How to Use Nasal Strips: Placement, Size, Removal

To use a nasal strip, wash and dry your nose, peel off the backing, and stick the strip across the lower part of your nose, just above the point where the nostrils flare out. Press the ends down and rub gently so they bond. To remove it, rinse with warm water and peel each side off slowly.

Most problems come from skipping the first step or putting the strip in the wrong place. The steps below follow the maker's own instructions for the best-known nasal strip, Breathe Right, and add practical detail on size, oily skin and nightly use.

How do you put on a nasal strip, step by step?

1. 1Wash and dry your nose. Maker instructions say to wash and dry it thoroughly first. Adhesive does not hold well on wet, oily or moisturized skin.
2. 2Choose the right size. Strips come in more than one size, and the pack tells you which fits which nose. If a strip pulls the skin tight or lifts off at one end within minutes, try the other size.
3. 3Peel off the backing and hold the strip by the edges, adhesive side toward your nose.
4. 4Position it across the lower half of the nose, centered, with the ends resting just above the flare of each nostril. The strip should sit on the nose, not on the bridge between the eyes and not over the nostril edges themselves.
5. 5Press the ends down and rub the whole strip gently for a few seconds so the adhesive bonds. A little lifting at the edges is normal.

What is the strip actually doing?

A nasal strip is an adhesive patch with flexible spring bands built in. When you press it on, the bands try to return to a flat shape, and in doing so they gently pull the outer walls of the nostrils outward. That is all it does mechanically. It sits on the outside of the nose.

Will it stay on if my skin is oily?

Oil is the most common reason a strip peels. Before you put one on, wash with a mild cleanser, rinse, and dry fully. Avoid moisturizer or sunscreen on the nose area just before applying. Do your skincare earlier in the evening, wash your nose, and put the strip on last. Pressing the strip firmly for a few seconds also helps.

How do you take a nasal strip off?

Rinse your face with warm water for about ten seconds, then lift one end and peel the strip slowly, one side at a time. The maker's own advice is not to rip it off. Wash your face afterward. If the skin looks red, leave it alone until it settles, and skip the strip the next night if it hasn't.

Can you use nasal strips every night?

Each strip is made to be used once, so put on a fresh one each time. How often is a matter of how your skin responds. Nothing on the maker's page sets a limit on use, which means the practical rule is your own skin. If the skin stays calm and the strip feels fine, that is your answer. If you notice soreness, flaking or a rash, take a few nights off or stop.

If you find yourself needing a strip every single night because your nose feels blocked, treat that as something to mention to a clinician instead of managing around it.

Do nasal strips go with mouth tape?

They do different jobs. A nasal strip lifts the outer nostril walls; mouth tape gently discourages the mouth from drifting open. We work through who needs which separately, and mouth tape has its own safety limits.