CPAP Straps Pulling out my Hair!!

Hi all,

I've been using my CPAP for about 6 months and have gotten very good results. Recently, I've noticed that my hair is all over the floor, my brush, the shower. It coming out in clumps.

Has anyone else had this issue? I use a WISP with the soft headgear (non silicone). The headgear sucks.

Help - I don't want to keep losing my hair!

Thanks!

I can't think that CPAP alone is at fault. It's just one of the tools to pull it out. I'd start iwth my PCP doc, but lean towards endocrinologist. Something has changed in your system!

TiredMomNY2 wrote:Hi all,
I've been using my CPAP for about 6 months and have gotten very good results. Recently, I've noticed that my hair is all over the floor, my brush, the shower. It coming out in clumps.
Has anyone else had this issue? I use a WISP with the soft headgear (non silicone). The headgear sucks.
Help - I don't want to keep losing my hair!
Thanks!

We commonly see hair breakage where the headgear straps are in contact with the head over time, but what you're describing sounds a little different to me. Hair falling out in clumps and seeing it all over the floor, etc., sounds like something else -- that kind of hair loss can be due to stress, hormones, health conditions, nutrition issues, medications... anything changed recently for you?

If it is really just local strap friction causing hair breakage/loss, people have used soft fabrics under the straps (check out PadACheek products, others use the Pap Cap which covers the whole head and the mask goes over that. Some of the nasal pillow folks use the Tap Pap mask which has no headgear at all.

I at the least pull my hair into a low ponytail, but if I have the time/energy I French braid my hair before I put my mask on. Really helps if I braid it, maybe it will help you if your hair is long enough. And if you shower at night you might just wake up with cute waves, too!

I would go with Kwikwater first and rule out any chemical or illness-related problem.
Your hair is like a canary in a coal mine--it will tell us if something is going sideways, and should be heeded--ASAP.
After that, you can try ponytails, Buffs, chemo-caps, UnderArmor helmet liners or even a bandanna.

Thank so much!! I have had a lot going on - stress, health concerns, etc. I have an appt to see my PCP next week. Will rule out thyroid then.

I am bald at the back since starting CPAP. I think the mask straps played a role in it but who knows for sure.

There is one surefire way to prevent male-pattern baldness--but only the Heavens Gate guys were that committed.

Hi Tired mom...This same thing happened to me...and it was definitely stress. Think back 3 months from when your hair started falling out...did something really stressful happen?? There is a name for it (the hair loss) but I cannot come up with it right now. Let me reassure you that it will grow back in, so don't stress about that.

Hope this helps you!

Janice