New to CPAP...mask rubbing nose raw!

Hi all,

I've been using a CPAP for mild sleep apnea for about 10 days now. Overall, I'd say results are fairly good, but I'm having major issues with the mask. I apologize for not knowing the lingo/brands of masks...but I think I have a 'Swift FX Nano" mask. It's a nasal mask only, not covering mouth.

The issue I'm having is that the little piece of cartilage on the bottom of my nose that sits between my nostrils (the septum maybe?) is really sore and red. It's right where my upper lip meets bottom of nose. I've tried adjusting the straps, but if I make it any looser I don't think it will make a seal. Maybe the mask is too small for me? Really feels like my nose is 'buried' in the mask, and I have a normal size to small size nose, so not sure what the remedy is.

Anyone else have this same issue with this mask? Any ideas for fixes?

This mask?
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html
It may be a size issue but it also just might be a bit of tender skin issue due to never having something rub against it for very long.
We get it with the nasal pillows too.
Sometimes it is made worse by having things too tight.
For the nasal pillows and tender nostrils we usually suggest Lansinoh lanolin ointment. It won't harm the silicone and you know nursing mom's use it for help with the rawness that breast feeding can cause.
Just a little at night and liberally during the day to help promote healing.

Usually after a short period of time the skin in that area becomes a little more accustomed to having something up against it but if it doesn't or the skin gets abraded and raw or blistered...something is wrong with either fit or size. Anything other than minor tenderness in that area means something is wrong somewhere. Don't let it get raw.

I have used that mask briefly. Try playing with the top strap just a little to see if it helps prevent the bottom of the cushion from pulling upwards and digging into the skin. Maybe one notch loose???

Pugsy wrote:This mask?
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html
It may be a size issue but it also just might be a bit of tender skin issue due to never having something rub against it for very long.
We get it with the nasal pillows too.
Sometimes it is made worse by having things too tight.
For the nasal pillows and tender nostrils we usually suggest Lansinoh lanolin ointment. It won't harm the silicone and you know nursing mom's use it for help with the rawness that breast feeding can cause.
Just a little at night and liberally during the day to help promote healing.

Usually after a short period of time the skin in that area becomes a little more accustomed to having something up against it but if it doesn't or the skin gets abraded and raw or blistered...something is wrong with either fit or size. Anything other than minor tenderness in that area means something is wrong somewhere. Don't let it get raw.

I have used that mask briefly. Try playing with the top strap just a little to see if it helps prevent the bottom of the cushion from pulling upwards and digging into the skin. Maybe one notch loose???

Hi,

Yes, that is the mask! Thanks for the suggestions. I will try tinkering some more with the straps and look into the lotion you suggest. Hopefully that will remedy the issue. I really don't mind the mask otherwise - it is very small and compact so it didn't take long to get used to apart from the irritation I am having.

The Nano is a nice mask.
There may be a fine line with the sizing which might mean a little better fit and not trying to "dig in" that area that is getting sore.
Since it doesn't come with all sizes available it's hard to experiment with the other sizes.
First night I tried it I had that top strap a little too snug and it made that same area (where your issues are) on me a bit tender.
I recognized it from past experience with nasal pillows that are too snug so I adjusted it slightly and had no more issues.
I got the smallest size cushion. I probably could have done well with the next size which I think is the "Standard" but I managed well enough with the Small. I couldn't have stood for it to be any smaller though..I was right on the edge of the sizing template.

The most common mistake that gets made with these type of masks is that people tend to snug them up too much and sometimes there is a very fine line between too snug and just right. With time and experience you will come to understand what I mean.
Newbies especially tend to tighten things up too much in an effort to prevent all leaks but sometimes they tighten things up so much the mask gets compressed and can't inflate well enough to get the seal that is needed.
If you look in the mirror with the mask on and you start to think you look like you have a piggy nose...that's almost always the top strap pulling the mask and end of nose upwards. It will cause pain and abrasions and is not a good thing to see or feel.

So sometimes the tiniest of adjustments will make things "just right"..maybe one notch on the top strap..maybe 1/8 of an inch increase or decrease on the back strap. Once you get it just right...don't undo that back strap or move the top strap notch for any reason. Just gently remove the headgear allowing the stretchiness of the headgear to give you what you need to remove things. If you want to wash the headgear...wash it just like it is. There's no need to undo anything to wash it. That way you don't have to go through the minute adjustments all over again.

The raw nose was a big problem of mine at first. Sometimes only one night would give me bleeding sores. Sounds crazy but it's true and all I can conclude is that there are a lot of bad masks out there. Nowadays, I don't seem to have much of a problem... can't say if it's the toughing of my skin or just better masks, but there you have it.