facial hair

[greg119]

Curious to know which mask or apparatus is best used for someone with a mustache? Had it for over 50 years kinda like it.

[Bearded_One]

I have a full beard and mustache and use both Swift nasal pillows and various nasal masks. Nasal pillows are probably the best for use with a mustache. The masks sometimes leak a little through my mustache but it's not a problem.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): swift, Nasal Pillows

[Tumbleweed]

Most of the nasal pillows should do OK. I have the same situation and use a Swift with no problems.

[blarg]

I like my Twilight NP (also known as the Aura or Headrest). The Mirage Activa mask does a pretty good job of sealing even on top of my moustache if you don't like nasal pillows.

[Wulfman]

I've had my mustache for over 32 years and don't plan on shaving it off. I have used the ResMad Ultra Mirage Full Face mask since Day One and it works great for me. It's very comfortable. I'm a side-sleeper and it's just fine in that position.

Best wishes,

Den

[Bookbear]

I, too, have a full thick beard and stache.... I like the Breeze nasal pillows. I can never get a full face mask to seal adequately, but I suspect that any nasal pillow interface would work for you, comfort being the main concern. I have used a nasal mask but it did leak a bit, not like a full face mask, though.

Good luck!

[pedroski]

Curious to know which mask or apparatus is best used for someone with a mustache

I have a full beard and I was chuffed to learn about the Swift mask. I had assumed I would have to shave it off to get effective therapy. The Swift does spring the odd leak but mostly works fine.

Peter

[sleepyWI]

Here is a slightly different opinion. I had my moustache for over 25 years. I reluctantly shaved it after starting cpap and it has been a good thing. My masks seal better and are more comfortable. (side benefit - Many nice comments from the opposite gender ). Facial hair also does grow back if you don't like it.

[WillSucceed]

I've have an assortment of 'stache/beard/goatee whatever for 30 years and am not too likely to change now.

I've had best success with nasal pillows. Seems to me that the less area that has to be sealed, the less opportunity (geographically) for leak to occur. I've found that trying to get a full-face mask to seal is alot more work than getting a nasal mask to seal (less area in the nasal mask) and that the nasal mask is harder to get a good seal than the nasal pillow -again an artifact of physical amount of area to seal. For me, nasal pillows are small -their overall less area of seal required makes them more likely to succeed.

I know that there are lots of folk out there that find a nasal mask and/or full-face easy when it comes to getting a seal. This is great for them... I'm just offering my opinion regarding my success with masks.

Of the nasal pillow systems, the ones that do not lie ON the upper lip (Breeze, Swift, Aura) have worked better for me than the nasal pillow systems that DO lie on the upper lip (Infinity, Opus). On those occasions when I have trimmed my 'stache really short, the 'stache hairs tend to be irritated by the Nasal pillow system (the plenum section) laying on them and, at times, the courseness of the short hairs tend to dislodge the pillows from my nares.

So, if you want to keep your facial hair, consider trying the different nasal pillow interfaces.

[greyhound]

Of the nasal pillow systems, the ones that do not lie ON the upper lip (Breeze, Swift, Aura) have worked better for me than the nasal pillow systems that DO lie on the upper lip (Infinity, Opus).

WillSucceed, based on what you've said, I was wondering why you're using the Opus, rather than something like the Breeze, Swift, or Aura. Until reading your post, I had been thinking of trying the opus because of its smaller "footprint", but now I'm having second thoughts.

[mattman]

I have a full beard and moustache and I've used the following:

Comfort Select - Excellent. Great Seal, low leaks, virtually silent, extremely comfortable
Comfort Gel - Very good. Great seal, low leaks, virtually silent, very comfortable
Swift - Very Good. Good Seal, very low leaks, somewhat noisy, very comforatble

I hope that helps!

mattman

[new2]

Have you tried a little mask called the nasalaire II ? I wore it for a month or two till my mouth tape got old and the hybrid came out (best mask in the world, bar none, and get the new headgear with it).
That little nasalaire II was Sooo much better than my resmed swift that it's not even funny. Back when I wore the Nasalaire II, you had to guess what size you were, out of, like 6 or 7 sizes.Now, thank goodness people can get 3 in a pack for the same price as one or spend about 10 bucks more and get all 6 or 7 sizes. My guess is that the (MD, MD+, LG) would fit 95% of the population. I wear the Small or the MD. I was sent the MD size canule when I called Innomed crying that I spent 88.00 for the wrong size. They were so sweet they sent me the next largest size for free. So just do what I did if you need to go up or down a size.

[S-Dubya]

My beard (goatee) is not overly thick and I keep it pretty short. I have used a few different masks.

Ultra Mirage FF - lots-o-leaks around chin area
F&P 431 FFM - Not bad a few leaks when interface gets old or beard gets long
Activa - no problems at all (except keeping my big mouth shut!)

Best of luck!

[cpapqueen]

swift or activa should work fine

[WillSucceed]

Greyhound:
I had limited success with Swift as I found that it really irritated my nares when I would sleep on my side -lateral pressure against the nose from the plenum and headgear against the pillow.

I had hoped that the design of Opus (plenum is SIGNIFICANTLY narrower than Swift) would lessen or eliminate nare irritation from lateral pressure. For the most part, this is the case. If I have my 'stache clipped really short, the short, course hairs poke into the Opus plenum, causing some discomfort. When my 'stache is longer (1 cm or more) I don't have any trouble. Overall, I really like Opus as it is comfortable, stable, easy to put on and take off and easy to clean. It is also really light and will be great for travelling. Like Infinity, with Opus, the nasal pillow plenum actually lays flat on the wearer's upper lip.

Compared to Swift, I find Opus to be significantly more comfortable, lighter in weight, and alot more forgiving of side-sleeping. Currently, I'm alternating between Breeze and Opus.

Regarding Aura (or whatever name it is going by these days) I was never able to get a good seal. I know that there are others on this forum who swear by Aura and, a big good-on-ya to them. It just did not work for me.