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.
What should you do? The rumor mill might have you believing that dabbing some regular old toothpaste on your zit will help it clear up overnight. But, while it's true that several ingredients found in toothpaste are drying to skin and might help shrink your pimple, this home remedy for breakouts isn't worth the risk.
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.
But using unproven home remedies, like toothpaste, can damage your skin and introduce bacteria. It might even lead to complications like infection. If you're concerned about a burn, notice signs of an infection, or have a wound that doesn't heal, talk with a healthcare provider.
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.
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.
Leave the toothpaste on for two hours or overnight.
Leave the toothpaste to dry on the skin anywhere from two hours or overnight, for best results. However, if you have extremely sensitive skin, it may be best to remove the toothpaste after 15 minutes to half an hour, in order to gauge your skin's reaction.
The chemicals in toothpaste can irritate the skin, causing dryness that can stimulate the oil glands in the face. Excess oil production may result in new or worsening breakouts of acne.
According to the Wound Care Society, applying toothpaste to cold sores during their blister phase may make the area numb, dry out the blisters, and keep them from getting larger. Most toothpaste contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), an ingredient believed to hinder cold sore blisters.
Benefits. While ice alone may not cure a pimple, it can decrease swelling and redness, making the pimple less noticeable. Ice also has a numbing effect, which can offer temporary pain relief for severely inflamed pimples.