nose sores from air (not pressure sores)?

I've been using a c-pap for about 16 months and it's been going well. I've tried several different mask types and found that the nasal "sleeve" (the one with holes for the air, not pillows) is the only one that really works for me. The machine I use is a Resmed, with humidified air.

For the last week or so there have been a few spots, just inside my nostrils, that are becoming irritated. These are not areas that actually come into contact with the mask at all, so it isn't a pressure related sore. I've tried putting a little balm on it for a few nights but that doesn't seem to be helping. Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't sleep so well without my c-pap but am thinking it's not a good idea at this point since I don't want these sores to get worse. Appreciate input - thank you!

Are these big open sores that produce large scabs? Any redness or swelling going on?
If they are...probably should be checked out by a doctor to make sure it's not staph or something like that.

My first thought is just a little dried out area of inside the nostril tissues or mucosa and I would add some Lansinoh lanolin ointment/cream liberally and/or maybe a little more moisture to the humidity setting. Dried out mucosal tissues will crack easily sometimes.

If there looks like any actual infectious process is going on...then a topical antibiotic like Polysporin short term and sparingly.
And there is a reason why I suggest Polysporin and not the triple antibiotic ointment we normally think of. Something that my mom's wound care doctor told me about just a couple of weeks ago. Sometimes the combination of antibiotics in those topicals can actually cause more irritation.

thanks. no, not large open sores at this point, just sore areas that I'm hoping don't become worse. I'll look for some lanolin as suggested. Maybe now that here in Seattle we're out of the rainy /humid season I need to readjust the humidity setting, good call ( I had lowered it just a touch some months ago since it was actually dripping on me inside the mask). And good to know about the Polysporin, I'll keep that in mind for the future.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 12:08 pm

Are these big open sores that produce large scabs? Any redness or swelling going on?
If they are...probably should be checked out by a doctor to make sure it's not staph or something like that.

My first thought is just a little dried out area of inside the nostril tissues or mucosa and I would add some Lansinoh lanolin ointment/cream liberally and/or maybe a little more moisture to the humidity setting. Dried out mucosal tissues will crack easily sometimes.

If there looks like any actual infectious process is going on...then a topical antibiotic like Polysporin short term and sparingly.
And there is a reason why I suggest Polysporin and not the triple antibiotic ointment we normally think of. Something that my mom's wound care doctor told me about just a couple of weeks ago. Sometimes the combination of antibiotics in those topicals can actually cause more irritation.

JazzyKat wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 11:51 am

I've been using a c-pap for about 16 months and it's been going well. I've tried several different mask types and found that the nasal "sleeve" (the one with holes for the air, not pillows) is the only one that really works for me.

What is a "nasal sleeve"? can you tell us the manufacturer and model of what you're using?

Turns out it's a Philips mask/headgear. DreamWear nasal mask (without the nasal pillows). Having a hard time inserting a (stock) photo here.

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 6:14 pm

JazzyKat wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 11:51 am

I've been using a c-pap for about 16 months and it's been going well. I've tried several different mask types and found that the nasal "sleeve" (the one with holes for the air, not pillows) is the only one that really works for me.

What is a "nasal sleeve"? can you tell us the manufacturer and model of what you're using?

JazzyKat wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 6:33 pm

Turns out it's a Philips mask/headgear. DreamWear nasal mask (without the nasal pillows). Having a hard time inserting a (stock) photo here.

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 6:14 pm

JazzyKat wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 11:51 am

I've been using a c-pap for about 16 months and it's been going well. I've tried several different mask types and found that the nasal "sleeve" (the one with holes for the air, not pillows) is the only one that really works for me.

What is a "nasal sleeve"? can you tell us the manufacturer and model of what you're using?

just use the attachment feature. if it's a jpeg file, should work.

eta: or look at the masks here and tell us the name-

www.cpap.com

Nasal "cradle"?

I think he probably is describing a nasal cushion.

Deborah K. wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 8:01 pm

I think he probably is describing a nasal cushion.

Sounds like a cushion to me as well....probably the DreamWear nasal cushion.

But something you probably wouldn't know about since you are new to cpap is that back in 2009 when I first started therapy we had similar under the nose cushion masks available (long since discontinued) that were actually called "cradle" in the official terminology.
I think more to differentiate them from the typical over the nose "cushion" than anything else since they didn't have "pillows" with the cones. I actually got to try one early in my therapy but the headgear was so horrible that I never could really give it an honest try.

I don't mean to be criticizing what you said...just thought you might like a little lesson in history since I know you like to learn about all sorts of stuff.
My first thought when I saw the DreamWear nasal cushion under the nose mask was...OMG they brought back the cradle.

That's quite interesting. Thanks for the history lesson. And you're right; I do 'like to learn about all sorts of stuff.'

I often wonder how many people had all sorts of health problems that could have been helped or even cured had people known long ago about the many bad things caused directly by sleep apnea. My Dad snored like a buzz saw for all of my life. Maybe he would have lived longer and healthier had he had apnea treatment. I wonder too what apnea treatment will be like in the (hopefully) near future? Maybe we'll soon have a totally perfect version of the Bleep that will work for every single person and cost next to nothing. One can dream. I have read all 38 pages of the Bleep reviews, and am trying to get my supply people to get me one to try soon.

My husband (who uses apap too) thinks I'm nutty because I like reading about apnea and its treatment on this board and elsewhere. Every day I report my AHI reading and his as well, we discuss how we are sleeping and I talk about things that can make our treatment even more beneficial. It's kind of like a new hobby. Maybe that is nutty. I can live with that.

I was wondering if I should keep using my CPAP well using the cream or wait tell my sores are healed and start using it again?

Amorin83 wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:38 am

I was wondering if I should keep using my CPAP well using the cream or wait tell my sores are healed and start using it again?

welcome to the zoo!

please feel free to start your own thread, where you can tell us what sores you are talking about.

good luck!

Deborah K. wrote: ↑

Sun May 24, 2020 10:05 pm

. . I wonder too what apnea treatment will be like in the (hopefully) near future? Maybe we'll soon have a totally perfect version of the Bleep that will work for every single person and cost next to nothing. One can dream. . . .

Improvements, concurrent with lower prices?
Not likely, since they have an extremely profitable design.
Of course, offshore knockoffs get knocked off all the time--forcing prices down for the originals.

Well just like the OP was talking about I bought the Lansinoh lanolin ointment/cream and for the past 2 days I've been using it well still using my CPAP was just wondering if I should stop using the CPAP well using the cream or does it not matter?

I get this as well. I also use the Dreamware Nasal cushion. I am a side sleeper and it happens on the side that is against the pillow. I need to keep the humidity as high as it goes. If I start to feel sore, I use the Lansinoh. If it gets really sore, I use an antibiotic ointment during the day.