Does Mouth Taping Cause or Prevent Wrinkles?

Mouth taping, putting tape over your lips at night to encourage nose breathing, is a popular social media trend. The short answer: no studies have tested whether mouth taping causes or prevents wrinkles. Reviews of the sleep research found little proven benefit and potential risks, especially for people with nasal blockage or sleep apnea.

What the research shows

Two 2025 reviews looked at the evidence:

Review	What it found
Rhee et al., systematic review (10 studies, 213 patients)	Two studies showed improvement in sleep apnea measures; others showed no difference; potential risks included asphyxiation with nasal obstruction (Rhee et al., PLoS One, 2025)
Fangmeyer et al., scoping review (9 studies, plus TikTok claims)	Evidence was mixed with little consensus; few social media claims have been studied (Fangmeyer et al., Am J Otolaryngol, 2025)

Neither review included any study on wrinkles or skin aging.

Could mouth taping cause wrinkles?

There's no direct evidence. Some people worry that tape pulling on lip skin or pursing the lips against tape could create lines over time, but this hasn't been studied. Lines around the mouth are mostly linked to sun damage, aging and repeated muscle movement.

Could it prevent wrinkles?

Claims that nose breathing changes facial structure or prevents wrinkles in adults haven't been tested in clinical studies.

Skin risks from tape

• Irritation and redness from adhesive, especially with daily use
• Peeling or chapping when tape is removed
• Allergic reactions to adhesive ingredients

If you try it anyway, remove tape gently and moisturize your lips.

Who should avoid mouth taping

The systematic review warned of a potentially serious risk of harm with indiscriminate use (Rhee et al., PLoS One, 2025). Talk to a doctor first if you:

• Have a blocked nose, allergies or a deviated septum
• Snore loudly or may have sleep apnea
• Have trouble breathing through your nose

What helps lines around the mouth

Approach	Evidence
Daily sunscreen, including lips (SPF lip balm)	Daily sunscreen slowed skin aging over 4.5 years (Hughes et al., Ann Intern Med, 2013)
Topical retinoid	Retinol improved fine wrinkles over 24 weeks (Kafi et al., Arch Dermatol, 2007)
Not smoking	Smoking is a recognized skin aging factor (Krutmann et al., J Dermatol Sci, 2017)
Fillers	FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers are used for lip and mouth lines (FDA: dermal fillers)
Lasers	Resurfacing improves fine lines (ASPS)

Better sleep habits for your skin

• Treat nasal congestion with your doctor's advice.
• Sleep on your back if pillow creases bother you.
• Keep a regular sleep schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Does mouth taping help you look younger? No studies show this.

Is mouth taping safe? It may not be, especially if you have nasal obstruction or sleep apnea. Ask a doctor first.

What tape do people use? Many use porous medical tape or strips. If your skin gets irritated, stop.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to a board-certified dermatologist about your situation.

Sources

• Rhee J et al. Breaking social media fads and uncovering the safety and efficacy of mouth taping in patients with mouth breathing, sleep disordered breathing, or obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2025. PubMed
• Fangmeyer SK et al. Nocturnal mouth-taping and social media: a scoping review of the evidence. Am J Otolaryngol. 2025. PubMed
• Hughes MC et al. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013. PubMed
• Kafi R et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Arch Dermatol. 2007. PubMed
• Krutmann J et al. The skin aging exposome. J Dermatol Sci. 2017. PubMed
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dermal fillers
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Laser skin resurfacing