British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi all, new to the forum after searching for an answer on google. My husband has been using a Cpap machine with full face mask successfully for the last 8 months. It has made a huge difference for him, but the last few weeks he has been suffering with a big sore across the bridge of his nose. We googled an found may he needed a new mask, so his clinic have given him one but now he can't get the sore to heal. He has left the mask off the last two nights, over the weekend to try and help but he has to drive a long distance for work tomorrow so can't afford to stop wearing it any longer. He is really suffering today for not wearing his mask for two nights, there is suh a noticeable difference.
Does anyone have any tips to help him heal? It's an open sore, raised bump all the way across the bridge of his nose. Thank you for reading

Thank you so much for posting on behalf of your husband Claire. That's true love.

Many of us have suffered from sores during our CPAP journeys. Of course it all depends on the size of the sore, but here's how I coped.

First of all, it's important to keep the pressure of the mask OFF the 'sweet spot' whilst it's healing. In time the skin will learn that there's something unexpected joining it at night but for the moment, you need to isolate the sore bit from your mask.

I found that using a Scholl 'doughnut' made from foam rubber bought from a chemist either around the spot, or if it's too big, cutting it in half or putting two together to make a 'ring' around it, one or even two 'doughnuts' high if needed (or more). This helped create a 'buffer'. It's important that the skin where you're fixing it is dry and non-greasy. The spot itself may need treatment. If it's infected, an antifungal cream like Canestan or an antibiotic cream like Fucidin may need to be applied (but not allowed to get in contact with the doughnuts or they won't stick!).

Make sure that your husband fits his mask once you've applied the 'buffer' .. by lying down with the machine OFF. Make sure the mask is gently resting on his face not pulled down hard against it. Then power up the machine. The mask should rest like a hovercraft's skirt against his skin allowing him some movement.

Other folk have used gauze pads and tape (micropore is perhaps best if your husband suffers from allergies). I'm sure others will have other suggestions to offer you, but I really hope that this nasty set back clears quickly.

Well done to you and your husband for facing a major lifestyle change together with perseverence, support and most importantly, love.

The biggest mistake is that people put the mask on to tight.
It should be just tight enough to stop any leaks and no more.
Try to keep the pressure off the bridge of the nose, some masks have an adjusting screw on the forehead strap, others have various thickness of foam stand offs to alter the distance and take the pressure off the nose.
Clinics are not to good at telling patients how to fit the masks, they tend to do a quick fitting and then hand you all the parts and expect you to work it out for yourself or phone them back for advice. It wouldn't ake them much longer to explain it fully, but then at the time you have to much information overload anyway to tale it all in.
Unfortunately, the bridge of the nose is prone cuts and you are not alone with it and it will take a while to repair as the mask goes back on every night just to annoy it again.
I used Micropore tape to help, then I tried some white lint just to act as a buffer to ease the pressure, but it did have a tendency to cause a leak further down which caused air to go into the eyes. Micropore tape on its own helped after it healed, but I gave up with masks as I either got cut at the bridge of the nose or air leaked into my eyes.
If you are a mouth breather you don't have many options open to you although there is a hy-bred mask that combines Nasal Pillows and covers your mouth at the same time, these are not very popular, however, if it works for him.... It does for others and this gets over the problem.
However, if he breaths through his nose he could try Nasal Pillows, they just sit on the nostrils and are a lot easier to get on with once your nose gets used to the slight irritation, this can take a few weeks but it is a lot better than being cut on the bridge of the nose. These are only any use to him if he only breaths through his nose when sleeping.
Otherwise, all he can do is try using tape or as Alsa suggests, but do not over-tighten the mask. I was also tempted to do this and also suffered a cut to the bridge of the nose. I was told by the clinic to use Petroleum Jelly on the seal around the bridge of the nose by the Sleep Clinic to stop any leaks after loosening the mask slightly, I found it hopeless and messy. I did try strips of sticky back felt to some success, but trying to cut them to fit the bridge of the nose was another thing!!

Hope this helps a bit, others may have found other ways round the problem.

I found Germolene was very good. Sudocream for babies nappy rash is good too. You don't need to put a lot on but apply them during the day as well.

As the previous post says, a little bit of micropore tape just to cover the boney bit of the bridge spreads the load a bit and acts the same way as a sticking plaster does on your heel when new shoes chafe