Full face mask with a beard?

Is it doable?

I'm in my third month on The Machine and have suddenly started mouth-breathing. It wasn't a problem before. I'm waking up half a dozen times a night with air streaming out of my mouth.

I've read many suggestions to train yourself to keep your mouth shut during the day, which makes sense to me but isn't an immediate solution.

I've also had a few misadventures with chin straps. The one ResMed makes is useless. A few nights ago I tried to fashion my own out of an old cap and duct tape, and while it did keep my jaw shut all night, air still escaped from my mouth.

So that leaves a full face mask. Is it possible to get a good seal if you've got a beard?

SteveGold wrote: Is it possible to get a good seal if you've got a beard?

Yes, but with a lot of work. I have a full beard and mustache.
The Mirage Quattro with a pad-a-cheek liner works probably the best for me, but I still fight leaks. There is also a leak strap from Pad-a-cheek that some members use with FF masks. It really comes down to what works for you.
Facial hair and a good FF mask seal are just fighting each other for the same territory. Keep in mind that there is more area to seal with a FF too.

Before you go the FF mask with a beard route I would try different chin straps with either the pillows or a nasal mask. If you do decide to try a FF with a beard--keep the beard short. What is your pressure?
With a pressure of 5-8, and on rare occasions, I can get my leaks under 5, but normally much higher. Finally if you toss and turn often that should be a consideration re a FF as you may constantly be breaking the seal and readjusting--not good for sleep.
See if you can test fit some masks at your Sleep Lab. Some labs will let you take them out for a few nights.

I have a slightly different view from Always Tired, although a FF mask does take work. I keep my beard a little long. Normally I use the Aloha pillows with a Puresom Ruby chin strap - the flexibility generally works well for me, but I found last night that I was getting some leaking through the mouth (mouth as dry as a desert this morning). I also have a FitLife mask that I use if I am particularly congested. The secret with that is to make sure the beard is as soft as possible by using a good conditioner (there is one available on Amazon with good reviews, but I have not tried that yet). Just before bed, wash the beard in water as hot as you can stand - I have thought about using a Japanese "oshibori", but the microwave is downstairs. While the beard is still damp, put the mask on. I also have some scuba mask sealer, but I have yet to try that on the FitLife - works well on the Aloha (Google diverightinscuba, and mention that USPS delivery is fine in the box and you should get it for less than with the "regular" shipping price).

I know there are folks with Santa beards who use the FitLife successfully, so it is possible. I am not prepared to shave just to get a good seal, though! Other masks I have tried have been difficult, so I think a lot depends on the shape of the mask and of your face, and the amount of facial fat that you have (some is absolutely normal!!!). So, it is an individual thing, and you need to try a few masks at the DME if you can.

SleepyToo2 wrote:The secret with that is to make sure the beard is as soft as possible by using a good conditioner

An excellent idea! I swear I learn something new on this forum all the time--don't fight the beard just tame it a little.
Very Zen

Thank you Always Tired and Sleepy Too, this is enormously helpful advice. I'm trying a chinstrap again and it actually seems to be helping. I think I'll get FF mask as a back-up to my nasal pillows, and try the strategies you suggested. My pressure is relatively low, so maybe I'll have some luck with it.

Here's my two cents. I think the mask fit is centered on the structure of your face... and the beard may hinder the same mask leaking with a beard and possibly not leaking without the beard. That being said, if it was me, I would do the same as if I didn't have a beard. That would be to go to the DME:
- try on an abundant amount of masks
- get the DME to assist you in adjusting/tightening the mask
- hook up each mask to a display cpap machine that is set at your therapy pressure
- bring a pillow, and get on the floor and roll around to see if the mask can take the abuse you would give it at night

I did that with the mask I'm currently using because I envisioned monster leak problems. To my surprise, it didn't leak. Of course when people came into the office... they stepped over me... but ya' gotta' do what ya' gotta do...

For whatever its worth, I wonder if my mask will work with a beard. I am so close to retiring, that I have copped a severe attitude (nobody can tell me nuthin' . I plan on doin' stuff I haven't been able to do such as... grow a beard... fish... chase the wife around the house in the middle of the day , etc...

Sheriff

I'm 56 years old and wore a beard most of my adult life. When I got on ASV and had to use a FFM, the beard had to go. I didn't like it and I still miss it, but in my experience beards and FFM just don't go together. Fighting the leaks isn't worth it,


JeffH

Have you tried the Forma FF? I know someone with a beard who used it with no probem.

Sometimes I wonder whether cause and effect gets reversed.

I have a beard and a mustache, and was doing fine with my Aloha nasal pillows and a Ruby Chinstrap, which is much better than the ResMed Chinstrap because it is anchored over the head in several places, sort of like the PapCap but without fully covering your head.

Like you, all was fine for most of 2012 and then I too started mouth-breathing and fighting a badly dry mouth all night, and leaks rising on the chart. Naturally, I assumed that I was opening my mouth all night, despite the Chinstrap, and it was causing the dry mouth.

However, after I recently took the advice given here on the forum to apply Biotene gel to my tongue etc. just before bedtime, not only has the dry mouth almost completely stopped BUT the leaks on the chart have dropped way down too!

So I am beginning to wonder - was my mouth dry because I was opening it all night and causing leaks, as I had assumed?; or was I opening my mouth and causing leaks because my mouth was dry? Looks now like it was the latter.

Sometimes cause and effect can be the reverse of what we assume.

So you might consider sticking with the nasal pillows, hold off going to a FFM, while you try the Biotene gel.

Regards, Nate

My hubby has a beard, he keeps it trimmed kind of close. He started CPAP in Dec 2012 with the Amara FF mask. So far he is having good luck, he has a few leaks around the eye/nose area, but with using the gel pads & a forehead liner from Pad-A-Cheek, he has mostly stopped those. His beard has never been an issue and I'm monitoring his progress using the Encore Basic & Sleephead and he is slowing very few leaks.

Perhaps a change of mask would help.
Jen

Hubby wears a Fitlife ("fireman" mask), with or without a beard.
He pulls the bottom down to just under his chin, and it fits him great.
Follow the directions that work; or make up new ones that do.

chunkyfrog wrote: Follow the directions that work; or make up new ones that do.

That should be the first rule of CPAP - especially when we visit the doc/DME - "Oh, the insurance company told me there is a new rule: all new sleep apnea patients must be given a fully efficacy data-capable auto cpap machine for a 4-month trial. If it doesn't work, they progress." What, you mean you didn't hear that????

I second the idea of trying the FitLife Total Face mask. I understand that Sears sometimes sells them for a small price. However, your DME might be willing to let you give it a spin.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html