I haven’t been here in a while since I got most of my issues sorted out with CPPP surgery (I had an extra long palate and uvula that was making it near impossible to use my CPAP properly But my doctor had to really argue with my insurance to get it approved, So so glad he did. It’s also much easier to breathe when in the dentist chair now! Also, yes, I still use my CPAP, As you will read)
Anyway, I came looking to see if anybody had a product to put on the inside of my nose when I occasionally get a scratch that interferes with using nasal pillows. Most of the time my brevida mask Is great but occasionally, I will get a scratch / sore and because it’s on the inside of my nostril, It gets pressed on by the nasal pillows (and they are the softest ones I think out there, which is why I use them). And because of its location, it’s difficult to put anything on it to seal it so that it will heal.
********************************
Disclaimer, these are not in accordance with the labeling so do use at your own risk.
*********************************
I have tried styptic Powder (with benzocaine) On a Fingertip or Q-tip , The same powder like you use on pets nails to stop bleeding. Yeah, it stings at first and you have to be careful not to breathe in through your nose, In fact, breathe out like you’re blowing your nose to get all the loose powder out of there. But try not to wipe that side because it just irritates further and risks dislodging the protective scab you just created with the powder.
The problem is, I have to do it several times because the minute your nose starts running and the powder gets damp it doesn’t really work at all, If it hasn’t formed a scab yet.
I know they make a liquid form of this sold in pet departments/pet stores. I’m not quite sure how it works, since the powder form just doesn’t work at all when it’s damp. I think I have some around here that I bought when I couldn’t find my powder but then I found my powder so I haven’t used it. Guess I will have to try that as well.
Another thing I have used is tincture of benzoin Carefully applied on a Q-tip …just a little bit …and it stings like the dickens because it’s got an alcohol carrier. Similar product is called skin tack, Both products are used to create tacky protective sealant moisture barrier layer on the skin for different devices, such as glucose monitoring devices or attaching ostomy bags. I really prefer the smell of tincture of benzoin though. Kind of a chai smell, like cinnamon clove, Whereas skin tack is much more more the smell of pine sap/Resin dust. Which very well may be what it is made out of. (Benzoin is also a tacky plant based resin btw, but for some reason, it’s harder to find lately. Many Dog breeders use it as a skin protective layer in the process of shaping puppy ears as the puppy is growing). I have usually had to special order it. The skin tack is becoming more widely available for for those that need Ostomy or diabetic Supplies.
The additional benefit of using this is that it really helps to keep those nasal pillows in place
.
Another product that I have tried is as somebody else mentioned any kind of liquid bandage. I found one called elaskin, which is slightly better, I think, than new skin. Although there is a water soluble product now from bactine for sensitive skin and also new skin has a sensitive skin formula and various other formulas which I haven’t tried because they are water soluble, Don’t adhere very well, and take too long to dry. I might try them anyway just to see.
I have found that getting some very thin hydrocolloid sheets and cutting a small jellybean or oval / rectangle shape to go over the middle of my nostrils and fold up into the nostril overnight is the best protection by far And the bandage itself promotes Moist healing. Another thing I intend to try is just some paper first aid tape- Cut in the same shape and relying on the dry outside skin of the Nasal midline to keep it in place under the Pressure from the nasal pillows.
I saw Some of the other suggestions, I will have to give them a try.
This is the one that I find works best,
https://a.co/d/00Q7udmV
You can cut it to shape And it is quite thin. And the reason I cut it so that I can fold it over that middle section of the nose for safety reasons! So that it has some drier skin to stick to, isn’t Likely to be snorted in somehow. It is formulated to adhere to moist wounds, but the more moisture it absorbs the less sticky it becomes.
I can even usually use my nasal pillows with it But I also have a nasal mask to use if I just can’t stand the pain. I definitely don’t prefer having that thing over my nose, but if it’s a choice between stinging pain in my nostril, keeping me awake or the weird feeling of having hot moist air over the outside of my nose I guess I have to choose the latter at least until it’s healed.
Others have mentioned to make sure that your doctor gets to check it out if it doesn’t heal, because then it could be infected or cancer and I definitely that but I get these just occasionally and have since I was a kid. It’s only now that I have to use CPAP that they are a problem for sleeping and also for healing because the nasal pillows interfere with that as well.
(Edits for typos and clarity)
.