Mouth tape and skin irritation: prevention, removal and allergies

Mouth tape can leave the skin on and around your lips red, dry or sore. Most of the time this comes from the adhesive and how the tape is taken off, which means there's usually something you can change: a gentler tape, a better way of putting it on, or a slower way of taking it off. A rash that keeps coming back can be an allergy, which is worth getting checked by a dermatologist.

How common is skin irritation from mouth tape?

Nobody knows how often mouth tape causes skin irritation, because mouth taping studies haven't measured it. What health organizations do say is that it's one of the expected side effects. Cleveland Clinic lists redness, irritation or allergic reactions on your lips and skin among the possible effects of mouth taping. Sleep Foundation says adhesive from the tape can cause redness, rashes or dryness around the lips.

Most of what we know about adhesives and skin comes from hospitals, where tape and dressings are used every day. Clinicians call this medical adhesive-related skin injury. A 2022 scoping review defines it as any change in skin integrity, such as redness, tearing, erosion or blisters, that lasts 30 minutes or more after an adhesive is removed. That's a useful rule of thumb at home too.

What kinds of skin reactions can tape cause?

3M's guidance on medical tape describes several different ways tape can affect skin. Knowing which one you have makes it easier to fix.

• Stripping is when the top layer of skin comes away with the adhesive, leaving a sore patch. 3M says how much stripping happens depends on the skin's condition, the adhesive and how often the area is taped.
• Tension injury happens when tape is stretched as it goes on. As the backing pulls back to its original shape, the skin lifts, and small "tension blisters" can form, usually at the ends of the strip.
• Non-allergic contact dermatitis is irritation from something trapped between the adhesive and the skin, such as a skin product. The red area matches the shape of what was trapped.
• Allergic contact dermatitis is a true allergy to an ingredient in the tape. 3M describes well-defined redness and swelling, sometimes with small blisters.
• Folliculitis is an inflamed hair follicle, which 3M links to shaving or bacteria trapped under the tape.
• Maceration happens when moisture is held against the skin for a long time. The skin turns white or gray, softens and wrinkles, and becomes easier to damage.

3M also notes that people can be mistakenly thought to have a tape allergy when they've actually had non-allergic irritation. That's good news, because irritation is usually something you can change with a different tape or technique.

What makes some skin more likely to react?

The same 2022 review lists risk factors for this kind of skin injury, including extremes of age, existing skin conditions, dry skin and long-term corticosteroid use. A 2017 report in the Indian Journal of Anaesthesia lists the use of exfoliating products among the risk factors, and adds that menopause can make the skin on the face more prone to injury from tape. If you use an exfoliating acid or scrub around your mouth, it's worth keeping it away from the area you tape.

If any of these apply to you, take extra care with the tape you choose and how you remove it, and check your skin each morning.

How do you prevent irritation?

Start with the tape. Sleep Foundation recommends a porous tape intended for use on human skin, and warns that masking tape or other tape not intended for the body is more likely to cause irritation or an allergic reaction.

The adhesive matters too. The 2017 report explains that medical tapes are usually made with synthetic rubber, acrylate or silicone adhesives. It says acrylate-based tapes can cause allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and mechanical injuries, and that silicone-based adhesives have significantly lower peel adhesion, resulting in a much lower incidence of skin trauma on removal.

Then prepare your skin. The scoping review says skin should be clean and dry before an adhesive is applied, and that barrier films can provide a protective layer between the adhesive and the skin. Wipe off lip balm or moisturizer before taping. 3M's guidance makes the same point about skin products, since some can cause irritation when they're trapped under tape.

Put the tape on gently. 3M says tape should be applied without tension and smoothed in place with gentle pressure, and that it shouldn't be pulled or stretched as it goes on. The scoping review gives the same advice. Stretching a strip across your lips to make it feel more secure is one of the easiest ways to end up with blisters at its ends.

Choose a breathable tape. Because tape sits right next to a moist mouth overnight, 3M's advice to use breathable tape in moist areas and to avoid occlusive tapes is worth following.

Finally, give your skin breaks. If an area is already red or sore, don't tape over it until it has settled.

How should you take mouth tape off?

Take mouth tape off slowly. The scoping review notes that adhesive patches can damage the skin and cause pain during removal. It describes the recommended technique as starting from the edges and peeling slowly, at a low angle, in the direction of hair growth, keeping the tape close to the skin surface. The 2017 report adds that you should support the newly exposed skin with a finger as you go, and that moisturizer can be applied to soften the tape.

For stubborn tape, the scoping review mentions adhesive removers, including silicone-based ones, as a way to reduce skin damage on removal. Sleep Foundation suggests folding over one corner of the tape before bed so it's easier to start peeling in the morning.

Does shaving or facial hair make irritation worse?

Shaving and facial hair can make irritation worse. Sleep Foundation says tape can pull on facial hair, which can make removal painful or irritating. Shaving right before you tape has its own problem: 3M's guidance links shaving under tape to folliculitis, and recommends clipping hair rather than shaving it if hair needs to come off. The 2017 report and the scoping review both say to remove tape in the direction of hair growth.

If you have stubble or a beard, trimming the hair around your lips a day or so before taping, rather than shaving, is a gentler approach. Our guide to mouth tape with a beard covers it in more detail.

Is it irritation or an allergy?

Irritation and an allergy can be hard to tell apart on your own. Irritation can come from the adhesive or from removal, while an allergy is a reaction to a specific ingredient in the tape.

Acrylates are one known cause. A 2018 paper in Contact Dermatitis says acrylates and methacrylates are known to cause skin sensitization and are found in adhesives, among other products. It also notes that allergic contact dermatitis from acrylic-based medical dressings and adhesives has only rarely been reported.

The American Academy of Dermatology says that if your skin continues to itch and develop rashes, your dermatologist may recommend patch testing. In patch testing, small amounts of possible allergens are placed on your skin under patches, which stay on for 48 hours. The AAD notes that more than 15,000 substances can cause an allergic skin reaction, so testing is more reliable than guessing.

How should you look after your skin after a reaction?

After a reaction, give your skin time. If your skin is still red, broken or blistered more than 30 minutes after the tape comes off, that matches the definition of an adhesive skin injury used in both the scoping review and 3M's guidance. Don't tape over that area again until it has settled.

The scoping review recommends checking skin every day where adhesives are used, and avoiding unnecessary reapplication. At home, that means looking at your lips and the skin around them each morning, and skipping a night or two when they need it. If you go back to taping, change one thing at a time, such as the brand of tape or the way you remove it, so you can tell what made the difference.

Can you keep mouth taping if you have sensitive skin?

You may well be able to keep mouth taping with sensitive skin, with a few changes. The approach that comes out of the guidance above is a porous tape made for skin with a silicone adhesive, put on clean, dry skin without stretching, and peeled off low and slow. Use the smallest strip that keeps your lips closed. Our guide to which type of mouth tape is best compares shapes and materials.

If you've tried that and still react, or the reaction looks like an allergy, it's time to stop and get it checked.

When should you stop and see a doctor?

Stop taping if your skin stays red or sore, cracks, blisters or swells. Cleveland Clinic's specialist says mouth taping could cause an allergic reaction from the tape or a skin irritation or rash, and advises talking to a doctor before starting. If you've reacted to plasters or medical tape before, that conversation is especially worth having.

If skin problems mean tape isn't for you, there are other ways to approach mouth breathing at night. Our guide to why you breathe through your mouth at night is a good place to start, and how nasal strips work covers one option that doesn't touch your lips.

Read next

• Is mouth taping safe?
• How to start mouth taping: your first week

* 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.