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

Posted by SanibelSandy @sanibelsandy, May 6, 2017

I apparently have developed an allergy to silicone, which creates problems with my cPAP mask since they all seem to be made of silicone. Anyone know of other options? Solutions? I do use a barrier (Silent Night, RemZZs) but at times they slip and I end up with skin break-down.

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@rmontana

you are NOT alone.....I too am having the same issue with no resolution
My pulmonary dr says he's never had anyone with this issue and my dermatologist has not been able to resolve. Thinking allergist is next, I know I have Latex allergy.

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What helped me with the mask issue was a CPAP comfort cover for the mask. I now use a ResMed F20 full face mask but I've had the comfort covers for each one that I had. My sleep medicine PA was the one who told me about them.
https://cpapcomfortcover.com/.

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I love my dental device verses my cpap.
With RBD there also was no way I could continue to use it either.
Speak with your dentist.
You will also need to be retested with a sleep study to see if any adjustments need to be made.

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I use the memory foam mask. I think it is a resmed F20

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I am using moleskin on mine. I wish I could find a way for the adhesive to stick better. Im working on making a more permanent barrier that can be washed multiple times. Im using molds and such. I hope to solve my own problem soon as my silicone allergy is making stuff very frustrating. I have a video of how Im using the moleskin. Ill send it if you want it. Contact me!

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I’ve tested a few masks, and there are some fabric options, however I found that pressure is an issue for most of them and the various liners; bilevel with large variance between IPAP and EPAP is quite tricky to get right (both with a completely fabric mask and a liner device)..my IPAP is up to 40cm H2O (usually sitting between 27-38cm H2O), with EPAP 7cm H2O (I use a non invasive ventilator because I have diaphragm palsy so I respiratory arrest as soon as I doze off, and I don’t wake up due to brain injury to autonomic area of brain that controls sleep breathing/monitoring of increased CO2). When leak is increased (which occurs breath by breath in large variance IPAP/EPAP), the vent compensates for loss of airway net pressure by increasing both IPAP and EPAP, leaving me with a huge amount of gastric insufflation after about 10mins of sleep (very painful to have litres of air in the digestive tract).
But, if the pressure is kept low (my ventilators have the ability to change mode into a day mode where I need less pressure when awake due to some respiratory effort), and at lower than around 15 cm H2O IPAP, they work with a degree of comfort and minimal leak.
Night sweats (drenching) result in all fabric masks and liners failing once they are wet with sweat, so I have no choice but to use silicon.
I’ve tried:
SleepWeaver fabric masks
Snugz liners
Remzzz
CPAP comfort cover
And the ResMed AirTouch memory foam mask (but when it’s drenched with sweat it fails, as well as distorts and blows-outwards when under pressures above around 22cm H2O.
I use a barrier cream instead (clean the skin, place barrier cream where silicon mask seal will sit, and wait for it to settle, then place mask. There are a variety from ones that are minimally noticeable to ones that are like a plastic skin layer that you can clearly see and feel.
I stopped getting a rash after starting with barrier creams.
Also, I wash my cushion after each use in mild dishwashing detergent that has no dyes, perfumes or moisturisers. I also use an antihistamine before bed, which helps a lot in my case.
I also make my own headgear and chinstraps to increase the efficacy of the seal on the mask (because the standardised headgear made by manufacturers doesn’t hold at high pressures). And I use a mandibular advancement device to improve airway compliance (less breath by breath variance in airway = less irritation in the morning with such high IPAP/EPAP difference).
I’m the queen of high pressure mask fitment! 😀

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@witchypoo

I am using moleskin on mine. I wish I could find a way for the adhesive to stick better. Im working on making a more permanent barrier that can be washed multiple times. Im using molds and such. I hope to solve my own problem soon as my silicone allergy is making stuff very frustrating. I have a video of how Im using the moleskin. Ill send it if you want it. Contact me!

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@witchypoo your method and materials sounds intriguing - I would be very interested in seeing your video, if you’d like to share it with me please? (No pressure🙂).
I used to work in the sleep industry (patient monitoring and testing), and I am still really interested in the unique ways that people develop materials and techniques to help get a much better fit (I’m retired from that job, due to decline in health).
It would be really great to see your method if that’s ok with you 🙂

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@mguspixi25

@witchypoo your method and materials sounds intriguing - I would be very interested in seeing your video, if you’d like to share it with me please? (No pressure🙂).
I used to work in the sleep industry (patient monitoring and testing), and I am still really interested in the unique ways that people develop materials and techniques to help get a much better fit (I’m retired from that job, due to decline in health).
It would be really great to see your method if that’s ok with you 🙂

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Here ya go

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I can't figure out how to upload my videos.

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@witchypoo

I can't figure out how to upload my videos.

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Ah, I’m sorry - I have no skills to help in that area 😔
Maybe it works in a private message? If not, I can always send my email via a PM 🙂

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@witchypoo

I can't figure out how to upload my videos.

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Hi @witchypoo, If you have a free Google account, you can upload your videos to your Google Drive and then share a link to any video in your drive. Here's how it works:

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