Does Toothpaste Get Rid of Pimples?
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The answer to this question is: it depends. Some toothpastes contain ingredients which can help get rid of pimples, while others do not, and in some cases they can actually irritate the skin. Given that there are numerous other acne remedies available, toothpaste should really only be viewed as a last resort. It also usually requires an overnight treatment to work effectively, so don't depend on toothpaste for emergent zit crises.
There are two ways in which toothpaste can work to get rid of pimples. In the first sense, toothpaste can act like a mask, drawing impurities out of the skin; it may also dry the skin slightly as it does so, which can reduce the size of a pimple. In addition, some toothpastes contain menthol or alcohol, two compounds which can dry the skin, although they can make your skin too dry, which is not desired.
If you want to use toothpaste to get rid of pimples, look for a true toothpaste, not a gel, and if you can, find one with minimal additives. Natural or organic toothpastes are a good bet, since they usually have a short ingredient list. Apply a small dab to the acne spot in question, leave it on overnight, and rinse in the morning. Your mileage may vary, depending on the toothpaste, your skin type, and the pimple.
If you want to get rid of pimples, there are a number of home remedies as well as over the counter medications which can help; if you have a severe case which has developed into acne, you may want to consult a doctor for stronger medications. Avoid popping pimples, no matter how tempting it is, because you can actually make the situation worse by causing a deep infection. If a pimple gets truly upsetting for you, head to a cosmetician who specializes in extractions; he or she has received special training in handling pimples, blackheads, and other blemishes. A dermatologist may also be willing to pop it for you.
Some home remedies to get rid of pimples include aspirin, which can be ground into a paste with water and applied overnight, as well as applications of lime or lemon juice and potato wedges. Over the counter medications can also be used to target trouble spots. More importantly, keep your face clean and grease-free, and use water based moisturizers for your skin care to help avoid the development of pimples in the first place.
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25
if you're going to use the toothpaste method (which i am right now), it's best to put the toothpaste in the middle of a bandaid and put it across the pimple or the pimples. that way the chemicals stick to the skin and does its job faster and if you go to sleep with the toothpaste on it doesn't get all over your pimple. :) - anon52747
24
It works if you use it in 15 minute intervals or less, but once I tried it overnight and I had this horrible red, scab-like mark.
It felt like i had burned my face and it didn't go away for more than a month, even with daily applications of neosporin and scarzone. - anon52148
23
this works well. - anon52129
22
I love it! It only burns a little. On other sites it was talking about how it can burn your skin but i highly doubt that! I put it n once in the morning, at night, and when i get home from school. - anon51426
21
For the record: this really works. I don't get pimples very often. But when I do I get them on my nose because it's very oily. As soon as I feel it coming I put the toothpaste on all night before I go to bed. I try and wait for it to dry so I don't get it all over my pillow and sheets. This time around I was a little nervous because I thought I waited too long to put the toothpaste on, but I went ahead and did it anyway. It burned *really* bad, almost to the point that I wanted to take it off but I tolerated it. I actually put it on overnight and washed it off in the morning and reapplied and kept it on all day. To my surprise my pimple is gone. Now the downside is that my nose is peeling and dry, but I'll take that over a pimple any day, a little moisturizer and I should be fine. Oh and also I used Colgate toothpaste, not gel with baking soda and peroxide! - anon49263
20
i've used every product for acne from Clean & Clear, Proactive, Clearasil, Oxy, i've used the acne cream the acne oil the acne lotion and non of them work. my dad says he had bad acne too and he put on lemon juice which he said stung really bad but it got rid of his acne and all. i'm not really going to use lemons yet. i'm going to use the whole toothpaste thing and see what happens. i was also using this acne product that had apitcut in it and it worked but then more pimples came :/ hope the toothpaste works! - anon48746
19
Well im gonna try the toothpaste I hope colgate is okay. : / we will see in the morning. - anon47320
18
is crest toothpaste any good? - anon46700
17
will colgate maxfresh with mini breath strips work? Please tell me! :) - anon43570
16
i used my toothpaste all over my face because i have acne all over. my skin was so dry and cracked and none of my pimples went away so with my skin like this i used a&d and my skin went back to normal but I've had pimples for two years and I'm sick of it so I'm using toothpaste mixed with a&d and will see if it works. - anon42743
15
does arm and hammer peroxi-care (baking soda and peroxide) work on pinples? - anon42468
14
I'm starting now. Hopefully it will work because my face looks a mess. -Mahard johnson- - anon42422
13
i am trying it right now as we speak. i am going to rinse it off in a few minutes and hope it works! :] - anon42266
12
toothpaste has also worked for me :) i apply it at night and leave it on my face overnight. i use colgate. - anon42067
11
I'm trying it right now. - anon41228
10
has anyone used colgate? well it works, but I don't know about using it overnight. people say that it ruins your skin if it's on overnight. is that really true? - anon41106
9
Im pretty sure it works for pimples but what about whiteheads? - anon40956
8
I heard from my best friend/brother that it worked when he called me and told me, i was like, oh well, i've got a huge BBQ tomorrow. i guess i'll try it. i put some on overnight and i woke up and it was like *magic*! I used Crest Pro-Health. - anon38276
7
Toothpaste does work. If you sleep with tooth paste on your face it will peel the skin. Otherwise don't sleep with toothpaste on your face. If your acne is bad try to do the toothpaste treatment once a day to get your zit or pimple clear. - anon37263
6
i used crest toothpaste. it had baking soda in it! which i heard baking soda helps alot so i used it but not overnight! but i wash my face daily, morning and night and the next morning my face was smooth and clear! i recommend crest toothpaste with baking soda and peroxcide!-ME! - anon37051
5
I've used toothpaste in the past and it worked, however once i fell asleep with it on and i had horrible results. My face was burning and my skin remained dry and it peeled for a few days. I wouldn't recommend overnight treatment unless you have weak toothpaste. - anon27911
4
i used toothpaste. *it works*!! - kerrybaby
3
well i used aim toothpaste, its blue, is that considered a gel? - kerrybaby
2
My friend uses toothpaste to get rid of his pimples but i dont know if i should use it and on google it says toothpaste is the last resort to use. But i tried it anyways and it actually works it doesnt make your skin dry and it is safe 100%! The best toothpaste is aquafresh it works the best and the fastest. :] - anon24146
1
Toothpaste has always worked for me! Use the white paste kind of toothpaste - nothing fancy or expensive, and definitely not gel. Put a little on your pimple and it dries it up really fast. The worst part about it is that you'll get toothpaste on your pillow if you do this right before bed, but that is a small price to pay to be zit-less the next day! - jennifers
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Written by
S.E. Smith
Last Modified: 16 November 2009
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