CPAP Blog

I was asked recently whether I thought the Comfort Curve mask I use is suitable for a side sleeper. People who sleep on their sides for most of the night tend to find that conventional nasal cushion CPAP masks dig in to the pillow, being pushed side ways causing leaks or added pressure on the opposite side which may cause skin irritation and red marks on the face.

Whilst I sleep mostly on my back I do think the Comfort Curve is a decent option for side sleepers. I’ve tried it myself and the extra pressure caused by the contact with the pillow does not cause major interference with how the mask sits. Depending on the pillow type you have, the cheek pad resting on the side of your face can make your cheeks slightly sore. Therefor, I don’t think the Respironics Comfort Curve mask is the best option for someone sleeping on his or her side.

I have no experience with ‘nasal pillows’ myself but have heard great feedback from side sleepers. Unlike a conventional CPAP mask with a cushion that sits around your nose, a nasal pillow literally plugs into your nostrils (or nares as they say in the US) therefor not touching your face at all. No material goes to the side of the nose so you are free to lay on your pillow on your side. With a medium firm pillow that doesn’t cause your face to sink in it completely (like some feature and down pillows) the pillow’s surface won’t get near enough to your nose to disrupt the way the nasal pillow mask is worn.

This image illustrates the point. This man may be lying on his back there but as you can see, nothing would stop him from sleeping on his side. Minimal contact with the most sensitive parts of the face is made so red marks and skin irritation is likely to be avoided with a mask interface like this. Like with wearing a hat or cap, most people don’t get any skin rashes, marks or itching at the forehead.

This examples is a Respironics Comfort Lite 2 but it’s not the only one like this. In the UK you can also get the ResMed Mirage Swift II though with the tube sticking out on one end, this may only be suitable for side sleepers who know which side they sleep on consistently. Puritan Bennett does the Breeze SleepGear CPAP nasal pillow interface and UK/E.U. readers can order it here. Like the Comfort Lite 2, the sides of the face are completely free to be flat on the pillow, making this a great solution for side sleeping CPAP users. Unfortunately, because these types of masks plug into the nose only, they are not suitable for mouth breathers (if you are, keep reading though, solution to follow).

Similar designs, suitable for side-sleepers: Snapp-X by VIASYS and Fisher & Paykel’s Opus.

Having spoken of the various CPAP mask options for side sleepers, did you know you can also change your pillow to accommodate your mask, instead of the other way around?

This clever design features a cut-out where the mask and tube sits, making room for this gear so it doesn’t dig into the pillow, putting pressure on the face. The pillow is called the CPAP Sleep Aid and you can read more about it on the manufacturer’s website here.

So to sum this post up, if you suffer from marks on your face, skin irritation or just generally prefer to sleep on your side you have two options. Go for a ‘nasal pillow’ mask interface or opt to change the actual pillow you sleep on.

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