Has anyone tried those silicone gel strips they sell for scars? I keep seeing them recommended for CPAP mask marks, but I haven’t tried them yet because they’re kind of pricey.
I actually caved and bought a pack of those silicone strips a few months ago after waking up with what looked like a roadmap on my cheeks. They’re not magic, but I did notice less redness and the marks faded faster in the morning. Downside is, yeah, they’re not cheap, and you have to cut them to size or else they peel off halfway through the night (which is super annoying). For me, I mostly use them before big events or days when I know I’ll need to look human.
Funny enough, using a silk pillowcase helped a bit too—less friction overall. And I totally get the worry about loosening the straps. My ortho said as long as it’s snug but not cutting off circulation, it’s fine, but I still double-check every night. Headgear life is just a weird mix of hacks and hope...
Headgear life is just a weird mix of hacks and hope...
Can confirm, it’s mostly hope on my end. I tried the silicone strips too but honestly, half the time I wake up and they’re stuck to my pillow instead of my face. Silk pillowcase was a game changer though—less “morning waffle face.” My straps still leave lines, but at least they fade before lunch now.
Silk pillowcase was a game changer though—less “morning waffle face.”
I totally get what you mean about the lines. I was convinced I’d have permanent grooves on my cheeks after the first week. The silk pillowcase helped a bit, but I still wake up looking like I lost a fight with my headgear. I tried doubling up on moisturizer at night, but honestly, it just made my face slippery and the straps slid around more. Anyone else paranoid about drooling on everything?
Yeah, the drooling thing is real. I kept waking up thinking my pillow was some kind of science experiment. I tried a satin pillowcase first, but it actually seemed to make my headgear slide around more than cotton did. Silk’s been better, but I still get those weird indentations on my cheeks—almost like a QR code. Moisturizer just made things messier for me too. Sometimes I wonder if there’s a material out there that actually balances grip and comfort... or maybe we’re all just doomed to look a bit battle-worn in the mornings?
That line about waking up to a pillow that looks like a science experiment—yeah, that hits home. My kid’s been dealing with the same drool situation, and honestly, it’s been a bit of trial and error on our end too. We tried “cooling” pillowcases thinking they’d help with comfort, but those just seemed to make the headgear move around even more. I’ve noticed cotton seems to stay put better, but then there’s the issue of those deep creases on their cheeks every morning.
“I still get those weird indentations on my cheeks—almost like a QR code.”
That describes it perfectly. Sometimes it looks like my child slept with a waffle iron instead of a pillow. Moisturizer was also a bust for us—ended up with more mess than anything else. I do wonder if there’s some magic fabric out there that actually works, but so far, it’s just been about picking the least-bad option and hoping for the best. Maybe some folks are just better at sleeping still than we are...
