Pressure Sores

[Katagal]

I have been using the same mask for over 4 months now and in the last month I have developed two rather unsightly pressure sores on my forehead where the top buckles hold the straps and a permanent red mark on the bridge of my nose (the skin has come very close to breaking down and becoming a sore). I have the mask on a comfortable level for me, it certainly does not feel tight or uncomfortable. The pressure sores developed as rather large pimples with multiple heads and then they inevitably burst and they become open sores that are rather painful and very unsightly to look at.

I am going to purchase a nasal pillow mask and try the option of alternating the masks regularly so sores don't develop from either masks.

Two questions I have

Does anyone else suffer pressure sores or skin reactions from the silicon/plastic/latex whatever

Can I purchase masks on-line or through this forum as my vendor is closed until 3rd January 2011

As always, your assistance and advice is deeply appreciated

Cheers Katagal

[Julie]

Go to Pad-a-Cheek.com for excellent liners many people here use to avoid the problem (I have no personal connection at all but have tried them and they work).

[chunkyfrog]

I knew Santa forgot something

[Mary Z]

Be very careful as this can get very nasty. I had breakdown on the bridge of my nose that took 20 days to heal- I still have a scar and can't wear a mask that rests in that area. You can try moleskin in the mask where it meets your forehead. Getting another style of mask or trying the liners may be the best solution. I would go with another mask. Good luck. Do deal with this ASAP.

[jamiswolf]

Hi Katagal,
I've had a few skin irritation problems. For me, I never felt it was any kind of chemical reaction to the mask material. Rather just the usual irritation from something in contact with the skin and preventing breathing. A couple small pimples too.

Like what you're planing on doing, I resolved it with alternating with a different mask until healed. Plus scrupulous cleanliness and the addition of old Tee shirt fabric gaskets...no more problems. Knock on wood.
Good luck,
Jamis

[Katagal]

My new mask arrived today so I will now be alternating masks regularly to prevent pressure sores developing and hopefully it will be a thing of the past

[TalonNYC]

Hi Katagal:

I've had it happen a couple of times so far. Once was when switching masks, and twice when I had accidentally gotten the straps too tight. For me, easing up on the straps a little and wearing an antibiotic band-aid over the sore allowed it to heal inside a week or so. To be clear, it's not the antibiotic itself that does anything, but those band-aids have petroleum jelly on them, and manage to keep it under the strip so it doesn't get on the mask itself. Very soothing and seems to help healing.

The Pad-A-Cheek covers can make a HUGE difference, and the woman who makes them, Karen, is a member of this forum too, and very happy to help. The temple straps she makes might help out here.

I feel for you, I'm just getting over one of those myself. I had the nose-bridge setting too tight last week, and got a nasty mask bite.

[Paul56]

Does anyone else suffer pressure sores or skin reactions from the silicon/plastic/latex whatever

Can I purchase masks on-line or through this forum as my vendor is closed until 3rd January 2011

I used the Quattro FFM successfully from 2008 until December 2011. For about the last year I
developed red streaks down either side of my nose and the occasional red spot on my chin that
simply would not go away.

That development was discouraging because the therapy had been successful and continued
to be successful despite the development of that issue.

My PCP down here in the States suggested the obvious, that I try a different mask. I resisted
that at first given therapy was successful despite the red marks. I did not want to upset a
working system and don't like messing with things that are not broken... but the red marks
were annoying.

Finally decided to purchase the Swift FX from cpap.com and give it a whirl. I feared the worst
that I would be a mouth breather so I ordered the chin strap at the same time. Well, now I'm
beating my forehead on my keyboard for having waiting to switch for so long. The Swift FX
works excellent for me, no chin strap / taping necessary, and I love not having that huge
piece of plastic covering my face.