Full face masks with a beard?

[joeljjk11]

Does anyone out there use a full face mask with a beard? I have tried the Airfit F10 but it leaked like crazy and I have no plans of shaving my beard. I currently use the Nuance Pro nasal pillows with a chinstrap.

Thanks!
Joel

[ajack]

you will have to google it, but I read of product to coat the beard to get a seal (a waxy type thing I guess?)

[Pugsy]

We've got one forum member (can't remember his name) that has a big Santa Clause beard with a full face mask. It can be done but does present extra challenges. I think a lot has to do with the condition of the facial hair...bristly and tough vs soft and pliable.

[D.H.]

I do have a beard, but I wear only a nasal mask. For me, facial hair appears to be a complete non-issue.

BTW, a full face mask should only be tried if one of the following are true, or of a doctor wants you to use one after a discussion or for a specific reason:
1) A nasal mask was tried, but did not work due to mouth-breathing issues or the patient just "couldn't stand it," and thinks a FF mask would be better. In some cases, this might be determinable in a few minutes.
2) There is a known and substantial blockage of the nasal passages, due to medical reasons.
3) A facial deformity or anomaly makes it not possible to wear a nasal mask.

[Guest]

I have no plans of shaving my beard. I currently use the Nuance Pro nasal pillows with a chinstrap.

I started w/a FFM but taught myself to breath thru my nose. Nasal pillows are so much lighter and cooler esp. during the summer.

Make no mistake about it - I would shave clean to get a good mask seal and a good nites sleep. Hair will always grow back.

[amenite]

I do have a beard, but I wear only a nasal mask. For me, facial hair appears to be a complete non-issue.

BTW, a full face mask should only be tried if one of the following are true, or of a doctor wants you to use one after a discussion or for a specific reason:
...

Just out of curiosity, why exactly do you say that a full face mask is contraindicated excepting these three scenarios?

[CapnLoki]

I have a full beard and use a full face mask. As a long time mouth breather, I've never thought of using anything else. The mask is a Quattro Air, which is rather small and only touches the beard at the corners of my mouth and under my lip; I keep these spots trimmed fairly short. I use Pad-a-cheek liners and have never had a leakage problem. My pressure is only about 10 which I think had made it easier.

BTW, I also sleep on my side which has not been a problem. I use underfilled down pillows, which can be "molded" into any desired shape.

[D.H.]

I do have a beard, but I wear only a nasal mask. For me, facial hair appears to be a complete non-issue.

BTW, a full face mask should only be tried if one of the following are true, or of a doctor wants you to use one after a discussion or for a specific reason:
...

Just out of curiosity, why exactly do you say that a full face mask is contraindicated excepting these three scenarios?

It's much harder to get the seal right on a FF mask. Also, it's better to breathe through the nose if that's possible. I know that FF masks have anti-asphyxia valves, but I am still more comfortable with being able to breathe through my mouth in the event of a mechanical failure.

Just for the record, the only death from a CPAP mishap that I'm aware ever happened was a CPAP falling out of a window and hitting somebody on the head (i.e. nobody ever suffocated or was electrocuted)!

[Mdduffey]

I have a full beard and the Airfit F20 is the only FFM that has been able to fully seal comfortably for me. I used the Mirage Quattro before this and got it to seal but had to torque all of the straps down tightly (which was extremely uncomfortable). I also tried the Amara View and got it to seal most of the time, but it created sores on the sides of my nose that made sleeping with it impossible. Everyone has a different face so it's best to try out a variety of masks.

I have a deviated septum as well and I'm a mouth breather so I wasn't able to get the best use out of a nasal mask (a chinstrap would just slip off because of my beard) and I have never tried nasal pillows.

I sleep on my side/stomach and have never had any issues with the F20 - I also use a Pur-Sleep buckwheat hull pillow as well (I highly recommend). I adjust the fill away from the mask so it doesn't push on it, which can cause leaks.

-Hope this helped out a little bit, good luck!

[WRX03]

As long as the machine can compensate for the leak you will be okay. Some mask use memory foam for a seal, it may help for a beard???

[amenite]

It's much harder to get the seal right on a FF mask. Also, it's better to breathe through the nose if that's possible. I know that FF masks have anti-asphyxia valves, but I am still more comfortable with being able to breathe through my mouth in the event of a mechanical failure.
...

Your own asphyxia paranoia aside I find it a bit ridiculous to state that a FFM should never be tried excepting in this handful of circumstances you describe. Try whatever you want and use what works. If it happens to be a FFM it's much more beneficial than no PAP at all.

[whodatpat]

I love my beard. I have only been at this CPAP thing for about a month now. I am a lifelong (47) mouth breather thanks to a massively deviated septum at a young age. They tried to fix it once and I will punch you in the face if you ask me to go through that hell again. No, it did not help. Anyhow, I finally had the sleep study and while my frequency of episodes was only about 14 an hour, they were long breaks and my oxygen numbers were terrible so they prescribed CPAP.

I started with the ResMed AirFit F30 and it was decent. I stopped snoring and the wife quit hitting me so at least we were both sleeping all night. On my checkup the doctor said my numbers weren't showing much improvement because I was not getting a good seal and moved me to a ResMed AirFit F20. I have sense downloaded the app for my phone and I can see for myself that I am 59% Mask Fit with this F20. It was bad before but not that bad. I wake up early each morning to a dry humidifier tank and the dang thing blowing my cheeks out like a trumpet player so it gets a seal sometimes just not all the time. Another thing I hate about the F20 is with my big ole nose it is actually pinching it off so that i cant breath through my nose if I wanted to.

Hopefully there is hope for us bearded mouth breathers. So far, I am at a loss.

[Okie bipap]

Forum member bonjour has a very bushy, full beard and uses the Amara View mask. Look at this post to see a picture of him with his mask on: viewtopic/t175269/OSCAR-Suggestions-amp ... rting.html