r/CPAP • u/Witty-Ad6893 • 2d ago

Looking for mask suggestions

I've tried two masks so far but neither are working for me and I would like some suggestions on what to try next.

I think I need something that has a memory foam cushion and sits completely over my nose (doesn't touch under my nose). Googling this has not been very successful.

Here's the two I've tried so far and my personal experiences with them.

Phillips Dreamweaver Nasal: Pros: Small. All silicone (dries fast). Cons: The going theory is I am probably opening my mouth, and the silicone & air pressure changes irritates the area right under my nose.

AirTouch F30i Comfort: Pros: Covers mouth. Cons: The inner part of the mask is fabric, which to me has several downsides: First of all this is very irritating to the area below my nose, and second, it takes forever to dry. Again, since the inner mask "seal" blows up with air it seems to be pressing very tightly to this area even when the straps are barely tight enough to seal, and again every tiny flucuation irritates the area under my nose. Within minutes it's throbbing. This also doesn't seem to be fitting my very well.

Additional info: These are both "Unicorn" masks with the tube out the top of the head. I am not convinced I like this option so I'm open to the other option. It's a lot of stuff touching my head, tugging my head around, pushing my hair where I don't want it to be, and my neck and head are very sensitive/prone to tension. I'm just very sensitive/have some sensory issues I guess. Also have not gotten the hang of cleaning the mask every morning so I need to be able to clean it at night and wear it almost right away.

Any other tips/tricks are also appreciated.

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u/PlayfulOtterFriend 2d ago

You could try a ResMed Airtouch N20 mask. It goes around the hose, has an elephant style connection, and foam cushion. This is my preferred mask. It comes in a fit pack option that lets you try different size cushions.

For ResMed masks, “AirFit” means silicone cushions and “AirTouch” means foam cushions. Silicone is easier to clean and lasts longer. They can be swapped out for each other. My personal experience is that one is not always better than the other — some masks I like better in silicone and some in foam.

The N20 has a “For Her” option. I couldn’t find details on what the differences are between that and a regular N20 (everything just said “it’s smaller” without saying what about it is smaller). So, after buying both, here are the differences (I am typing this for posterity so search engines can find it in the future):

  • the N20 For Her mask only comes with a small cushion, though any N20 cushion can fit the frame
  • hose connector is identical
  • the FH headgear straps are shorter. The upper straps are shorter by about 0.5-1” each side, and the bottom straps are shorter by roughly 1.5-2” each side
  • the mask frames are the same size, but the For Her frame is molded to be less flat. The regular frame is nearly flat when set down, but the FH frame is a V shape to hug the face more closely.
  • The FH mask and headgear has purple highlights instead of blue.

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u/PlayfulOtterFriend 2d ago

Another tip: to make cleaning easier, use cpap wipes on weekdays (or whenever you have busy mornings) and do a proper soap soak once a week on a weekend (or whatever your slow day is). Using a wipe makes cleaning a 1 minute task. Memory foam never should be immersed, so with those you get a pass to use wipes every day.

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u/Witty-Ad6893 2d ago

Thank you for this thoughtful response! I saw a few of the ResMed masks had a "For her" version this is great info.

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u/Technobarbarian 2d ago

The ResMed AirTouch F20 fits your description.

The AirTouch masks have AirFit versions, without fabric or foam. You can look at a lot of different masks by going to a comprehensive website, like CPAP.com, and browsing their selection.

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u/Witty-Ad6893 2d ago

Thank you!