How Can I Prevent Red Marks Left On My Face By My CPAP Mask?

This happens to me all the time: I wake up from a peaceful night’s sleep, take off my CPAP Mask, turn off my CPAP Machine, and then get ready for my day. As soon as I walk in the bathroom and take a look in the mirror, there they are again – the persistent red marks in the shape of my mask cushion on my face! If I don’t want my family, let alone my coworkers, to see me like this, what can I do?

Loosen Your Headgear

One of the causes of red marks on your face is that you tighten the straps too much. One solution to this problem is to loosen the mask, then tighten it just until the point where it fits snugly on the face. It shouldn’t feel tight – a tight mask is what’s going to give you the red marks. Instead, the mask should feel comfortable to you.

Try Mask Liners

Second, you can use mask liners. Liners such as RemZzzs go on the cushion of the masks and reduce irritation by acting as a barrier in between the silicon cushion and your skin. Not only can this help reduce red marks and sores, but it can also improve mask leakages and help your mask fit better.

Try a Nasal Pad

A third option if you want to keep the mask you already have is to use a gel nasal pad. A popular nasal pad to try is the Gecko – this pad goes over the bridge of the nose and provides a layer of protection from the silicone on the mask. Nasal pads are also particularly effective for easing nasal bridge soreness associated with nasal or full-face masks, and may even help nasal sores heal faster.

Use CPAP Gel

Another option to solve the problem of the annoying red marks is to use a CPAP Gel. The CPAP Gel contains soothing ingredients like aloe to help restore skin that’s dry and cracked from CPAP therapy. The gel creates a thin, smooth, adaptable seal around your CPAP/BiPAP mask cushion that stops air from escaping, eliminates distracting noises, and improves overall therapy and leak levels. The gel also allows many users to loosen their mask headgear without compromising the mask seal which improves comfort levels and improves the quality of your therapy.

Try a Cloth Mask

Perhaps you’d prefer to get rid of that hard silicone mask altogether? If so, one option for you is to try a cloth mask, such as the SleepWeaver. Cloth masks are ideal for people with latex and silicone sensitivities or those who are allergic to other materials commonly used in masks. These masks are available in both nasal and full-face models, and they can relieve or reduce the red marks left by the silicone masks.

Apply Strap Covers

If the red marks are caused by the straps, rather than the mask, one option to resolve this issue is to buy fabric sleeves for the straps. The sleeves go directly over the straps and act as an additional layer of cushioning against your cheeks, so you should find that they reduce the irritation caused by the straps.