CPAP silicone allergy: Anyone know of other options? Solutions?

I have also developed an allergy. It’s the pits. I’ll try anything.

I’ve used a C-Pap for over 5 years. The allergy is relatively new. I’ve used a soclean machine for over 2 years. I often wonder if this has compounded the problem.

Hi @hairchic, Welcome to Connect. I've used a CPAP for going on 3 years and was using a SoClean machine also because of the convenience. I haven't had any allergies related to using a CPAP but then each of us are different. I wouldn't think a SoClean machine would make your allergy worse sense it's killing bacteria. I'm guessing it could be related if you are using a humidifier along with your CPAP machine and the hose tubing or humidifier tank wasn't sanitized regularly. It would be a great question to ask your sleep medicine doctor or care team.

I recently went to an ENT doctor to check my deviated septum to see what options I had to help me breath through both sides of my nose, the right side was mostly always plugged up. I would frequently use a nasal rinse at night and sometimes it helped but most of the time it didn't help. The ENT doctor gave me a special Mayo Clinic proprietary nose spray with three medicines in it and I use it twice a day with 2 sprays in each nostril after using a nasal rinse. It has really helped with my breathing with the CPAP.

You mentioned you have noticed a dripping nose recently. Have you discussed the new symptoms with your doctor or ENT doctor?

I also have a silicone allergy. I have been using the SleepWeaver cloth masks. Honestly these don't get as good a seal as other masks, but I've become used to them and they do work most of the time (some nights are better than others!) and no allergic response. My medical supply company will no longer order these, so I'm wondering about the memory foam. In addition to skin irritation I also had congestion with the regular silicone masks so I'm not sure. about having silicone anywhere near my face. Although I'm sure the tubes are full of silicone anyway. It's everywhere!

Hello @cathaun, Welcome to Connect. I also use a cloth comfort cover on my full face mask and you are right, the seal is not as good but I'm not sure the seal is the most important part of the formula. My Mayo sleep medicine PA shared the website with me and I've been ordering them directly ever since - https://cpapcomfortcover.com/. I have 4 or so and switch them often and hand wash them so they last a long time.

I personally would stay away from memory foam masks. I was using the ResMed F20 full face mask and I tried the F20 AirTouch (memory foam) and stopped using it after a few days. It just was uncomfortable for me but it may be OK for you. The problem is they don't last as long as the normal mask and have to be replaced when you see any sign of deterioration of the foam. More info on the mask here - https://www.resmed.com/en-us/healthcare-professional/products-and-support/masks/airtouch-f20/

I looked at getting the SleepWeaver full face cloth mask but that was around the same time I found the cloth cover which works for the mask I was using. I'm now thinking about seeing if I can get away with using a small nose pillow CPAP mask but I don't think that would work for folks with a silicone allergy.

My sleep medicine doctor wanted me to try and keep my AHI number at 4 or less and right now I've been running at 1 to 2.5 or slightly higher a night even with a mask that doesn't seal that great. Do you mind sharing what kind of AHI numbers you normally get with your SleepWeaver mask?

This post has been going on for 4 1/2 years and while it is great to know I am not alone in the attack on my body, nothing new has been done to address an issue that as can be seen by this post is a huge problem. Is there really nothing the medical community has to combat this?
I like many others developed a severe reaction that I have spent a year, hundreds of hours, and thousands of dollars to figure out what was wrong with me. I noticed an allergy to my glasses, but never put the other pieces together that my cpap could be causing these other issues. Reading this post almost made me cry to realize I am not crazy, my doctor didn’t put the pieces together, and now frustration that at this point I can decide to either not sleep good and roll the dice on whether I wake up or not or keep poisoning myself so I do wake up. What kind of option is that?
I challenge everyone on here to find and post the CEO’s contact info of each cpap company and to write them with your experience. If they know the issue effects so many (and probably a ton more that don’t realize it yet) maybe they will be more apt to spend some R&D money to solve it.
If you have any more ideas I would love to hear it and I am now on a mission to solve this!

Welcome @nnudell, I agree with you on it is a good feeling to know that you are not alone. Although, I'm sure we both wouldn't want to wish sleep apnea on anyone since there is not much better for you than getting a good nights sleep. While I don't have silicon allergy, I don't like the feel and I do get the ugly CPAP nose unless I'm using a cloth cover on my mask. Using a comfort cover was a tip given to me by my sleep medicine doctor's PA. Here's the one I have been using for about 3 years which has made a difference for me - https://cpapcomfortcover.com/fits-airfit-and-airtouch-f20-full-face-mask/

Here's a research article I found from Dec 2020 you might find interesting - Allergic contact dermatitis to silicone in a continuous positive airway pressure mask: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.13759

It's good to have a mission, keeps a person alive and active.

It sounds like you are still struggling with your CPAP. What's your biggest challenge?

Can anyone recommend a nose spray or allergy medicine that prevents drippy noses? What I’m using doesn’t help. Flonase nose spray doesn’t stop my nose from dripping. Thank you.

Hi @monak, I've had a lot of trouble breathing through my nose and it would sometimes have some dripping. I saw a Rochester Mayo Clinic ENT doctor because I was wondering if something could be done with my deviated septum to help the breathing. After listening to the doctor explain what my options were we decided to go with a proprietary nasal spray through the Mayo Clinic pharmacy. The 3 ingredients are Mometasone to reduce inflammation, Ipratropium to reduce nasal drainage and Diphenhydramine which is an antihistamine to help reduce nasal drainage. The product description on my prescription is MOMET 0.033% – IPRA 0.02% – DIPH 0.02%. The doctor had me use a saline nasal rinse twice daily, morning and evening. After the nasal rinse I would use 2 sprays in each nostril. I was amazed at how well it worked for me. That was about 6 months ago and I stopped the nasal spray after 4 months and have just been doing the nasal rinse. It has not been quite as good as when using the prescription nasal spray but it has worked to make my breathing better and I'm thinking about contacting the doctor and seeing about getting another refill.

Here is some other information you might find helpful -- What Can Cause a Constant, Clear-Fluid Runny Nose?: https://www.healthline.com/health/constant-runny-nose-clear-liquid

I also tried the Flonase without much success. Have you ever tried the saline nasal rinse to see if that might help clear the nose some?

Hi John, this was an excellent article. I will save it. Thank you. The saline solution you mention—do you use it with that neti pot? I have a hard time using that. I feel like I got dunked in the swimming pool. I will try again going to the allergy doctor and will bring the prescription amounts that you took. —mona