Here is more information on using toothpaste for acne: Choose the Right Toothpaste Avoid Gel : Gel-based toothpastes may not be as effective in drying out and shrinking your pimple. Go Natural : Look for natural or organic toothpastes —they contain helpful ingredients like witch hazel, tea tree oil, aloe, or eucalyptus.
Watch the Whitening : Toothpastes with polishing or bleaching chemicals can irritate your skin. Test Your Skin First One of the reasons toothpaste is known to be a temporary acne cure is because it includes ingredients that are drying agents--baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. How to Apply Toothpaste for Acne Wash your hands to avoid spreading more germs to your pores, then wash your face and pat it dry.
Upsetting your pH with too much baking soda could lead to rashes and burning. Sodium lauryl sulfate, another ingredient often found in toothpaste, may be too harsh to be used on blemishes. Even if you manage to avoid irritation, there are other possible bad reactions. For instance, if your skin becomes too dry from using toothpaste, that could cause more acne.
Although it might be tempting to dab toothpaste on a pimple in a pinch, there are better alternatives that you likely already have access to. Shainhouse recommends using over-the-counter products to prevent and treat acne. These typically contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and topical retinoids. You can find products at your local drugstore in the form of:. You can also get over-the-counter spot treatments that you can dab right on an existing pimple.
Many studies, including a recent one published in the Australian Journal of Dermatology , suggest that using tea tree oil on mild or moderate acne can be highly effective. You can mix several drops of tea tree oil into your usual face products or apply a few drops directly to a blemish as a spot treatment. Shainhouse says that those who prefer natural products could also try willow bark , a natural source of salicylic acid found in extract form. People who experience frequent breakouts can try using over-the-counter OTC or prescription strength acne treatments.
Although these treatments can be highly effective, they may also lead to side effects and might not be right for everyone. A person should work with a doctor or dermatologist to find the best treatment for them.
OTC treatments usually work well for mild-to-moderate breakouts of acne and pimples. These treatments come in various forms, including gels, creams, and cleansers, and they generally contain the following ingredients:. Doctors can prescribe topical or oral treatments for people who have severe acne.
Some of these medications include:. In a comparative study , researchers found that herbal extracts were equally as effective in treating acne as a solution containing 2. In this particular study, those using the herbal extracts were also more satisfied with the treatment.
Below are some examples of natural remedies for pimples and spots:. Tea tree oil comes from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Compounds in tea tree oil have powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which may help kill acne-causing bacteria and soothe irritated skin. In a pilot study , researchers asked 14 individuals between the ages of 16 and 39 years with moderate acne to use tea tree oil products twice a day. Four of the participants experienced minor side effects, including minor itching and moderate scaling, peeling, and dryness.
However, these side effects cleared up within a few days. In a randomized trial , 60 individuals between the ages of 14 and 34 years with mild-to-moderate facial acne received one of the following treatments:. The researchers concluded that the natural treatment containing tee tree oil was significantly more effective than the other two treatments. The aloe vera plant contains at least 75 different minerals, amino acids, and vitamins.
These compounds promote wound healing, reduce skin irritation and inflammation , and prevent skin infections. Putting any random product containing triclosan, like toothpaste, for example, isn't going to do the trick. The U. There was also some concern over its long-term safety. Triclosan is still allowed in toothpaste, though, because it's been shown to be effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis. Here's the biggest reason to forgo the toothpaste on your pimple: besides being unlikely to really work, toothpaste will probably burn and irritate your skin—especially your face.
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. If you're looking for a way to make a blemish heal quickly, there are much better ways than dabbing on toothpaste.
Try an acne spot treatment instead. These products contain benzoyl peroxide , salicylic acid or sulfur, all of which can help reduce redness and speed healing.
Acne spot treatment products are milder for your skin than toothpaste ever will be, and they're inexpensive to buy. Of course, if you're already seeing a dermatologist for your acne, ask them before using any spot treatment.
If you have a particularly big blemish that won't go away, you may want to see a dermatologist. What you think is a pimple may not be at all, but rather a boil or sebaceous hyperplasia. And if it is just a big zit, your dermatologist has ways to shrink it fast. If you have large cystic acne , your dermatologist may suggest using cortisone injections to shrink them. They may be an option to help a nodule or cyst heal if it's not responding to other treatments.
To get rid of pimples quickly , you could try tea tree oil. A study found that tea tree oil is effective in killing acne-causing bacteria and could be a possible substitute for antibiotic therapy.
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