New user with issue

[GreenCan99]

Hi, new to the forum and to therapy. I tried to post this earlier but unless my post went into some approval state, I must not have pressed submit. Apologies if it shows up twice.

I started therapy two nights ago but when I wake up yesterday I noticed a sizeable mark on the bridge of my nose. I did a little research and had a few things to try for last night. Throughout the day the area where the mark was for more painful and by the end of the day there were small, yellow spots forming in that area. I last night I put a band-aid on to protect it and in also loosened the mask straps a little. When I took off the band-aid this morning, there are more spots and they are much bigger. Everything I read talked about red marks and open wounds, I didn't find anything similar to what I'm experiencing. As far as I know, I'm not allergic to anything in the mask so I'm confused about what's going on.

Can anyone shed some light on what might be happening and possible solutions to prevent it? The one option that I'm thinking right now is to swap out my mask (Resmed AirFit N20) and get a nasal pillow like the AirFit P10 but that will take at least a few days. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Pugsy]

Sounds like either a little contact dermatitis or little blisters trying to form.

Did you wash the mask really good with soap and water before using it?

I am on the fence as to how to proceed because we don't want to get an open wound started and risk infection.

Some triple antibiotic ointment on the area for sure if you have some laying around and maybe a dab of OTC cortisone crean/ointment for good measure.

There are mask liners available or you can make your own so that there is a barrier between the skin and the mask but once the skin is broken things get more complicated.

[K5MOW]

Hi, new to the forum and to therapy. I tried to post this earlier but unless my post went into some approval state, I must not have pressed submit. Apologies if it shows up twice.

I started therapy two nights ago but when I wake up yesterday I noticed a sizeable mark on the bridge of my nose. I did a little research and had a few things to try for last night. Throughout the day the area where the mark was for more painful and by the end of the day there were small, yellow spots forming in that area. I last night I put a band-aid on to protect it and in also loosened the mask straps a little. When I took off the band-aid this morning, there are more spots and they are much bigger. Everything I read talked about red marks and open wounds, I didn't find anything similar to what I'm experiencing. As far as I know, I'm not allergic to anything in the mask so I'm confused about what's going on.

Can anyone shed some light on what might be happening and possible solutions to prevent it? The one option that I'm thinking right now is to swap out my mask (Resmed AirFit N20) and get a nasal pillow like the AirFit P10 but that will take at least a few days. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Just to be safe you mite want to call your doctor.

Roger

[GreenCan99]

Did you wash the mask really good with soap and water before using it?

So no, I didn't. I was following the directions that came with the kit and that want part of them. I'm now wondering if there was some sort of chemical residue on the mask which caused it.

I did throw on some mupirocin so hopefully that helps get rid of what's there and I'll continue with the band-aid to protect the area. I guess I'll also be washing the mask when I get home, and all future ones I get! I do have a mask that I took from my titration sleep study so maybe I'll switch to that and see, I definitely didn't have irritation with that.

[Pugsy]

Some people have reported that they have to wash all masks first or they get some sort of reaction. Maybe it is some sort of chemical residue. I never do but then I have never had particularly sensitive skin either. Some people just have delicate skin...what I call paper skin that is abraded easily. Least little boo boo causes a problem. My big strong macho husband has skin like that. Me...alligator skin.

And of course it is possible that you just have an old fashioned blister forming which has nothing to do with anything except maybe the mask moved around a bit or was too tight.

If the other mask you have can be used and hopefully not rub on that area much if at all...that is what I would do.
Antibiotic ointment does seem to help things heal faster as well as fight off infection so I would use that liberally during the day.

If it gets really ugly looking or you just don't like the looks of how things are going then by all means contact your doctor.

Wash your face really well before bedtime also. No creams on any area of the skin that the mask will touch.

[GreenCan99]

Some people have reported that they have to wash all masks first or they get some sort of reaction. Maybe it is some sort of chemical residue. I never do but then I have never had particularly sensitive skin either. Some people just have delicate skin...what I call paper skin that is abraded easily. Least little boo boo causes a problem. My big strong macho husband has skin like that. Me...alligator skin.

And of course it is possible that you just have an old fashioned blister forming which has nothing to do with anything except maybe the mask moved around a bit or was too tight.

If the other mask you have can be used and hopefully not rub on that area much if at all...that is what I would do.
Antibiotic ointment does seem to help things heal faster as well as fight off infection so I would use that liberally during the day.

If it gets really ugly looking or you just don't like the looks of how things are going then by all means contact your doctor.

Wash your face really well before bedtime also. No creams on any area of the skin that the mask will touch.

Thanks. I don't think it's a blister, it looks more like a staph infection, which would be odd.

Out of all the things I was expecting and planning for, this was not one of them!