Magnetic Nasal Strips Side Effects: What to Know Before You Buy

The short answer

If you're weighing up magnetic nasal strips side effects, the good news is that most are minor and short-lived. Magnetic nose strips usually stick small adhesive tabs to each side of the nose and use magnets to hold a band or clip in place, so most problems come from that adhesive and from handling small magnets.

So, are magnetic nose strips safe? For most healthy adults who follow the instructions, they're generally low risk. The exceptions matter, though: people with implanted electronic medical devices, households with young children, and anyone with sensitive or broken skin on the nose.

Magnetic nasal strips side effects: the full list

These are the issues to know about before you buy. None are unique to one brand — they come from how magnetic designs are built.

1. Skin irritation

• Redness, itching or a mild rash where the tabs sit on the sides of the nose.
• More likely if you have sensitive skin, eczema, rosacea or a known allergy to adhesives.
• Wearing tabs night after night in the same spot gives the skin less time to recover.
• Clean, dry skin before applying, and give the area a break if it stays pink the next day.

2. Tab adhesive problems

• Because the tabs carry the pull of the magnets, they need a firm bond — and a firm bond can sting or lift skin when removed.
• Peel slowly in the direction of hair growth, or soften the adhesive with warm water first.
• Oily skin, moisturiser or sweat can make tabs slip, so the strip may shift or fall off overnight.
• Reusing tabs past their intended life tends to mean weaker hold and more fiddling, which irritates skin further.

3. Magnets and implanted medical devices

Strong small magnets can interfere with some implanted electronic medical devices. If you have a pacemaker, implantable defibrillator, cochlear implant, insulin pump or any other implanted device, check with your doctor or the device manufacturer before using any magnetic product near your face or chest.

Keep magnetic strips away from bank cards and electronics while storing them, and remove them before an MRI scan or any medical imaging.

4. Small parts and children

• Magnets and tabs are small enough to swallow. Swallowing more than one magnet can cause serious internal injury, so store them out of reach of children and pets.
• Magnetic nasal strips are not designed for children. Talk to a GP about a child's snoring or blocked nose instead.
• If you think a child has swallowed a magnet, seek medical help immediately.

When to stop and when to see a GP

Stop using a magnetic nasal strip, or any nasal strip, and let your skin settle if you notice:

• Blistering, broken skin, swelling or a rash that spreads beyond where the tab sat.
• Irritation that doesn't clear within a day or two of stopping.
• Any discomfort near an implanted medical device.

See a GP if you snore loudly most nights, someone has noticed you stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, you wake up unrefreshed or very sleepy during the day, or your nose is blocked on one side most of the time. A strip can help airflow through the nose, but it doesn't treat sleep apnoea or structural problems.

Magnetic vs adhesive nasal strips: safety compared

Magnetic nose strips safety comes down to two extra factors that standard adhesive strips don't have: the magnets and the small separate parts. Here's how the two designs compare. For how well each one actually works, read our magnetic vs adhesive nasal strips guide.

Breathe Right vs magnetic strips

Breathe Right is a standard adhesive strip, so a Breathe Right vs magnetic comparison follows the same pattern as the table above: the adhesive strip has no magnets or loose parts, while the magnetic version adds implant and swallowing cautions. The common side effect for both is skin irritation from adhesive. For a wider look at that, see our guide to nasal strips side effects. If you're comparing internal dilators too, our Breatheeze alternative page covers how those differ from external strips.

Prefer a strip without magnets?

RhinoGear nasal strips are a one-piece adhesive strip with a triple-spring band — no magnets and no separate parts. They're TGA-listed (ARTG 508285), drug-free, hypoallergenic and latex-free, dispatched from Australia, with free shipping on orders over $65.