MBix wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 1:40 am
So I’ve been having some trouble the last few weeks with my face turning under my mask and staying red for the majority of the next day, it’s actually starting to get me a bit down!
Last night was my first night with a new mask, changed from a ResMed Airfit F30 FFM to a BMC N5 Nasal Mask, both work great and are providing AHI results of under 5 (pressure 17) I’ve been adjusting humidity levels etc on my Airsense 10 but each day the redness is appearing.
I’m trying as much as I can to stop it, but either mask is providing the redness that’s quite embarrassing the following day.
I’ve tried liners for the F30, and will again try more liners but what confuses me is why all of a sudden after 2/3 months of use my skin has started to have this reaction?
I’ve not changed my cleaning ritual or products used on the masks and I can honestly think of nothing that’s changed. I’m now applying moisturising lotions in the morning since it’s been happening but I’ve spent hours online on these and other forums looking up peoples suggestions but really just wanted to know if anyone has something similar happen to them and if there might be a solution that I have overlooked??
Attached an average picture for reference, apologies about quality.
173895EE-2D18-479B-A91C-0FA2CD98CE85.jpeg
chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 7:54 am
Could be a reaction to a CLEANING PRODUCT used to clean the cushion;
or even soil/sweat trapped under the cushion.
I also wonder if the mask is being worn too tight.
Cushions are designed to fill with air, like a hovercraft, not tightened down until skin is squashed.
I wear my mask a
little tight because the hovercraft method basically means large leaks for me. But I don't wear it so tight it leaves marks. There's definitely a fine balance.
As Chunkyfrog says, it could be a reaction to your cleaning products. I rarely use them. Basically, if I sneeze by accident into my mask, I clean it. Otherwise, just water. There are a couple ways to look at facial masks: Clean them daily, or give in to the facial biome that lives on your mask.
You say you just started the N5 last night. Is this the first time you saw this red imprint? It may be the direct result. I know you have a relatively high pressure, but if you can loosen the straps a bit, it may help. If you have to tighten the straps so much that this imprint is inevitable, consider that the size of the N5 is
tiny, especially compared to the F30. The same amount of strap tightness over a wider, larger mask size would be far less impactful as an imprint. It's like the difference between a spoon pressed against your face all night and a fork at the same pressure. The fork is going to leave the worse mark. It may even become painful over time, or push your incisors inward. If this is the case, it may be worth going to a full face mask like the Airsense F20 or back to your F30.
Normal body flora can change. It's probably some normal body flora gone a little out of control in response to direct contact with silicone for extended periods. The image you posted
looks like a BMC N5 nose-print. If it appeared this way on the bridge of your nose
before the N5, using the F30, then something else may be involved, and the N5 is just exacerbating the issue. If it didn't coincide with the change to the N5, other things since the pandemic started may be contributing factors: Getting enough sun... Getting enough exercise... Diet changes... Family members moving back in with you... Other new stressors that may be difficult to control.
Liners work best for me to reduce silicone-to-skin irritation. I take old t-shirts and cut them into just the right size. It might take a few tries, but heck, if you have old t-shirts, why not? The other possibility it to buy white knit jersey paint rags in bulk from home depot and cut them out of that.
I hope this helps!
Chris
