allergy to silicon

My dad has sleep apnea and the only thing that seems to help him is the breathing machine. However, he is very allergic to silicone which is the only material used to make the mask that best fits him. The mask must completely seal around his mouth and nose so we can add any material to the mask to keep it from touching his skin. I need to find something to either put on his face or on the mask itself to act a thin barrier. Any suggestions would be very helpful!!

[claudia74]

I seem to have an allergy to the nose pillows. Sneezing and runny nose constantly. Did you find an answer to your dads problem? Am very interested in an answer.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Is the mask of correct size and shape? A CPAP mask should fit the face snuggly to avoid air leak but not so tight that is feels uncomfortable or causes pain.

If allergic to silicone, try a mask made from materials like synthetic rubber or vinyl. Several masks on the market now are made out of gel-like material. Another mask now has an inflatable cushion that lets the wearer adjust the fit and prevent leaks.

Nasal pillows are another option. Instead of wearing a triangular mask, the user inserts into the nostrils two small flexible pieces (shaped somewhat like mushroom caps) that are attached to a plastic adapter that is in turn attached to the tubing.

One of the gel based masks available in the market are Profile Lite masks. This mask uses the same headgear and whisper swivel valve your mask has but has two big improvements. It has thiner gel walls and is therefore much lighter on the face. It can be boiled and then custom fitted to a face.

Another thing that is important is that units must be checked regularly for wear and tear and kept clean.

You can discuss these options with your sleep specialist and find out the best one for you.

Pls do keep us posted on how you are doing.