Mole Skin alternative

ldemmery · Post by **ldemmery** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:15 am

I went looking for some of that mole skin stuff, have had problems finding it here in Ottawa, I have to check Ontario Medical Supply next. However, I've found an alternative that seems to be working just fine.

3M makes a plastic hypoallergenic medical tape for those hard to stick places on your body that needs a dressing (especially those damp moist places). Anyways, we had some because of an operation my hubby had a few years ago. I cut a small square off and put it on my nose after I washed my face for the night. wet the edge of my mask and the whole thing stayed on and didn't slip at all.

It comes in a plastic tape like container with a lid and if I remember, cost wise, a little on the high end of medical tape, but now I think its well worth it. I bought it at a local phamacy chain (Shoppers Drugmart) here in Ottawa. If your face is still wet when you apply it, remove it, dry your face and put it back on, it still sticks. Now, it leaves a bit of sticky film when you remove it, but a wipe with a facecloth will remove that.

Before I started using it, I had one heck of a bleeding blister on my nose. It cleared up in about a week after starting to use this. I did forget to use it one night and the sore appeared back again. I have since started back and its gone again that quick.

Lynne

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:18 am

Good to hear of your success, Lynne!

Might I ask what mask you are using that does this damage?

- JB

DrDroopy · Post by **DrDroopy** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:36 pm

If your alternative works for you, of course go with it. Its just that I find it hard to imagine that you can't find mole skin in Ottawa. I don't know what the local Ottawa drug store chain is that is the equivilent of Walgreens, Longs, CVS, Osco, or whatver. Moleskin is made by Dr. Sholls (sp?) and you find it in the footcare section. It is used to pad your feet against blisters. I was a huge consumer of moleskin back in my college days when I did a great deal of hiking in the Cascade mountains. Those 1970's hiking boots looked incredibly cool to my 19 year old eyes, but they really were not so great for the actual hiking function they were supposed to fulfill.

ldemmery · Post by **ldemmery** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:34 pm

Yes, Shoppers drugmart is the equivalent to Walgreens. I actually talked with the pharmacist and they told me they didn't carry the stuff. I didn't check the Foot section... perhaps I still will. We have Dr. Scholl here too.

As for the Mask...its the simplicity (petite size) Apparently I'm nasally challenged (very small button type nose) and have extremely sensitive skin. We tried all kinds of masks before settleing with this. Yes I tried the pillows (I found them extreemly annoying), we tried the gel ones and they kept slipping. Had the simplicity not given the better fit, the next best was a gel one.

Anyways, the tape is a good cheap option, I highly recommend it!

Lynne

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:59 pm

Even though I only have used the Activa nasal mask for two nights so far, I noticed the start of a sore bridge of my nose this morning and did not want to wait for it to get worse. So when I read about the mole skin, I went to my local CVS today and bought what I think is it. It's made by Dr. Scholls but it's called Mole Skin Plus. There was nothing without the word "Plus" to buy. I hope it's not the wrong type. It's a flannel piece of material that you peel off and put on the skin to shield it from what is irritating it. I guess I'll find out tonight if it's the right thing when I see if it is too thick to keep the seal from leaking, or unless someone answers before I can't keep my eyes open anymore. Thanks for any input anyone can offer on the subject. Have a pleasant evening.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:27 pm

BED pillows, Idemmery.

BED PILLOWS!!!!

And there is both the regular "Mole Skin" which is something like thick chamoix cloth, and a self-adhesive "artificial" mole skin (I think it's pink, but it has been more than 30 years since I bought the stuff) Both should be with the Dr. Scholl's stuff.

- JB

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:38 pm

After I shoot the little devils, I remove the skin, and put it on the mask, NOT THE SKIN! ON THE MASK, NOT THE SKIN..

cpapjack · Post by **cpapjack** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:46 pm

Sleepless on LI wrote:Even though I only have used the Activa nasal mask for two nights so far, I noticed the start of a sore bridge of my nose this morning and did not want to wait for it to get worse.

Sleepless,

I've been using the Activa now for well over a month and I too started out with a sore nose bridge. It turned out it was because I had the upper straps too tight. I loosened them and no more sore nose bridge. Now, I only have a little red spot on the bridge of my nose, but that usually goes away within an hour after waking up. If you want, you could put a band-aid on your nose, and you should wake up with no red mark. I do that every now and then. BJ's has a box of 280+ band-aids for $8.00 here in Western New York. Granted they are assorted sizes, but still much cheaper than buying a box of 20 from Walgreens or anywhere else for $3.00 or more. Hope this helps!!!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:54 pm

Cpapjack (cute name),

You are so kind to reply to my post, but I wrote that back in June of 2005, a little over a year ago, and probably about eight to ten masks back, too. I have not used the Activa since July of last year when I started my switch to the Breeze, then the Swift, then the Aura (which is THE mask for me), tried the Somnoplus, Comfort Gel, Ultra Mirage full face mask, FlexiFit407, Nasalair, Comfortlite 2 and now the Hybrid. Not sure if I left anything out.

I will say, I used the Activa for six weeks and got used to it, but really prefer nasal pillows, the Aura/Headrest being my all time best interface to use. Seems nasal masks and full face masks and I don't usually get along too well, but that's okay. As long as you can find one mask that you can use nightly, I feel you're ahead of the game. The Aura is the one for me.

Best of luck with your use of the Activa. For most people, it's a fantastic mask. I'm not your average user when it comes to how things work on me, but I've been blessed to at least have found one.

cpapjack · Post by **cpapjack** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:04 pm

Sleepless on LI wrote:Cpapjack (cute name),

You are so kind to reply to my post, but I wrote that back in June of 2005, a little over a year ago, and probably about eight to ten masks back, too. I have not used the Activa since July of last year when I started my switch to the Breeze, then the Swift, then the Aura (which is THE mask for me), tried the Somnoplus, Comfort Gel, Ultra Mirage full face mask, FlexiFit407, Nasalair, Comfortlite 2 and now the Hybrid. Not sure if I left anything out.

I will say, I used the Activa for six weeks and got used to it, but really prefer nasal pillows, the Aura/Headrest being my all time best interface to use. Seems nasal masks and full face masks and I don't usually get along too well, but that's okay. As long as you can find one mask that you can use nightly, I feel you're ahead of the game. The Aura is the one for me.

Best of luck with your use of the Activa. For most people, it's a fantastic mask. I'm not your average user when it comes to how things work on me, but I've been blessed to at least have found one.

Geese, don't I feel like an idiot now. I guess I probably should've read the dates on people's posts before I reply. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:52 pm

NO! Don't feel like an idiot. You saw a fellow papper in need of help and you came to the rescue. If that qualifies as being an idiot, there are a lot of well-intentioned idiots on this site. Thank you just the same. It was very nice of you to post your advice.

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:51 am

Lynne, they sure do have moleskin at Shoppers in Ottawa. It is in the foot section. There is also a molefoam. Same kind of surface but with a bit of padding behind. (Comes off the free range moles! )

cpapjack · Post by **cpapjack** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:03 am

Sleepless on LI wrote:NO! Don't feel like an idiot. You saw a fellow papper in need of help and you came to the rescue. If that qualifies as being an idiot, there are a lot of well-intentioned idiots on this site. Thank you just the same. It was very nice of you to post your advice.

Thank you for your kind words.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:36 am

I think its fun, and informative to dig up old topics. Someone always has something to add...

Mask

Mask