CPAP & Rosacea

Hi Everyone, I wonder if this rings a bell with anyone? I have been using CPAP since June 2006 with great success for the sleep apnea but coincidentally within 3 months of starting to use the mask on a regular basis I developed pretty full blown Rosacea (persistent red face, particularly the nose) I saw a private consultant dermatologist who diagnosed the condition but would not guess at the cause. I have still got it nearly two years later and it is not only unsightly but also uncomfortably hot (flushed). I know it has to do with the facial blood vessels and it is a fact that my red nose has the exact outline of my nasal mask - hence the question. I manage to wear the mask on average about 7 hours a night and of course the whole exterior of my nose takes a beating from the air pressure but is this is all conjecture on my part? Has anyone else had this particular problem and were they able to deal with it. English Eric

I have it to some extent but I am using pillows and haven't had a problem with it. My mom had it worse than I do. She used to use Metrogel and it helped a lot.

I don't think there is a connection between your two diagnoses. Rosacea often doesn't show up in males until middle age, and that's about the same time most men get diagnosed with sleep apnea.

I think you probably had minor symptoms of Rosacea previous to CPAP therapy, but didn't notice it. You were sleep deprived. Lots of things probably skimmed below your radar.

Cheers,
Barbara

Some posters have commented that CPAP masks seem to aggravate their rosacea. Here's one example:
viewtopic/t36517/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34 ... 06#p293906

Here are some past posts where rosacea has been discussed:
viewtopic/t36517/search.php?keywords=rosacea

There might be some useful rosacea tips in some of those posts. Good luck!

EnglishEric wrote:Hi Everyone, I wonder if this rings a bell with anyone? I have been using CPAP since June 2006 with great success for the sleep apnea but coincidentally within 3 months of starting to use the mask on a regular basis I developed pretty full blown Rosacea (persistent red face, particularly the nose) I saw a private consultant dermatologist who diagnosed the condition but would not guess at the cause. I have still got it nearly two years later and it is not only unsightly but also uncomfortably hot (flushed). I know it has to do with the facial blood vessels and it is a fact that my red nose has the exact outline of my nasal mask - hence the question. I manage to wear the mask on average about 7 hours a night and of course the whole exterior of my nose takes a beating from the air pressure but is this is all conjecture on my part? Has anyone else had this particular problem and were they able to deal with it. English Eric

Hello Eric:

Finally I have found out what is causing this horrible "hot flushing"
I started testosterone therapy round about the same time as my cPAP.
I blamed it on the testosterone however facial flushing usually occurs with low testosterone not high.
So now after reading your statement and several others; that it may be due to an allergy caused by the mask.
My question is what can we do about it?

Aidan.

Eric:

I assure you there is a connection between hot flushing (including rosacea, which was probably caused initially by the hot flushing rupturing small capillaries in the skin) and CPAP therapy.
I have the same problem.
I thought the latter was caused by my testosterone hormone replacement therapy (I am male with hypothalamic/pituitary hypogonadism) or extremely low levels of testosterone and luteinising hormone.
However hot flushing is usually a symptom of low testosterone, not high.
I am now convinced my problem is due to the cPAP.

I would like to ask you what have you tried to remedy the situation?

Aidan.

Eric,

By all means the CPAP could be the cause. Either as a primary reason or through a secondary condition. Since the exact cause for Rosacea is unknown, it would be foolish to discount anything as a possible cause.

My wife suffers from Rosacea and recently it had become severe. She had changed makeup about 6 months ago, then discontinued using it. Not a lot of improvement. She went back to her old makeup and things did not get better. It was after stopping all make-up and face washing did it get better/clear up completely. The bottomline was that, we have now determined it was the facial wash and not the make-up.

Perhaps it is the pressure from the mask, maybe its the mask material, or Maybe its the soap you are using to wash your mask. An open mind is where we find answers.

Hopefully through elimination of possible causes you will find a solution.

I'd suggest that you keep a diary of things like changes in soap, any medications that you may take, time in the sun, extent of the redness, etc. After a while, this may allow you to spot a trend, possibly something you can then change.

I've had varying degrees of red splotches that predate my CPAP for several years. It started on my upper lip, then move to my cheeks/bridge of my nose, then to my forehead, lower cheeks and hair line. The lupus screening test was positive, but the follow up ruled it out. Rosacea was then assumed. I can't remember what creams we tried over the years, but about 3 years ago, my dermatologist came to the conclusion that it wasn't Rosacea but a combination of psoriasis and a persistent fungal infection. I take minocycline and use Luxiq foam. Luxiq is expensive, and it's intended use is on the scalp, but I dab a small amount on my splotches about once a week. This routine has kept things reasonable well-controlled. After using the foam, things clear up completely for a week or so. When it starts to come back, I know it's time for more Luxiq. It's now been 16 or 17 years since my first symptoms appeared and the combination of minocycline and Luxiq are the only things that have ever worked very well.

Good luck in finding some relief. It's not fun walking around, wondering if people are staring at you or worse, avoiding you, because of this stuff.

I'm not going to hazard a guess on cause and effect. I had rosacea long before cpap.

BUT, try the redness cream from Clinique. It does wonders for me.

Don't forget a hat and sunscreen.

I, too, developed Rosacea after using CPAP, and my dermatologist agrees that is the cause. I can't tolerate the nasal pillow masks, so use a regular mask that covers my nose and part of my cheeks. I have tried using the expensive, one-time-use, $1 apiece fabric mask rim covers, but they are of little help. I have also tried various medications with little luck.

I would be interested if anyone has found even a partial solution to this problem. Thanks very much.

Pad a cheek makes reusable, WASHABLE, soft fabric mask liners, that can be used many, many times.
If your rosacea diagnosis is not definitive, it might be worthwhile to have your doctor (or maybe a better one)
look for an infection, allergy or chemical sensitivity.
You might also be a candidate for one of the fabric masks made by Sleepweaver.

Thank you for posting your experience. You have described exactly what has happened to me. I started using the CPAP and pretty much developed Rosacea right away. It would not be considered "severe" by most standards but for someone who has never had a problem with blemishes it is very humbling to have to walk around with a red nose that is broken out much of the time. It is the only part of my face affected by this condition and of course it is the air constantly blowing over it all night. I am extremely careful to always make sure the mask is perfectly clean before using it so as not to exacerbate the situation.

MichelleinMaine wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 27, 2019 6:25 pm

Thank you for posting your experience. You have described exactly what has happened to me. I started using the CPAP and pretty much developed Rosacea right away. It would not be considered "severe" by most standards but for someone who has never had a problem with blemishes it is very humbling to have to walk around with a red nose that is broken out much of the time. It is the only part of my face affected by this condition and of course it is the air constantly blowing over it all night. I am extremely careful to always make sure the mask is perfectly clean before using it so as not to exacerbate the situation.

Like most first posts from a newbie offering 'advice'... take this with a grain of salt.

"of course it is the air constantly blowing over it all night."

MichelleinMaine wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 27, 2019 6:25 pm

It is the only part of my face affected by this condition and of course it is the air constantly blowing over it all night.

which type of mask?

Any old excuse to quit cpap?
AGAIN?
Yeah, whatever . . .