Do CPAP Masks Cause Hair Loss?

CPAP machines are special medical devices that treat sleep apnea. Aside from helping users sleep better, CPAP machines can also enhance overall health and well-being.

However, these sleep apnea machines are not without their drawbacks: some users report hair loss during CPAP therapy, often claiming that CPAP masks are the culprits. 

How valid is this claim? 

In this article, we’ll delve into this concern, offering evidence-based insights. Keep on reading to find out if CPAP masks cause hair loss and what you can do to protect your hair while using CPAP.

Hair loss is not a well-established or widely recognized side effect of CPAP therapy itself. Although some individuals may report hair-related issues while using CPAP masks, there is scarce scientific evidence to directly link CPAP therapy to hair loss.

It is essential to note that one particular study suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may contribute to male pattern baldness (MPB).

If this is the case, a CPAP machine could potentially help patients with MPB. This is because the boost of oxygen in the blood may improve circulation within the scalp.

Furthermore, below is a list of possible treatable side effects of CPAP and it is interesting that hair loss is not one of them:

• Skin irritation
• Claustrophobia
• Shortness of breath
• Dry mouth
• Dry nose
• Dry eyes
• Sinus irritation
• CPAP headaches
• Bloating and gas

Having cleared CPAP therapy as a culprit for potential hair loss, we still have to address the issue.

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, has the potential to impact either your scalp or your entire body. This condition can manifest as either a temporary or a permanent condition. 

Various factors can explain alopecia, including hereditary predisposition, hormonal changes, underlying medical conditions, or a natural result of aging. While hair loss can affect individuals of all genders, it tends to be more prevalent among men.

Hereditary Hair Loss

When genetics play a role in hair loss, a recognizable pattern emerges. This is commonly known as male pattern baldness (MPB) or female pattern baldness (FPB).

For men, MPB happens with a recession in the shape of an “m” at the front of the scalp. This usually begins during their 20s or 30s. Around 80 percent of men encounter MPB by the time they reach 80 years of age.

Women, on the other hand, frequently encounter hair loss following menopause. This is noticeable by a gradual recession along the hair part, referred to as the Ludwig pattern. Roughly half of women will undergo female pattern hair loss by the time they are 80.

Aging

As people age, the rate of hair growth tends to decrease over time. Consequently, increased hair thinning becomes inevitable.

With aging, individual hair strands become smaller and exhibit reduced pigment. This transformation causes the once-thick and coarse hair of young adults to gradually become thin, fine, and lighter in color.

Furthermore, numerous hair follicles cease to generate new hair strands.

Cancer Treatment

Hair loss during cancer treatment is often attributed to chemotherapy, as the therapy specifically targets growing cells, which can damage hair follicles and lead to shedding.

Additionally, hair loss may arise from radiation therapy, especially when treating head and neck cancers.

However, not all chemotherapy treatments will result in hair loss. If you’re concerned about hair loss as a side effect of cancer treatment, it’s best to consult your oncology team.

Hair Care

Here, one’s excessive hairstyling or choosing of tight hairstyles like pigtails or cornrows could lead to traction alopecia. This condition occurs because of the continuous pulling of hair.

Additionally, treatments like hot-oil applications and permanents (e.g., hair rebonding, keratin straightening, and Japanese thermal straightening) have the potential to trigger hair shedding.

Stressful Life Events

When faced with stressful life events, hormonal changes disrupt the natural growth cycle of your hair. This occurrence, known as telogen effluvium, initiates shortly after the impactful event and may persist for several months.

The good news is that once the stress is effectively managed, hair regrowth becomes possible and attainable.

CPAP Masks

While there’s no definitive evidence linking CPAP masks directly to hair loss, some individuals have reported hair-related concerns while using CPAP therapy accessories.

Factors such as friction, pressure, and mask fit could potentially contribute to hair issues.

CPAP mask straps may cause hair loss due to friction and pressure against the scalp. Tight-fitting masks or straps may exacerbate this issue. However, hair loss due to CPAP use is not universal, and individual experiences vary.

Sleep apnea is a life-threatening condition, and a CPAP machine helps you sleep better. But how do you use a CPAP mask without worrying about hair thinning, or worse balding?

Read on to see our practical hair care solutions for CPAP users.

Give Your Hair Extra Care

We’re not suggesting you abandon your current hair treatment regime. Instead, what we’re suggesting is adopting additional hair care routines to nourish your hair and enhance its strength.

