Nadu Mask Soothe Zinc Oxide Barrier Cream for CPAP Masks

Australian-made zinc oxide barrier cream formulated for CPAP mask irritation. Protects the skin along your mask seal from redness, chafing and dryness, with calendula to calm sensitised skin. Unscented and petrolatum-free. In a 25g tub or 5g mini.

If your CPAP mask leaves red marks, dry patches or a rash where the cushion sits, Nadu Mask Soothe is a barrier cream made for exactly that. It's an Australian-made zinc oxide cream with calendula, formulated to protect the skin along your mask seal without the heavy, occlusive film you get from petroleum jelly.

What's Actually In It

• Zinc oxide 75 mg/g (7.5%) — a long-established skin protectant that forms a physical barrier between your skin and the mask cushion. The strength is deliberately moderate: enough to protect the contact points, light enough that it doesn't smother skin already sitting under a warm, humidified mask all night.
• Calendula officinalis flower extract 50 mg/g — marigold extract, traditionally used to calm irritated and sensitised skin.
• Unscented — no added fragrance to irritate skin that is already inflamed, and nothing to smell for seven hours at close range.
• No petrolatum or paraffin — it won't leave a greasy residue on your mask cushion or trap moisture against your face.

Key Features

• Formulated for mask-line skin — designed around the friction and pressure points of prolonged mask wear, not adapted from a general-purpose ointment.
• Moves moisture away from the skin — helps prevent the damp film that builds up under a sealed cushion over a full night of therapy.
• Helps reduce mask slippage — supports a stable seal instead of letting the cushion slide on dry or oily skin.
• Soothes and helps repair — eases irritation, chafing and minor skin eruptions along the seal line.
• Gentle formulation — safe for children, and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
• Australian made — developed and manufactured in Brisbane.

Why Not Just Use Vaseline or Paw Paw Ointment?

It's the most common question we get, and it's a fair one. Petroleum jelly, paw paw ointment and similar paraffin-based products work by sealing moisture in — exactly what you don't want underneath a mask already delivering humidified air to a small enclosed patch of skin. They also leave an oily residue on silicone cushions that is difficult to wash off and can make a good seal harder to achieve.

A zinc oxide barrier cream takes a different approach: zinc oxide sits on the surface as a protective layer while still allowing the skin underneath to breathe. If you've been reaching for a tub of something from the bathroom cabinet, this is the CPAP-appropriate alternative — and unlike a thick nappy-rash paste, it's formulated light enough to wear on your face.

Choose Your Size

• 25g tub — the everyday size. Enough for nightly use over an extended period.
• 5g mini — a compact tube for travel, for your CPAP bag, or for trying the cream before committing to the larger tub.

Who Is This For?

Anyone whose CPAP mask is causing redness, soreness or dryness where it contacts the face — most commonly across the bridge of the nose, along the cheeks, and under the nose with nasal and nasal pillow masks. It's particularly worth considering if you have thin, sensitive or easily damaged skin, if you're an older CPAP user, or if you have a condition such as diabetes where skin integrity needs closer attention.

Mask irritation is one of the leading reasons people give up on CPAP therapy altogether, and it rarely resolves on its own. Addressing it early — with a barrier cream, a properly fitted mask, and a cushion that hasn't gone past its replacement date — is far easier than recovering from a pressure injury.

How to Use

Apply a small amount to the areas affected by, or prone to, irritation before fitting your mask. A little goes a long way. Keep cleaning your mask as normal, following your mask manufacturer's instructions — Mask Soothe is suitable for use with most mask types.

What's in the Box

• 1 x Nadu Mask Soothe Barrier Cream (25g tub or 5g mini, depending on the option selected)

Skin irritation is usually a fit problem as much as a skin problem. If yours has come on suddenly, it's worth checking whether your mask cushion is due for replacement, and having a look at our CPAP mask liners, which many users pair with a barrier cream to reduce direct silicone contact. If the problem persists, our guide to selecting the right CPAP mask is a good next step.