Facial marks from mask straps

Has anyone discovered a good way to avoid facial creases and marks left from a cpap mask and straps? I use the nasal pillows, and the straps that rest on my cheeks leave visible creases that don't go away ffor a couple of hours.

Make your own side/cheek strap covers from fleece or buy ready made from Padacheek
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_SwiftFX.html

or if you have the Swift LT...look for that product.

I agree with "The Pugs" the padacheek strap covers are reasonably priced and work. You will not be disappointed.

Sheriff

I like the marks, if I catch someone looking, it's an opportunity to mention cpap;
maybe send somebody for a sleep study.
One less menace on the highway.

I do have the same problem and also a red mark on my nose ....
I am just wondering if those creases eventually will develop into permanent creases on the face....

I find the CPAP company prices OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive!
The Cushion and a clip is is $ 54 which has to be replaced on the the regular basis as it is stretches and doesn't stay in the grove .
They are a monopoly on the product and charge whatever they want.
I actually found a solution- I glued the cushion to the plastic around nose area and thus avoid any air leaks....

Just as a devil's advocate point of view on the Padacheek strap covers, I found that they allowed the mask to shift around on my face a lot more, resulting in more leaks for me. The silicone straps tend to stay in a non-leaking position more simply because they're "stickier". But then I move around a lot when I sleep, so a less mobile sleeper most likely won't have that problem.

I've learned to live with it, not a big deal for me.

I was wondering about that too. I am ending my first week. I assumed those marks are the price I am paying for good numbers. I'll take the trade off. But this weekend I stayed in a hotel and had to wear those lines on my face as a badge of honor at breakfast. As I drank my cup of coffee yesterday I noticed a guy walk past with his own CPAP cheek marks. I found comfort in that. We are all in this together, right?

I have found cotton "nursing pads" not the disposable one work wonderfully. I just pop one behind each strap and no marks in the morning!
Available in the baby section in stores in Australia - guess it would be the same in US

Awhile back, one of the gents mentioned he used panty liners. I imagine that would work nicely.

Or... you could say you fell asleep (head-first) on a hot BBQ pit...

Sheriff

Iowamv wrote:I was wondering about that too. I am ending my first week. I assumed those marks are the price I am paying for good numbers. I'll take the trade off. But this weekend I stayed in a hotel and had to wear those lines on my face as a badge of honor at breakfast. As I drank my cup of coffee yesterday I noticed a guy walk past with his own CPAP cheek marks. I found comfort in that. We are all in this together, right?

A couple of years ago when I first had my cpap machine I was taking the dog for its early morning walk. I lived in 3 story walk up on the second floor. As I was waiting for the dog to take its first leak outside beside the stairs, my downstairs neighbour, who was having his morning smoke, said " Oh you have a cpap machine too. So do I and my wife" and the neighbour on the other side of the building (also a smoker) piped up and said "Oh me too!" WE had a nice discussion about masks and water.

Can't hurt to scrub your face with a wash cloth in the morning. Then put Skin Oil on your wet face. Pat it dry. I have found good results with both coconut oil and SPF 50 Sun Screen, which some say is the best available to making ones skin look young again. Also some say nice things about Gold Bone oil with Co-Q10, which is not cheap.