Bad Redness w/ Remed Mirage Acrive Mask

[alancalan]

I sleep so well with the Resmed Mirage Activa Mask but it destroys my nose putting a 1/2 painful red band across and even part of the way around my nose. I tried putting Vitamin E on it and it really stung.

The patient advocate at Resmed suggested that I buy 3M Microfoam (not micropore) tape and put that on my nose before I put in the mask but it did no good and that red band, even with the tape was very red and very painful.

Then I tried cutting the mask at the vortex in the top and eventually it wouldn't keep the air in.

I measured the width of my nose, near the bridge, and it was 15/32 of an inch. The red band was an inch below the top of the bridge and at that point my nose is 21/32 wide.

I am not sure if the width of my nose is the problem or the sensitivity of my skin.

When I use the Respironics ComfortGel mask, for some reason, my mouth opens and it does not open and my sleep is not good. That doesn't happen with the Mirage Activa.

I used to use a Sullivan vpap and a Respironics profile lite mask but I never opened my mouth because the there was like a vacuum that reacted and hurt my ears (a drop) when I opened my mouth. I wonder if there was something about the Sullivan vpap that kept my mouth closed. Is it possible that Resmed takes care of that and Presironics does not

So, I am doing whatever I can to be able to use the Mirage Active mask but nothing seems to help.

Alan

[alancalan]

You can see that I am tired by my spelling: Presironics. What I forgot to add was that the Sullivan vpap did not have a humidifier. I don't know if that would add to the vacuum created.

[cflame1]

I don't have one of these, but for other masks that I've had this problem (or something similar) I've used moleskin. Have you tried that?? It goes on the mask, not on the skin.

[Jcastle]

I use the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask and have experienced redness around the nose and forhead where the mask comes in contact with my skin. My skin has reacted with the silicon in the mask or something in the manufactuering process.

I clean my mask daily with Reli-On wipes purchased at the pharmacy, and also break it down twice a week for a good bath with soap and water. I shave and wash my face nightly before putting on the mask. This seems to lessen the reaction some, but still show up at the office looking red faced.

Just my two cents worth.

[blarg]

What size does it say on your cushion? I had similar problems when I used the Shallow size but no problems with Large...

[Moogy]

I got a red mark like that when I used the Shallow size, but I do fine with the Standard. The Shallow is a bit wider at the very top of the bridge, and with that extra space, the mask moved around a bit near the bridge, plus it leaked a bit. The combination gave me a red, puffy mark. I think it is important to get the size right on this mask.

The Standard size has a little narrow extension to the top of the nose-opening, which makes the entire nose-opening taller, but it also makes the very top of the bridge smaller. I also have trouble buying glasses due to a very narrow bridge.


For what its worth,
Moogy

[alancalan]

Cflame1 said

I don't have one of these, but for other masks that I've had this problem (or something similar) I've used moleskin. Have you tried that?? It goes on the mask, not on the skin.

Never tried it but I will. I wonder if the others on here used moleskin on their Activa?


Jcastle said:

I use the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask and have experienced redness around the nose and forhead where the mask comes in contact with my skin. My skin has reacted with the silicon in the mask or something in the manufacturing process.

I clean my mask daily with Reli-On wipes purchased at the pharmacy, and also break it down twice a week for a good bath with soap and water. I shave and wash my face nightly before putting on the mask. This seems to lessen the reaction some, but still show up at the office looking red faced.

My forehead is fine and I wash everything everyday but with Ivory not Reli-wipes. I wash my face too and shave everyday but in the morning. My reaction is not just red it is painful and the longer I user it the worse it gets until I look like I was beaten up.

Blarg said:

What size does it say on your cushion? I had similar problems when I used the Shallow size but it no problems with Large...

I have them all here and I feel the knifing feeling on all of them but I just used the Shallow. Once this heals, I try the large.

Moogy said:

I got a red mark like that when I used the Shallow size, but I do fine with the Standard. The Shallow is a bit wider at the very top of the bridge, and with that extra space, the mask moved around a bit near the bridge, plus it leaked a bit. The combination gave me a red, puffy mark. I think it is important to get the size right on this mask.

The Standard size has a little narrow extension to the top of the nose-opening, which makes the entire nose-opening taller, but it also makes the very top of the bridge smaller. I also have trouble buying glasses due to a very narrow bridge.

My bridge isn’t narrow but the woman at Resmed told me to use the Shallow and so did everyone else. I will try the Large in a week because you can’t touch the red area which is a ½ bar across my nose and even gets some of the sides. I even think it’s blistered and this was after 1 day but probably not long enough after the last time I stopped.