• Avoid drying wet hair with a terry-cloth towel. Some hair experts believe that rubbing wet hair with this material can lead to damage and breakage. Instead, they recommend using a cotton t-shirt. It’s softer and gentler on the hair, reducing the risk of breakage and frizz.

Change Your Hairstyle

If you have long hair, consider tying it up in a ponytail before putting on your CPAP headgear. Doing so helps stabilize the headgear straps and minimizes friction between the straps and your hair. 

Another option is to adopt a shorter hairstyle. Some CPAP users with long hair choose to get a haircut because it helps their CPAP masks fit better.

Choose a CPAP Mask With Less Headgear

You might want to reevaluate your current headgear if its design covers a large portion of the head as this can cause more friction between the straps and your hair.

Instead, we suggest choosing a CPAP mask with slimmer straps or fewer straps. This helps lessen the amount of rubbing between the headgear and your hair. 

This contrasts with more traditional CPAP headgears, which wrap around the entire head. Check out our selection of CPAP masks with minimal headgear for more hair-friendly options.  

Apply Extra Padding

Just as a nasal pad shields your skin from CPAP mask irritation, adding some padding between your hair and the headgear can help protect it from thinning and damage.

You can wrap a washcloth or towel around the mask strap to lessen the friction on your hair. You can also use Strap Guard CPAP Mask Guards or other fabric wraps that are specially designed to wrap around CPAP straps.  

Cover Your Hair

We recommend protecting your hair with accessories like a scarf, sleep cap, or skull cap before donning your CPAP mask. This simple step can work wonders as it prevents direct contact between your hair and the potentially abrasive CPAP straps.

An example of a protective cover is a silk hair wrap. Silk glides over your hair instead of rubbing against it and is much gentler on your hair than other types of fabric. 

Aside from shielding your hair against the potential abrasiveness of mask straps, silk also serves to preserve your hair’s moisture. Keeping your hair moisturized is crucial, as dryness can lead to breakage and further hair loss.

Use a No-Headgear CPAP Mask

If you’d like to eliminate the issue at its source, consider no-headgear CPAP masks, like the BLEEP Eclipse. This headgear-free solution features a nasal pillow interface which attaches to the underside of the nose with surgical grade Halo adhesives.

This headgear-free CPAP mask utilizes gentle adhesive pads known as Halos to create a secure seal around the nose, removing the need for a headgear to hold the mask in place. As a result, the Eclipse prevents hair entanglement and pressure on the face that can lead to unsightly CPAP strap marks. 

Each Halos adhesive features a magnetic stainless steel ring which adheres to the Eclipse Connector Frame with the help of MagSeal^TM Magnetic Port Technology. Thanks to this unique design, you can effortlessly snap the Eclipse Connector Frame on and off the Halo nasal adhesives, making it a great choice for users who struggle with undoing CPAP mask clips or threading Velcro straps.

Apart from its hair-friendly and minimalistic design, the BLEEP Eclipse works well with facial hair, requiring only a bit of trimming under the nose for a secure seal. By minimizing unnecessary components and optimizing the mask’s configuration, BLEEP has designed a revolutionary CPAP mask that is quiet, small, and incredibly easy to use.

Read our BLEEP Eclipse review to learn more about this revolutionary mask and its pros and cons.

Try a CPAP Mask With Alternative Headgear

If applying adhesives to your nose doesn’t sound very appealing, why not try a sleep apnea mask with headgear that loops around the ears instead?

The ResMed Swift FX Bella Nasal Pillow Mask, for instance, features unique Bella Loops that hook around the ears to keep the mask in place. There’s a version designed for male CPAP users—the ResMed Swift FX Bella Gray Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask—that features gray headgear loops instead of pink.

Although no solid evidence links CPAP masks directly to hair loss, friction and pressure from straps on the scalp can exacerbate hair loss, especially for those who have weak or thinning hair. Fortunately, there are a multitude of practical solutions to combat hair thinning linked to CPAP mask usage.

From enhancing hair care routines and selecting hair-friendly headgear designs to wearing protective hair covers, using mask strap liners, or choosing no-headgear CPAP masks, there are many easy and affordable strategies to protect your hair.

If you’re experiencing hair thinning or hair loss in areas not covered by your CPAP headgear, we recommend consulting a dermatologist.

Hair loss can be a symptom of a more serious medical condition so it is always a good idea to speak with an expert. On the other hand, if your CPAP mask is the root of your problems and you need a hair-friendly alternative, why not give us a call?

Our team of respiratory therapists and sleep technicians can point you in the right direction with personalized mask recommendations.