Nasal strips side effects: what the research says and how to avoid them

Nasal strips are one of the gentler things you can try for a stuffy nose or snoring, and their side effects are mostly small and skin-deep. Controlled trials found strips were well tolerated, with occasional redness, itching or irritation where the adhesive sits. Headaches and nosebleeds come up in searches far more often than they do in the research.

What are the side effects of nasal strips?

The side effects of nasal strips are mainly skin reactions where the strip sticks to your nose. One major strip maker lists application site reactions such as redness, irritation, pain, peeling or bleeding, and says hypersensitivity reactions including rash, itching and swelling may occur. Its advice in every case is to stop using the strips if that happens.

That list sounds long, but it describes what's possible rather than what's typical. In the published trials, strips were well tolerated. Two larger randomized trials published together in 2019 had people wear a strip or a placebo for about 8 hours a night for 14 days, and again the strips were well tolerated. Our nasal strip research roundup covers what those studies found about sleep and congestion.

How common are nasal strip side effects?

Nasal strip side effects are uncommon in trials, usually affecting one or two people per study arm. The registered results on ClinicalTrials.gov give the clearest numbers, because they list every adverse event, related or not.

In one 21-day trial, 128 people were split between a real strip and a placebo strip with no spring. Among the 64 people using the real strip, there was one case each of itching, discoloration and irritation at the strip site. Among the 64 on placebo, there was one case of itching and one of redness. A sister trial of 140 people reported no skin reactions at all in either group. Nasal discomfort was among its most common events with the real strip, in 2 of 70 people. Neither trial had any serious adverse events.

Those trials were short and modest in size, and the company that made the strips at the time funded at least the two 2019 trials. Still, they're placebo-controlled, which lets you see how much of what people report would have happened anyway. In several categories, the placebo group reported about as many problems as the real strip group.

Can nasal strips cause skin irritation and redness?

Nasal strips can cause skin irritation and redness, and this is the side effect you're most likely to notice. The adhesive sits on the same patch of skin every night, and the spring in the strip pulls gently outward on it for hours. On sensitive or oily skin, or skin that's already sore, that adds up.

Guidance on medical adhesives gives a useful rule of thumb. It defines an adhesive skin injury as redness that lasts 30 minutes or more after the adhesive comes off. Pink skin that fades within a few minutes of removal is normal. Redness that's still there half an hour later, or that builds up night after night, is a sign your skin needs a break.

The same guidance says other injuries such as blisters or small tears in the skin can happen with medical adhesives in general. We found no nasal strip trial that reported blisters, but that's why it makes sense to stop at the first sign of broken skin rather than taping over it. Our guide to nasal strip skin irritation goes into fixes in more detail.

Can nose strips cause bruising?

Nose strips can occasionally cause bruising, though it's rare in the research. In a month-long trial where 70 people wore a prototype strip every night at home, one person had a bruise at the application site, one had a small crack in the skin there, and one had a scrape. That phase of the study had no placebo group, so we can't tell how many of these the strip caused.

A 2026 scoping review of nasal devices described one experimental strip that sticks to the cheeks rather than the nose. The review noted that some people wearing that device had adverse effects ranging from severe pain to bruising and skin abrasions. That design isn't the standard strip most people buy, but it shows how much the way a strip grips and pulls matters.

Most bruising and scraping comes from removal. Ripping a strip off pulls the skin with it. The medical adhesive guidance recommends removing adhesive slowly, at a low angle to the skin, and avoiding rapid vertical pulling. It also suggests moistening the area first, or using oil or an adhesive remover.

Can nasal strips cause headaches?

Nasal strips haven't been shown to cause headaches. In the 21-day placebo-controlled trial of 140 people, nobody using the real strip reported a headache, and one person using the placebo strip did. In the month-long trial with no placebo comparison, 4 of 70 people reported a headache at some point, which is hard to separate from ordinary headaches over four weeks.

If a strip feels like it's squeezing or pinching, it may be placed too high on the bony part of your nose or be too strong for you. Titan's placement advice, for example, puts the strip just above the flare of the nostrils on the soft part of the nose, not the bony bridge. If it still feels too firm, a regular-strength strip may suit you better than an extra-strength one.

If you often wake up with a headache, the strip probably isn't the first thing to suspect. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine lists morning headaches among the common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, along with unrefreshing sleep and loud snoring. Our article on morning headaches goes through other causes.

Can nasal strips cause nosebleeds?

Nasal strips rarely come up as a cause of nosebleeds. In the month-long trial of nightly use, 1 of 70 people had a nosebleed, and with no placebo group in that phase it isn't clear the strip was responsible. The strip sits on the outside of your nose and doesn't touch the lining inside, where nosebleeds start.

Cleveland Clinic says dry air is the most common cause of nosebleeds, and that the nasal lining is more likely to bleed when it's rubbed, picked or blown hard. Heated bedrooms in winter are a common trigger. If you get a nosebleed, Cleveland Clinic advises sitting up with your head tilted slightly forward and pinching the soft part of your nose. It also says to see a doctor if nosebleeds happen often, and to get emergency care if bleeding lasts more than 15 to 20 minutes of pinching. Our guide to nosebleeds at night has more.

Nasal strip side effects at a glance

How do you prevent nasal strip side effects?

You can prevent most nasal strip side effects with good placement and gentle removal. One strip maker says not to use its strips over sores, sunburned or irritated skin, and not to wear them for more than 12 hours a day. It suggests washing your face with warm water for about 10 seconds before removal, then lifting each side slowly.

A few habits help:

• Wash and dry your nose before bed, and skip moisturizer on that spot so the adhesive grips without needing to be stronger.
• Place the strip on the soft part of the nose, not the bony bridge. Our guide on how to apply nasal strips shows where.
• Take it off in the shower or after a warm wash, low and slow.
• If your skin is pink every morning, rest it for a night or two.

Who should avoid nasal strips?

Some people should skip nasal strips or check first. One strip maker says children under 5 and people with latex allergies shouldn't use its strips. Anyone with broken, sunburned or irritated skin on the nose should wait until it heals.

Strips also aren't a treatment for sleep apnea. The same maker says its strips aren't intended to treat sleep apnea and advises seeing a doctor if you suspect your snoring is a sign of a serious condition. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says snoring paired with choking, gasping or silent pauses in breathing is a reliable sign of sleep apnea.

When should you stop using nasal strips?

You should stop using nasal strips if you get a rash, persistent irritation, broken skin or swelling. Give the skin time to heal fully before trying again, and if the reaction returns, ask a doctor or pharmacist about an adhesive allergy. Stop and see a doctor too if you have frequent nosebleeds or regular morning headaches, since those have causes worth checking. For everyone else, mild pinkness that fades quickly is normal and usually settles as you get your routine right. If strips seem to do little for you, see why nasal strips don't work.

Our pick (paid partner): TitanAir Nasal Strips

If you want a strip to start with, our pick is TitanAir Nasal Strips. We haven't tested or ranked nasal strips ourselves; this is our recommendation.

Titan says TitanAir strips are drug-free external nasal dilators with flexible spring-loaded bands. Its placement advice matches what helps with side effects: put the strip just above the flare of the nostrils on the soft part of the nose, not the bony bridge, on clean, dry skin with no moisturizer. For removal, Titan says to loosen the strip with warm water and peel slowly from the ends inward.

Titan also says every batch is third-party tested and certified PFAS-free, and it offers a 30-night guarantee.

Read next

• Nasal strip skin irritation: causes and fixes
• How long can you wear a nasal strip?
• Nasal strip mistakes to avoid

* 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.