[Guest]

I get the same problem with the F&P 432 FF mask
I think a lot of ppl do ,with any FF mask
I have tried mole skin ,so Im open to any suggestions
It sure is a pain
Regards Jacko

[Guest]

make sure you wash the cushion using a familar soap (leave cushion attached to mask frame, just remove the headgear, you can pivot off the forehead piece if needed leaving the headgear adjustment set).

Sometimes they use a release agent in the mold when those cushions are made so they release from the mold easier, you could be allergic to the release agent and not the silicone the cushion is made from.

[alancalan]

You know, I heard so much about not making the Resmed Mirage Activa tight that I might have left it too loose. The loosest it ever was, was last Sunday night were the red mark was really a bad bruise (after 7 hours) and even blistered a little. It is still very sensitive today, three days later. The mark was a bar that was a 1/2 inch thick and started one inch below the point where my nose meets the forehead. So you can see that the mask was pretty low and I even felt it on my upper lip.

Perhaps the irritation comes from a movement up and down the nose and the fact that the silicon has a non-rounded edge causes the rubbing of the skin. I imagine 7 hours of that could be tough on the skin. If that in fact was the problem, why didn't the Resmed patient advocate know to ask me about that. Never was there a question about it being too loose. I am loosing a little respect for Resmed after this incident.

According to the patient advocate they won't make another version of the mask for those who can't use the current version because they do not think there are enough to buy it (incorrectly decided in my opinion). And, they don't even know what causes the severe irritation or maybe they do and they aren't telling us. They are a big disappointment.

Guest wrote:

make sure you wash the cushion using a familar soap (leave cushion attached to mask frame, just remove the headgear, you can pivot off the forehead piece if needed leaving the headgear adjustment set).

Sometimes they use a release agent in the mold when those cushions are made so they release from the mold easier, you could be allergic to the release agent and not the silicone the cushion is made from.

I use the soap of famous acrtress, Marilyn Chambers. I take the whole thing apart after every use and wash it really well. How long will the release agent remail, especially after I wash it every day?

Jacko wrote:

get the same problem with the F&P 432 FF mask
I think a lot of ppl do ,with any FF mask
I have tried mole skin ,so Im open to any suggestions
It sure is a pain

Jacko, I never wore a FF mask but I would think they are tighter fitting. Is it possible yours is too loose?

Alan

[WifeIsHappyNow]

I use a full face mask and had a terrible red bruise that was also blistering when I started...both at the sleep lab for my titration and at home. Somebody here suggested the 3M Micropore tape...not sure what the difference is between that and the Microfoam.

Anyway, when I started using the tape, I would cut a piece large enough to cover the mark on the bridge of my nose and then I cut a smaller piece that would cover the blistered area and put it sticky side to sticky side on the larger piece and put that on my nose. That way, the really irritated, blistered area would not have the additional irritation of adhesive. The tape provided a bit of cushion, but also a barrier to protect against the rubbing.

After several days, all of the symptoms had gone away. Not sure if it was because of the tape or because I got my mask adjusted properly. I still wear a piece of tape every night because I'm afraid to find out what would happen if I didn't!

Just another thought in case you are still having problems.

Good luck!

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[Snoozing Gonzo]

Check my reply to your previous post for some hints on adjusting the forehead piece and straps.

The Shallow mask did the same for me and I have a fairly broad nose bridge (the result of my miscreant youth). The Standard works the best for not leaking for me but is a little too small and leaves a bit of a mark under my nose. The Large is tougher for me to keep adjusted but is more comfortable. I go back and forth and have good luck with each. The Shallow should be the best for me but that's the CPAP world... "should" doesn't always mean "will".

All in all the Activa has been by far the most comfortable (Shallow incident excepted) and best mask for not leaking for me. My AHI average is very low, hovering around 0.2 - 0.7 cm H2O with Activa. It is about double (still good) with the Swift and were in the 5.0 - 7.0 cm range with the Comfort Gel.

Good Luck!

Chris

[RachelM]

I have used moleskin on my mask. I get red marks on the side of nose from mask. Moleskin does take care of the problem but I can't get the moleskin to stay stuck to the mask. This AM I awoke with the strip of moleskin stuck to my forehead instead of the mask where I had put it. Feedback or suggestions anyone?

[blarg]

According to the patient advocate they won't make another version of the mask for those who can't use the current version because they do not think there are enough to buy it (incorrectly decided in my opinion). And, they don't even know what causes the severe irritation or maybe they do and they aren't telling us. They are a big disappointment.

The answer is probably just that the shallow cushion is too small for the bridge of your nose. The whole idea of the "shallow" cushion is that it's for people with "shallow" nose bridges. While they fit many, they don't fit all, including myself. Try a standard or large and you will most likely be happy with it.

[cpapqueen]

have you adjusted the angle of the t bar?? Sometimes putting more pressure on the forehead solves the issue.