Nasal Pillows Fitting Guide

Ligament · Post by **Ligament** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:39 pm

Hi All,

Thought I would share my nasal pillows fitting tips so far.

1. WASH THE PILLOWS EVERY DAY WITH REAL SOAP! NOT MOISTURIZING SOAP!
-the pillows collect skin oils over night, and the skin oils prevent a good seal. It is ESSENTIAL that you wash them every day. Do not use soaps that have moisturizing agents in them like dove. The moisturized clog the pores of the pillows material and prevent a good seal. Use 100% real soap.
2. TRIM YOUR NOSE HAIRS!
-Seems odd at first, but remember the pillows make a seal with your skin. And if there is nose hair in between the pillows and your skin, there will be a poor seal and a leak. Get a battery powered nose hair trimmer and keep the distal inside of the nares hair free!
3. WASH YOURE NARES WITH REAL SOAP EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BED
-Use real soap, not moisturizing soap. Wash the *INSIDE* of your nose as well as the outer exposed skin. The pillows make some contact with the inside of the nares and the cleaner and drier they are, the better the seal. You only need to wash 2 cm or so up into the nose itself.

Those are my tips so far. I had dramatic improvments in pillows seal after instituting these changes. Best of luck!

fstanmyre · Post by **fstanmyre** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:03 pm

Makes a lot of sense. I know it's important to clean and shave if using a face mask but never thought about the pillows where same sealing principals apply. Thanks for sharing.

brondeau · Post by **brondeau** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:24 pm

How do you guys like the pillows? I am having some trouble getting a seal on my Mirage Activa. I have a small face and I get leaks under my eyes and the mask sits on my upper lip. MIght be in the market for a change although I just started with this one.

Thanks!

-B

fstanmyre · Post by **fstanmyre** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:48 pm

I've got the Activa, the Ultra FF, and the Swift and Breeze pillows. I've never had good results with the Activa, I use the Ultra FF only when I have severe allergies and nasal congestion, between the Swift and the Breeze, I am sold on the Breeze.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:16 pm

brondeau, many find nasal pillows masks to be more comfortable than most nasal masks (cover the nose.)

The Breeze with nasal pillows and the Swift nasal pillows would be good ones to try.

In the meantime, take a look at the cushion of your Activa. If it says "Standard" on the cushion, that might be why it is leaking up at your eyes and feels too long on your upper lip. The "Shallow" cushion size might fit you better in the Activa - shallow is bit shorter vertically from the bridge of the nose to underneath the nostrils.