long term effect on face

I know this sounds stupid, but I wonder if when I am 60 if I will have a permanent drawn, pulled down, triangle shape face. I mean women are taught to put makeup on by sweeping upward as not to encourage the facial muscles to be pulled down. Well.......... what is this mask doing to my face? Any information? Anyone else worried about this?

Ah but the real question is what will you look like at 60...if you live to 60...if you don't use the cpap mask?

Believe me at 60, all the other stresses of life will have left their mark anyway.

HMMMMM a great way of putting it. I am not vain, though I sound like it in my question. You are correct. I was looking at that glass as half empty.

R&R, I am semi-new to this site joining just this past month, but I have to say, the more of your posts I read, the more I like you. You are a very wise man and I admire your style and insight. You cut right to the heart of the matter and you seem to hit the nail on the head each time. You really got this one right on the money. If we don't use our CPAP masks now, will we even be here at 60!!! Perfection. I look forward to reading more of your insightful replies. I really get a kick out of you!!!

[quote="Sleepless on LI"]R&R, I am semi-new to this site joining just this past month, but I have to say, the more of your posts I read, the more I like you. You are a very wise man and I admire your style and insight. You cut right to the heart of the matter and you seem to hit the nail on the head each time. You really got this one right on the money. If we don't use our CPAP masks now, will we even be here at 60!!! Perfection. I look forward to reading more of your insightful replies. I really get a kick out of you!!!

First of all, I agree about R& R, as well as rested gal, glassgal, ozij and others. What a wonderful wealth of information and common sense!

Second, I have a related question. I have started sleeping through about half of the night with my nasal mask (F&P HC405). But when I wake up around 2 AM the thing has all but embedded itself in my face! <LOL> There are definitely no leaks! Even after I stick a finger inside to see if it's still working.

But I find the entire edge wet with sweat or condensation, so I take it off, wipe off my face with my hand, and put on the Swift nasal pillows. They are cooler and feel good after that tight mask. The straps aren't overly tight - a bit loose actually. Do I need to loosen them even more?

- JB

Lucky for you you use the FP 405. If you were using the Activa you'd have a problem. That special aditive in the mask seal to prevent rrreactions with the skin. Not good. Causes other problems .

:twis ted:

I've noticed a number of skin conditions improving since starting CPAP including an ugly red spot on my eyelid.

Chrisp, What additive in the activa are you referring too?????

The activa is a great mask. Not having used the Fand P FF mask I can't speak from experience on it but I have tried the Resmed and Respironics ones and they stifled me. The Activas since it is very loosly worn I don't see could ever cause this problem. But the Swift is fast becoming my favorite especially in the heat of the summer as it is very cool.

Thanks for the kudos on my posts. I tell it like it is (much to my wifes chagrin ) and I am a student of human nature. I am a salesman by trade and I have to be quick on my feet and have to see through the bull and false words and have a quick comback. Some like it, some don't. I have made a good living at it though.

I have two words for the orginal question.....

Mask rotation.


My personal opinion is the human bod is not meant to have the same pressure points night after night or day after day, no matter what they are from.

I notice a lot of long time CPAPers rotation between different types of masks.

I myself find it seems to be a lot easier on my face to rotate between at least 2 masks on alternate nights, and those happen to be the Swift and the Activa at the moment.

I agree wholeheartedly, I rotate the Swift and Activa. Two totally different interfaces and both very comfortable and effective.

Hi People

I have been on cpap for a few years, I have a gel mask and I used to get a "red" mark on my forhead after sleeping with my profile Lite mask. it's a gel mask with a pad of gel that sits in the center of your forehead above your nose and between your eyes !

It took awhile to figure that issue out.....Later I found out I had my head strap too tight so that what caused the red mark above my nose, Now after a few years after adjusting the head strap so it is not too tight to make red mark above my nose, between the eyes.

But now after few years CPAP therapy I now I have a slight indention on my forehead where the pad of gel from the nasal mask sat when I was wearing it at night. But at least it's not bright red anymore......I prefer a slight on indentation more then having a red mark on my forehead!

I use the Respironics Comfort Classic. I don't see anyone else who uses this kind. So far,I've had no trouble with it.
I do have a FF mask for the times I have colds. Used only once.

I think the left side of my face has more wrinkles since I have started on cpap.
I am 61 now,been 9 months on cpap,and I sleep on my stomach with my head turned to the right. So, as a consequence my face wrinkles up on the left, because sometimes I prop up my face with my right hand. I use bandaids to alleviate the other marks.
I have tried sleeping on my back,and I can,but takes forever for me to fall asleep.

That is really all I have to complain about,I don't need any more wrinkles than I already have!!!

I realize it is not PC (in this case, psychologically-correct) to care how our faces appear. But, all my life, when I look in the mirror, there it is. Seems like an important part of me. And, I'm satisfied with the way "I" look at 61. Only been on cpap since 9.4 though. I do see changes. It does dent the face and the ego. Oh, yes, I know: Just be happy to be alive. For sure, I am delighted that I am breathing. I am not delighted that the skin on my face is not breathing. There is so much to adjust to. The hardest for me, once I got over not being able to breath on regular cpap by changing to bi-pap, has been having to make appointments to rest my head on my husband's chest. It has always been such a very sweet time of every night to roll over and cuddle. Yes, I can do that before and after masking up or off, but it lacks the spontaneity and frequency. It is a loss for me. Having my skin react to the masks is a lesser loss, but still a loss. I do put the straps on just tight enough to seal the mask and then loosen them as much as possible. It isn't that. I just have delicate skin. I can understand how you feel. I had hoped someone knew a salve or cream to help mitigate the damage, but it wasn't to be. My Mirage Swift nasal pillows don't stay sealed during the night due to tossing-and-turning, so using nasal pillows doesn't solve the skin problem since they don't work for me. Will order PB Breeze to see if that helps with the skin issue. Maybe there will be "masks" someday that don't touch our faces at all, just blowing air into our rooms and coaxing our throats to accept the needed air. We have to do what we have to do. I am glad I am compliant. I am sad for the losses. Aren't we ever allowed to be sad in life? By the by, I have had a good development in relation to cpap use. For five years I have been exercising and feeling totally lousy afterwards. Regular exercise. Wiped out after excercising for one hour three times a week for five years......in the mornings. Now that I am on bi-pap, I exercised this morning, and for the first time in five years felt quite OK afterwards. Getting that oxygen level back up there is wonderful. Now youz guyz/galz probably want me to get over it (cuddling and face marks). I'll work on it. Promise. Really.