redness under mask

[Paul56]

Yep, after over a year with no issues... I have developed an issue.

Using Quattro I have developed a red area alongside each side of my nose with it being worse on one side.

I have consulted my family doctor who suggests it is an allergy that has developed to the material in the mask. She gave me some cortisone cream to use on the spots twice daily.

They are definitely not pressure spots... at least I don't think so given it took so long to develop.

Anyone encounter this before... what has your solution been? Placing something between the mask and your face? What are the materials you have tried and what works best?

[LSAT]

Paul...Have you replaced the cushion recently?

[ozij]

Good point by LSAT.
It you have -- soak the new cushion in soapy water for 30-60 minutes -- and do it again whenever you get new cushions.
Have you changed the soap/cleaning material by the way?

I use mask liners made from old cotton T shirts.

O.

[tattooyu]

Hey Paul! I thnk I might be having a similar issue with my Swift FX. Can't be sure that it's the mask. I posted a photo of it in my thread about autoimmune disorders.

[Colin Southern]

I'm also using the Quattra - and I usually have it cranked all the way in ... which means that there is very little room between my nose and that part of the mask. I use a buckwheat pillow - sleep on my side - and if I don't get the pillow ONLY under my head it pushes the mask against my nose and irritates it. So probably not what's happening to you, but food for thought.

In the past I've had minor issues with pressure points ... best solution I've found was to just improvise some kind of padding over it for a couple of days until it heals.

Hope this helps!

[Paul56]

The previous doc I checked with on this issue was a temporary replacement for my regular GP.

Saw my regular GP today who disagrees with the previous diagnosis especially considering the cream
does not seem to be working. He suggested rosacea and gave me another prescription for a different
kind of cream.

I'm going to turn down the humidify on the machine and loosen up the straps a tad for
this evening. Apparently humidity is an aggravating factor.

I'm going to miss this doc as he as always been great... started going to him in 1986.
He is retiring in 2012 so by the time I come back from San Antonio he will be enjoying
his retirement.

[jtgolf08]

It may also be seborrhea. Especially if the red skin becomes
dry and flaky. I have had almost the same thing for about 2 weeks.
Approximately a year ago I had a similar spot just under my eyebrows and
explained it to my doc thinking it was rosacea since it runs in the family.
He said it was seborrhea and gave me a rx for ketoconazole. This time
the first week I just watched it and it didn't change much, so I tried a
little of the ketoconazole and it seems to be clearing after just a couple
of uses.