Hair loss and CPAP headgear

[Jerseyguy]

I've been really starting to lose my hair recently, yes I turn 40 in a week but it really seemed to accelerate in the last 5-6 months and I noticed the other day there are some spots that are right where my headgear covers could this be making my normal hairloss worse??

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[Sheriff Buford]

Are you using strap covers? Padacheek offers some excellent strap covers. I would not wear my cpap mask without them. There also some caps/head covers you might consider.

Sheriff

[chunkyfrog]

It is possible, but so is male pattern baldness.
My brothers, uncles, and now my sons all sport the smooth beauty of a shiny dome.
Nothing faster than shampooing with a washcloth.

[CarpeNoctum]

Hi JerseyGuy,
Turned 40? It's all downhill from there. Next it'll be bifocals.

Back when I first started xpap, I started putting a bandana draped over my head before donning my mask. My goal was the keep the headgear clean. Might help with your hair but the strap cover the Sheriff referred to would probably work better.

Chunkyfrog...you're the cutest frog ever.
CN

[Jerseyguy]

Could also be the psorasis I have on my head of the med I'm taking for the psorasis or the countless other meds I'm on.

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[palerider]

I've been really starting to lose my hair recently, yes I turn 40 in a week but it really seemed to accelerate in the last 5-6 months and I noticed the other day there are some spots that are right where my headgear covers could this be making my normal hairloss worse??

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I've been at it for 9 years, and still have a full head of hair.

I think it's something else to blame for your hairloss... (I had a coworker that was bald as an egg... he was 27, blamed stress from his previous job).

[kteague]

My hair thinned with age exactly as my mother's, but when I felt it was decidedly worsened in one spot where the headgear rested, I made a change. I already had a cover on it, but it just wasn't enough. My suspicion was confirmed when after changing headgear the hair began to fill back in. Maybe those whose hair is prone to thinning are more susceptible to damage?

[Jerseyguy]

Yeah what bothered me the most about it is it was right where the straps rest and it wasn't continuous with the other part of hairloss. I also do have alot of stress in my life its gotten better with anxiety meds but still. I have to look to see if I'm still leaking and whether another style mask is needed anyway.

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[kteague]

Don't know if you've been at this long enough to accumulate old masks, but if so, check them out. Sometimes we can get lucky and find out straps are interchangeable and we can rotate them out to help with hair stress being always in the same spot.

[CarpeNoctum]

Don't know if you've been at this long enough to accumulate old masks, but if so, check them out. Sometimes we can get lucky and find out straps are interchangeable and we can rotate them out to help with hair stress being always in the same spot.

Good idea KT...and along those lines, some headgear works well upside down which also gives your scalp a little variation.
CN

[pkahl55]

I'm having the same issue at the top of my head. I use the Swift nasal pillow and I love it but I would like to see what else people suggest. I already use the covers on the straps for my cheeks and the liners for the nose part..

[Stom]

My RT claimed she could spot CPAP users by their hair loss. No idea if she really can, though. Nor if it were to be true would I know if the straps were pulling hair out or of the pressure was causing hair not to grow. So, dunno.