The humble nasal strip has become an unlikely must-have fashion accessory for Gen Z – but their surging popularity could be in response to the devastation of people who get hooked on decongestant drugs.
There has been a frenzy on Instagram and Tiktok for brightly colored variations of the bathroom cabinet staple after image-conscious influencers extolled their benefits.
Young trendsetters say nasal strips can enhance athletic performance, stop congestion, help tackle allergy symptoms, improve sleep quality and prevent snoring.
‘For the girlies who are sick in the winter and a play sport… Use a nasal strip,’ the TikToker Molly Mas said in a video.
But the buzz around the quirky accessory has also drawn attention to alarming warnings from doctors about the risks of getting addicted to over-the-counter nasal sprays.
Nasal sprays, which are often used to treat conditions like allergies and congestion, can contain drugs such as such as oxymetazoline and xylometazoline. The products, which are used by millions in the US, are not harmful if used for 3-5 days at a time.
However, doctors say some people are becoming hooked on the treatment.
‘Some people need to use them every hour,’ said the popular TikToker Doctor Sooj recently warned.
There has been a frenzy on Instagram and Tiktok for brightly colored variations of the bathroom cabinet staple after image-conscious influencers extolled their benefits
Gen Z trendsetters say nasal strips can enhance athletic performance, stop congestion, help tackle allergy symptoms, improve sleep quality and prevent snoring
The buzz around the quirky accessory has also served to draw attention to alarming warnings from doctors about the risks of becoming addicted to over-the-counter nasal sprays
‘Going cold turkey would probably be awful. It’s going to be really hard and horrible. It can lead to months or even a year of just distress.’
Ohio resident Robin Burgensen explained to Medical News Today the impact that nasal spray addiction had on her life.
‘I’ve been addicted to various nasal sprays all my life. They start working at first, but then I start needing more and more to keep it working,’ she said.
‘Finally I started getting nosebleeds and my doctor told me to get off the nasal sprays.’
Besides nose bleeds, withdrawal symptoms or side effects of nasal spray addiction include headaches, sleep disturbances, and anxiety.
The entrepreneur Shota Shermadini founded Strippy, one of the firms behind the trend for funky nasal strips, in an effort to make this healthy alternative to sprays a little more sexy.
‘I’ve dealt with allergies my entire life and the struggle to breathe easily is all too real. I wanted to create a product that not only works but makes you feel good wearing it,’ he told DailyMail.com.
‘Strippy is my solution to a problem I know millions face daily. It’s more than a product for me — it’s a mission to help others breathe better and feel better, with a touch of personality. Gen Z doesn’t settle for ordinary, and neither do we.’
The entrepreneur Shota Shermadini started selling quirky colored nasal strips after suffering with allergies. He hopes they will provide a fun alternative to sprays
‘Watching something that started as a personal solution turn into a product that genuinely helps others is a deeply rewarding experience,’ he said.
The trend for quirky nasal strips comes after brightly colored ‘pimple patches’ took the market by storm in 2024.
The patches took off after becoming a favorite of A-list celebs like celebs like Hailey Bieber, Addison Rae and Florence Pugh.
‘Whenever I turn around, I see strangers wearing them while carefully selecting their groceries, picking up a new shirt at the mall, or just walking down the street,’ Tiffany Dodson wrote in Harper’s Bazaar.
