Does putting toothpaste on a pimple make it go away? You may have heard this suggestion, but experts on acne say don't try it. Toothpaste could make that spot on your skin even more red, irritated, and noticeable.
Before you apply toothpaste onto a pimple, you should wash your face with a gentle cleanser and warm water, then pat your skin dry. Then, apply a very small amount of toothpaste directly onto the pimple. Leave the toothpaste in place for at least 2 hours, or let the toothpaste stay on overnight for extra drying.
Toothpaste Irritates or Burns Skin
Many unfortunate souls have developed a chemical burn, or a nasty rash called contact dermatitis, after applying toothpaste to a zit. Your skin could be feeling sore for days afterward. Bottom line: toothpaste can make your pimple look worse instead of better.
And can I leave toothpaste on my face overnight? 'While toothpaste might dry out your pimple overnight, it is not a safe long-term fix for your skin,' notes Dr Ward.
The consensus among dermatologists is that toothpaste is not an effective way to treat your skin, and can in fact damage your skin. The toothpaste can be an irritant that causes redness and peeling.
For sensitive skin and small pimples, leave the toothpaste on for 5 to 10 minutes. For regular skin or large pimples, leave the toothpaste on for 30 to 60 minutes. Consider leaving the toothpaste on overnight. Keep in mind, however, that this may irritate your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Though it may be effective in the short term, the use of toothpaste may result in skin damage in the long run. Calcium carbonate helps dry out pimples by absorbing excess oil on the pimples.
'Toothpaste will irritate the skin, and the pimple will probably eventually disappear along with the irritation, but toothpaste is in no way a primary treatment for acne. Over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid work great to clear acne — and help prevent it, as well.
Water has many ways in which it can improve your skin, which helps to improve your acne over time. Drinking water has both direct and indirect benefits for treating acne. Firstly, with bacterial acne, water helps to remove toxins and bacteria on the skin, reducing the potential for pore-clogging in the process.
Sudden acne breakouts can be because of numerous reasons, including hormonal changes or hormonal imbalance, an unhealthy diet including lots of deep fried and junk food, release of cortisol hormones because of excessive stress, excessive production of sebum and much more.
Most often, acne will go away on its own at the end of puberty, but some people still struggle with acne in adulthood. Almost all acne can be successfully treated, however. It's a matter of finding the right treatment for you.
The reasoning behind using toothpaste on pimples is simple: Toothpaste typically contains ingredients like baking soda and alcohol, which can dry out a zit and get rid of it — or at least make it less obvious. “Toothpaste can dry out a pimple because of the drying ingredients it contains,” says Dr.
"Petrolatum is inherently comedogenic, which means it will clog the pores," he says. "It won't heal acne—it will literally cause it." Since petroleum jelly does have some anti-inflammatory effects that can help diminish the look of redness, Dr. Lain says.