Can you use lip balm with mouth tape? Dry lips and tape

You can use lip balm and mouth tape, just not on the same patch of skin at the same time. Tape is meant to go on clean, dry skin, so balm under the strip makes it more likely to slide off. Put balm on earlier in the evening and again as soon as the tape comes off, and your lips get care on both sides of the night.

Why doesn't tape stick over lip balm?

Nobody has studied lip balm and mouth tape together, so this comes from general guidance on putting tape on skin. 3M's guidance for medical tape says tape should be applied without tension to clean, dry skin, and smoothed on with gentle pressure. Balm, ointment and petroleum jelly are designed to leave a coating on the lips, which is the opposite of a clean, dry surface.

The same 3M guidance also notes that some skin preparations trapped between an adhesive and the skin can cause irritation. That's another reason to keep the area under the tape bare.

Why are lips so quick to dry out?

Lips are different from the rest of your skin. Cleveland Clinic explains that the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive than skin elsewhere, because lips don't have any oil glands. That leaves them more likely to become dry and chapped.

Habits matter too. The American Academy of Dermatology says licking your lips when they feel dry makes the problem worse, because as saliva evaporates your lips become drier. Cleveland Clinic lists frequent lip licking, dehydration, sunburn and cold or dry weather among the common causes of chapped lips.

Can mouth breathing dry your lips?

Mouth breathing can play a part in dry lips. Cleveland Clinic lists dry mouth, bad breath and drooling during sleep among the common symptoms of mouth breathing. The AAD notes that a bedroom humidifier can help dry lips, especially if you breathe through your mouth at night.

That's one of the reasons people try mouth tape in the first place. The adults in a 2022 study of mouth taping all had two things in common: someone had seen them breathe through their mouth during sleep, and they woke up with a dry throat. The study measured snoring and breathing rather than lip dryness, so it can't tell us whether taping helps lips. Keeping your lips together overnight is the whole idea behind the tape, and it sits comfortably alongside a good lip care routine. If dryness is your main complaint, our guide to why you wake up with a dry mouth covers the other causes.

How can you look after dry lips and still use tape?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying a non-irritating lip balm several times a day and before bed, and suggests a thick ointment such as white petroleum jelly if your lips are very dry and cracked. It says ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Cleveland Clinic gives similar advice, suggesting balm or ointment as needed through the day and reapplying after eating and drinking.

You can follow that advice and still tape. Some ways to fit them together:

1. Put balm on earlier in the evening, for example an hour or two before bed, and wipe off what's left before you tape.
2. Use a single vertical strip over the center of your lips, which is the method described in our first-week guide. Balm on the outer parts of your lips won't sit under the tape.
3. Put balm on as soon as you take the tape off in the morning.
4. Drink enough water during the day. Cleveland Clinic lists dehydration as a cause of chapped lips, and the AAD advises drinking plenty of water.

None of this is tested specifically with mouth tape. It's simply the dermatology advice on dry lips arranged around how tape works.

What does a good evening routine look like?

Putting that together, an evening might look like this. After dinner, apply a thick, plain balm or ointment and let it work for a while. Later, brush your teeth, then wipe your lips with a clean, damp cloth and pat them completely dry. Close your lips gently and press the tape on without stretching it. In the morning, peel the tape off slowly and put balm straight back on.

If the outer edges of your lips still feel tight at bedtime, a small amount of balm on the corners is fine as long as it stays off the strip of skin under the tape. A humidifier in the bedroom is another option the AAD recommends for dry lips.

Which lip products are least likely to irritate?

The AAD suggests products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, with ingredients such as castor seed oil, ceramides, dimethicone, mineral oil, petrolatum or shea butter. It lists ingredients to avoid, including camphor, eucalyptus, fragrance, lanolin, menthol, phenol, salicylic acid and flavorings like cinnamon, citrus, mint and peppermint.

Cleveland Clinic's list of ingredients to avoid overlaps with this one and also includes waxes. Both say to stop using a lip product that stings, burns or tingles, and the AAD explains that the feeling means the product is irritating your lips rather than working. If your lips already feel sore from tape, a plain, unscented product is the safer choice.

Can mouth tape make your lips dry?

Mouth tape can make your lips dry for some people. The Sleep Foundation lists skin irritation as a possible side effect and says adhesive from the tape can cause redness, rashes or dryness around the lips. It also recommends a porous tape made for use on skin, since tape not intended for the body may be more likely to cause irritation or an allergic reaction.

There's no research showing whether mouth tape makes lips drier or less dry overall, so pay attention to how your own lips respond over the first couple of weeks.

If you want to try mouth tape, our pick is the Titan Bamboo Silk Mouth Tape.

How should you take the tape off?

Take mouth tape off gently. 3M's guidance for medical tape is to loosen the edges first, support the skin with a finger, and peel the tape back low and slow, close to the skin surface. The guidance warns that removing tape at an angle pulls at the outer layer of skin and raises the risk of damage. Once the tape is off, put your balm on.

What if the corners of your mouth crack?

Cracks at the corners aren't always simple dryness. Cleveland Clinic describes angular cheilitis as a fungal infection at the corners of the mouth, and lists contact cheilitis, an allergic reaction, as another type of lip inflammation. If the corners of your mouth stay cracked or sore despite balm, or you notice a rash where the tape sits, get it looked at before you keep taping.

When should you take a break from taping?

Stop if your lips or the skin around them get red, sore, cracked or blistered, and give them time to heal before trying again. With good self-care, the AAD says most chapped lips show noticeable improvement in 2 to 3 weeks, and Cleveland Clinic gives the same average recovery time for severely chapped lips. Cleveland Clinic advises seeing a healthcare provider if chapped lips get worse or don't heal. The AAD notes that an allergic reaction, a yeast infection or something more serious can also make lips feel dry.

If you keep getting irritation, try a different tape made for skin, or take a break. Our guide to mouth tape skin irritation covers this in more detail.

Read next

• Why do I wake up with a dry mouth?
• Which type of mouth tape is best?

* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.