed was causing the leak. another member suggested posting up my results to help others, so here they are.


with beard and the amara:


without beard and the airfit f10:

[Mudrock63]

Glad you figured it out, and thanks for posting. I would choose health over facial hair any day of the week.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I found that my large goatee was the source of most of my leak with my FFM, so I shaved it off and the leaks cleared up. That said, there are lots of men here who've managed to make their masks work with beards/goatees. It could be for reasons like trimming very judiciously, using Lansinoh, finding the perfect mask... who's to say.

Maybe you should start a poll to see what the bearded ones have to say

[Cannuck 1]

Good results with the beard shaved, that's the beauty of sleepy head software it gives you a new window into therapy.

[Hose_Head]

Interesting post and results! However, I'd like to caution you that two data points do not make a trend! A week's worth of data, both before and after shaving would allow more confidence in the results. Hopefully you already have the before-shave data! (I'm not suggesting that you grow back your beard just to get the data!)

[jt1]

Interesting post and results! However, I'd like to caution you that two data points do not make a trend! A week's worth of data, both before and after shaving would allow more confidence in the results. Hopefully you already have the before-shave data! (I'm not suggesting that you grow back your beard just to get the data!)

yes, i understand that. i have a months worth of data for the time prior to shaving. nothing but high leak rates. granted i only have 3 nights of data after shaving,but the leaks have all but completely disappeared. the 3 nights of really no leaks tells me its a trend!! and i just posted two of the results for the sake of not cluttering up the thread.

[Zoopshine]

Thanks for posting this. I'd hate to see my husband lose his beard, but if that's what it takes... This is precisely why I suggested he use nasal pillows. I'm concerned that even a nasal mask will have leaks from his mustache.

[jt1]

Thanks for posting this. I'd hate to see my husband lose his beard, but if that's what it takes... This is precisely why I suggested he use nasal pillows. I'm concerned that even a nasal mask will have leaks from his mustache.

your welcome, i was hoping it would help somebody! i myself did not want to shave my beard. i'm new to cpap therapy and after a month of leaks and trying 2 masks, no matter how tight or loose i had them i could never control the leaks. i've only had 3 nights without the beard, but the leaks are almost non existent now.

[Sheriff Buford]

I have always felt that mask fit is determined by facial structure. That is why a mask I try on will leak like crazy and you could put the same mask on and be leak-free. Same with beards. I constantly get a zero leak rate with or without my beard. I guarantee to you though, if I had a beard and could not find a leak free mask, then I would also shave the beard. Good thread and congrats on the results! I would hope that it doesn't prevent a hose head from growing a beard, but if a newbie with a beard cannot find a leak-free mask, then I say "out with the razor"!

Sheriff

[JoeWingrove]

I have always felt that mask fit is determined by facial structure. That is why a mask I try on will leak like crazy and you could put the same mask on and be leak-free. Same with beards. I constantly get a zero leak rate with or without my beard. I guarantee to you though, if I had a beard and could not find a leak free mask, then I would also shave the beard. Good thread and congrats on the results! I would hope that it doesn't prevent a hose head from growing a beard, but if a newbie with a beard cannot find a leak-free mask, then I say "out with the razor"!

Sheriff

I am the same, I get very low to no leaks with my beard and I have had no issues with leakage on my amara view mask.

[Okie bipap]

When I did my initial sleep study, they had a hard time getting a mask to seal due to my beard. With a mask liner, they got a fairly decent seal. I decided to shave the beard off before I started treatment, and have never regretted it. I had the beard for over 32 years, and it was quite a change when I shaved. My grandchildren had never ween me without the beard.