Noticed that you increasingly have sores inside your nose? This is a common side effect of the dryness caused by the pressure of the machine. Fortunately, there are some simple treatments available to soothe your sores and prevent further irritation. Let’s take a look at why nose sores occur with CPAP therapy and how to treat them.
Why CPAP Causes Nose Sores
CPAP therapy works by providing pressurized air into your airway while you sleep, which keeps it open and prevents sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring and pauses in breathing. However, this pressurized air can also cause the mucous membranes inside your nose to dry out, reducing its natural lubrication and making you more prone to developing tiny scrapes or cuts that can lead to sores. These cuts can also create pathways for bacteria to enter your bloodstream, leading to infections.
How To Treat Nose Sore Caused By CPAP Therapy
The best way to treat nose sores caused by CPAP therapy is to add moisture and reduce any irritations or inflammation. This can be done through the use of a nasal balm or cream, as well as using a heated humidifier if applicable. For those who use nasal pillows for their CPAP mask, switching over to a nasal/full face mask may help reduce soreness until the heated humidifier has had time to take effect. Once the humidity has been restored, you may be able to switch back over to using a nasal pillow again without any issues. One product we highly recommend is Nadu’s CPAP Soothe Balm; it helps keep your skin hydrated while relieving irritation from chafing masks or straps during therapy sessions.
Nose sores are an unfortunately common side effect of using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea treatment; however, they don’t need to remain long-term nuisances that impact your quality of life. By taking proactive steps like adding moisture and reducing irritation with creams or balms like Nadu’s CPAP Soothe Balm, patients should be able to find relief from their symptoms in no time at all! We hope this article gave you some helpful information on how to treat nose sores caused by CPAP therapy!