30 Sep Mouth Taping and Sensitive Skin: What to Know Before Trying It
Mouth Taping Safety Notice: Mouth taping is not an established medical treatment for snoring, sleep apnea, or any other condition, and evidence for its benefits is limited. Do not use mouth tape if you cannot breathe comfortably through your nose, including during a cold, sinus infection, or allergy flare, or if you have a deviated septum or other nasal obstruction. Do not use mouth tape if you have known or suspected obstructive sleep apnea, lung or heart disease, a seizure disorder, or are prone to nausea or vomiting during the night. Do not use mouth tape after drinking alcohol or taking sedatives or sleep medications, and do not use it on children. Use only tape designed for facial skin, and remove it immediately if you feel short of breath, anxious, or uncomfortable. Stop use and contact a healthcare provider if you develop swelling, blistering, persistent itching, or a spreading rash. Talk with your physician or a sleep specialist before starting mouth taping, especially if you snore loudly, wake up gasping, or feel unrested after sleep.
Mouth taping has become increasingly popular among people looking to encourage nasal breathing during sleep. The concept is simple: a small piece of tape is placed over the lips before bed to discourage mouth breathing. While some people find the practice comfortable, those with sensitive skin may experience redness, dryness, or irritation from the adhesive.
Anyone considering mouth taping should think carefully about the material and adhesive being used, especially if their skin tends to react to bandages, medical tape, skincare products, or other adhesives. Choosing the best mouth tape for sensitive skin generally means looking for products designed to minimize irritation while still staying comfortably in place throughout the night.
[caption id="attachment_76383" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Photo by Maksim Goncharenok: [/caption]
Dr. Johnson[/caption]
Dayna A. Johnson PhD
Department of Epidemiology
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: There are several studies that have determined that African Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension and are the most likely to have uncontrolled hypertension compared to other racial/ethnic groups. We were interested in studying whether sleep apnea contributed to hypertension control among African Americans.
We found that participants with sleep apnea were more likely to have resistant hypertension than those without sleep apnea. In particular, individuals with severe sleep apnea had the highest risk of resistant hypertension. Most of the participants with measured sleep apnea were undiagnosed (96%). 
Dr. Kunisaki[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ken M. Kunisaki , MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
University of Minnesota
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Kunisaki : Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common condition that is the result of recurrent complete or partial closure of the upper airway during sleep. OSA leads to poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness.
A previous study suggested that OSA is more common in the winter, but there were no vitamin D measurements in that study, which seemed potentially relevant since many people have lower vitamin D levels in the winter, due to less sunlight exposure in the winter. Several studies have also shown that people with low vitamin D levels have worse muscle function. Since muscles are partially responsible for keeping the upper airway open during sleep, we wondered whether people with low vitamin D levels might have weaker upper airway muscles and therefore be more prone to having OSA.
In our study, we found that indeed, persons with OSA had lower vitamin D levels than those without OSA, but this was explained by obesity. In other words, the low vitamin D levels seen in OSA patients is likely just a marker of obesity and not likely related to the presence or absence of OSA.
Dr. Soroush Zaghi[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Soroush Zaghi, MD
Department of Head and Neck Surgery
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
MedicalResearch: What is the central message for clinicians and surgeons from your results?
Dr. Zaghi: Multiple studies from different practitioners and institutions agree that Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) is a highly effective surgical option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate positive pressure therapy and have not found success with other surgical procedures.
