Getting Rid of CPAP Lines

If you use a CPAP machine every night to treat your sleep apnea, you’re probably familiar – and fed up – with waking to those unsightly marks on your face each morning.

Depending on your mask or sleep style, you may not wake up with CPAP marks on your face, but for those who do, here are some simple tips and products for getting rid of CPAP lines or how to avoid CPAP mask marks altogether.

Start by consulting your primary doctor or sleep specialist to ensure you’ve selected the right mask style. Then, optimize the fit and make sure it’s appropriately sized, but remember that the tighter the mask, the more impressions it’ll leave behind in your skin. However, not everyone will have an option. Higher pressures typically require a tighter mask, which usually means more creases, lines and CPAP marks on your face. Aim for a more snug fit, as this will limit shifting or gapping and ultimately reduce the amount of lines left on your face. 

Next, explore some simple fixes to pad the edges of your mask. Many CPAP masks have covers or padding to add to the straps, which can be helpful for getting rid of CPAP lines. There are also several industry providers like REMZzz and Silent Night offering solutions like soft fabric liners intended to help minimize marks and reduce skin irritation or allergic reactions associated with the plastic commonly found on CPAP masks. Pad-A-Cheek also offers an array of strap pads, liners, and anti-leak mask stabilizers. Some options are disposable, whereas others are more durable and sometimes even washable. Nasal pads from Gecko or nasal cushions from LiquiCel are great if the marks often appear more at the nasal bridge. Additionally, creams like RoEzIt or gels like CPAP Gel work great as a barrier for CPAP lines and utilize Aloe Vera to aid in soothing irritation, chafing, or dryness that comes with wearing the mask.

If you’re tired of walking into work with headgear impressions or fine red CPAP lines on your face, give one of these methods a shot. By incorporating extra padding or hydrating cream to your sleep regime, you might discover a new solution to those pesky CPAP lines as well as a new solution for sleeping more comfortably through the night.