Player,
There is a type of acne called friction acne or acne mechanica. You can do a web search for that topic and also for acne/CPAP.
If that is the type you have, a cleanser or topical treatment with salicylic acid may help. (I like the Burt's Bees salicylic acid topical treatment in the little roller ball bottle.) An exfoliating cleanser (I use Neutrogena Wave) can also be helpful.
I'm about your age, but female. I just started using CPAP a couple of months ago. I got acne in the areas where my mask straps and the nasal cushion touched, but I am hoping that it was a transient thing, since I haven't had any new outbreaks for 2-3 weeks. Fingers crossed.
One problem I ran into while trying to get rid of my acne was letting my skin get too dry. That's not conducive to healing acne.
I have since bought some inexpensive oil-free, fragrance-free facial moisturizer (Trader Joe's brand) to use when I'm not wearing the CPAP mask.
If I have more acne problems, I probably am going to try something like putting a liner of old t-shirt material between the strap and my face.
Good luck. I hope you get your skin cleared up.
(03-11-2016, 11:57 PM)player Wrote: I am 54 years old and I am getting acne on my cheeks like a teenager.
I am not sure if it is from the straps. I am washing my face 2-3 times a day, and I have started on a topical antibiotic cream. I wash the strap twice a week.
I was diagnosed with low thyroid last fall and I have been taking Synthroid for a number of months. My T4 level is perfect now.
So I am not sure if the acne is from the straps, the thyroid, a combination of the two or something else.