skin probs

catbirdgirl · Post by **catbirdgirl** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:43 am

Hi all

my skin is an OIL SLICK when I wake up in the morning whether I wash it the night before or not, after I use my cpap. It's causing major zits.

Also, I have a zit on the bridge of my nose that the mask has rubbed into a small open sore. Also I wear glasses, so there's no time during the day that something's not sitting on my nose.

My mom said that if I washed my humidifier and stuff with vinegar and water that my skin would be less oily.

did that yesterday, no dice.

I really like my mask. I dont so much want to change.
Any suggestions?

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:52 am

Maybe some product like this or similar by your bedside?

http://www.stridex.com/facewipes.htm

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:25 am

Be very careful with stridex type products near your eyes. When I was younger I used them on the area around the top of my nose near my eyes, I was rewarded with a rash that circled my eyes like a racoon, it was horrible.

My girlfriend is a stylist and has training in skin care. I had some bad breakouts where the mask blocked the pores on the side of my nose and on my forehead where the pads from the fmm touched. I started using in apricot scrub before bed and this has helped quite a bit. A firming mask, the kind that you spead on and let dry seems to also pull the oil out.

I have found that using the pantyhose mask to secure the mask so that it can move a bit but still keep a seal has been fantastic.

I have been giving some thought about creating some kind of pad from the same material as acne pads that would sit on the seal of the mask and actual absorb oil from the skin as it tries to come out. The rubber blocks the pores and this is what causes the breakouts.

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:31 am

I have very dry skin so my mask doesn't cause me problems like that but when I was growing up when I broke out I always used regular rubbing alcohol to dry it up. Worked like a charm. Of course I was young when beauty products were definitely not for the poor and we were po!

LavenderMist · Post by **LavenderMist** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:55 am

This is a very good question. I have oily skin too and the straps seem to cause breakouts where they touch my skin at night.

coker737 · Post by **coker737** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:02 am

I had the same thing right on the bridge of my nose and forehead just after I stated with the CPAP

I though it was just me moving into a second puberty and it was going BAD.

Rubbing Alcohol on a cotton ball after I wash my face before bed seems to work OK.

andy88488 · Post by **andy88488** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:55 pm

I've noticed that my nose is very oily in the morning, but I've always assumed that it has to do with the air coming from my CPAP being very moist and somewhat warm.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:02 pm

You should see a dermatologist, and take your mask and any headgear and chinstrap with you, as well. Ask for a specialized recommendation.

You will need some specialized help with this. I too suffer from acne and oily skin, and have recently had to change my skin care routine to try to deal with this. I've tried various OTC methods since starting CPAP (many recommended on this board) and none worked for me. I'm now on antibiotics and prescription skin care.

If you cannot afford a dermatologist, you might call your local community's health department and ask them for numbers of local clinics in your area that see patients on a sliding scale basis.

Good luck to you! One OTC thing that MIGHT help (didn't really work for me as-is, but I do still use their cleanser and moisturizer) is: acne.org

I bought their whole line. It wasn't enough for me, but like I said, I still use their cleanser and moisturizer, I just use a stronger 'scrip gel at night (Differin).

Good luck!
Babette - Covered in Acne and Grey Hair

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:57 pm

Best thing that I've done both for comfort and for my skin... was to get padacheek to basically wrap all of my headgear. Works good for me.

DRONE · Post by **DRONE** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:29 am

Catbirdgirl, my very first mask was a Mirage Activa like you. It gave me whiteheads and I'm 56 years old! Wazzup with that? So even though I liked my Activa, well obviously I didn't like what it was doing to me. Switched to a Mirage Swift and the problem went away. Also discovered I like the Swift better than the Activa. Don't be afraid to experiment with new headgear.

Mask	Humidifier

Mask

Mask	Humidifier