Home » Skin care » Care for problem skin » Toothpaste for acne: clear skin without extra costs
Basic skincare products are not always effective against acne. Then folk methods of combating rashes and inflammation that provoked their occurrence come to the rescue. Toothpaste is good for acne, but you need to use it with caution.
Why do people use toothpaste for acne on their face?
First, let's find out where all this even came from. After all, it’s true that people couldn’t just decide that a teeth cleaning product should be used to treat skin sores.
The “legs” of this method stem from the claim that the paste has an antibacterial effect. And it’s true - they actually add components to it that can kill harmful microorganisms. In the end, it is thanks to this that she has the opportunity to take care of her oral cavity, preventing the development of caries. And acne also often appears due to the fact that bacteria multiply on the skin. People just put two and two together and decided to try it.
Moreover, in some cases, anti-acne toothpaste actually turns out to be an effective remedy. Yes, its composition is really stuffed with a whole bunch of components that prevent microbes from living.
But what's the catch?
Actually, the cheapness and availability of this product, multiplied by its small but effectiveness, forces people to turn to toothpaste again and again. Use it yourself and recommend it to others. But, as always, there remains one “but” that spoils the whole raspberry.
Such advisers forget that the toothpaste is primarily intended for cleaning teeth. Not for skin. Therefore, manufacturers do not add components to it that could soften the effect of this product.
Why toothpaste can be dangerous for the skin: reasons
The main reason is its active ingredients, which ensure the effectiveness of the product. In most toothpastes, this component is fluoride. It helps cleanse teeth of bacteria and plaque, preventing the occurrence of caries. It sounds harmless and pleasant. It would seem that what a good substance it is if it fights germs so actively. This means it will clear up acne in no time! But not everything is as good as we would like.
In fact, fluoride is an extremely aggressive substance that does not even have the best effect on teeth. If you abuse it, of course.
In its pure form, at the slightest contact with human skin (on contact for 2 seconds), this substance immediately causes severe chemical burns, which take a long time to heal and leave terrible scars.
Why is this harmful?
This is a poisonous and extremely aggressive component. Therefore, even in toothpastes it is added to a minimum.
But even considering the fact that there is very little of it in the paste, dermatologists are trying to warn people against using this product to treat acne. Especially if you have dry and sensitive skin.
There are much gentler and more effective means to combat acne. Reviews of the most popular ones can be found in this section of our website.
And if you apply toothpaste to a pimple, there is a high chance of getting a severe burn. The fact is that at the site of inflammation (and a pimple is precisely inflammation) the skin is thin and vulnerable. Therefore, when applying such an aggressive product, there is a huge chance of getting burned and left with a scar.
Can I use toothpaste for acne and apply it to my face?
Based on the information that we provided in the previous section of this article, we can come to the conclusion that this is a dangerous and ineffective remedy. But there are still people on the Internet who recommend its use. Naturally, based on personal experience. And this brings up the question. Where do they come from if the paste leaves burns and does not treat acne? The answer is obvious - it means that in some cases toothpaste helps with acne on the face. But, frankly speaking, this effect is also greatly exaggerated. Let's figure out why it really dries out acne in some cases.
The fact is that pastes are still different. Some have more fluoride, while others have much less. Some products are even produced without this component in the composition. And if the stars align correctly, and a person with sufficiently protected skin uses a relatively safe option for the product, then a burn can be easily avoided.
Especially if the recommendations regarding the use of toothpaste for acne were followed. We will talk about these rules in one of the following sections of this article.
Famous cosmetic procedures
- Peeling. When using exfoliating peels carried out in beauty salons, the appearance of pigmentation on the face is significantly reduced. Peels often involve the use of acids, which can harm young skin.
- Laser removal. A safe method that allows you to say goodbye to unwanted pigmentation forever. The speed and ease of the procedure allows you to avoid discomfort. The final result in the form of clean and smooth skin can be seen a week after the procedure.
- Medication. Involves face resurfacing, which involves removing the top layer of the epidermis. The largest amount of melanin is found in the basal layer. To restore normal melanin production, the body needs to replenish it with useful substances.
To do this, the top layer is polished, in the place of which a new one will soon form, which will subsequently require new nutrition.After eliminating the spots, it is necessary to refrain from being in direct sunlight for some time, as they can activate the production of new melanin.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with washing tonsil lacunae at home.
When deciding to remove pigmentation, there are a number of contraindications.
Removing stains is not advisable in the following cases:
- Presence of chronic diseases;
- With weakened immunity;
- In case of damage to pigmented skin;
- With a tendency to scarring;
- Diabetes.
Does toothpaste help with acne on the face?
And if we have figured out the relative safety, then the question of whether toothpaste helps against acne remains open. Again, there is a happy coincidence here too. Firstly, this remedy will not cure all acne.
For everything to work, inflammation must be caused by bacteria, and not by internal problems of the body. If this point is not observed, then you will simply burn the skin and not get the effect.
Why? The fact is that if there are no bacteria, then there is nothing to eliminate there. Acne caused by internal problems of the body can only be cured by a doctor. No creams will help here, and certainly not toothpaste.
Secondly, the particular paste must have enough components that help eliminate germs. If the product is intended to break up tartar or resist caries, then it will not help much in your case. To do this, you need to choose a paste with an antibacterial effect.
But even if you can combine the above factors (protected skin, acne due to microbes and organic, harmless, antibacterial paste), no one guarantees you the desired effect and no one will compensate for the damage caused to your epidermis. And this is exactly what you should remember before using this product.
Cautions for using the product
It is worth understanding that a method such as using toothpaste is not a treatment for the problem, much less a specific approach, and therefore it is not suitable for everyone. In some cases, an allergic reaction may occur to the components of the product used, but more often the paste simply dries out the skin, which causes peeling, redness and sometimes even worsening the acne situation. The product becomes especially dangerous in this aspect if a person already has dry skin.
Special care should be taken if a defect occurs in the area around the eyes - it is not recommended to apply a paste here; it is better to limit yourself to gentle means, for example, herbal decoctions. A particular threat here is the possibility of carelessly getting the product into the eye - this will cause extremely strong, untidy sensations.
How to safely get rid of acne with toothpaste?
In the previous section we mentioned that there are certain rules. Thanks to them, using the paste will not be so dangerous. Of course, they do not guarantee absolute safety. However, this significantly reduces the damage that can be caused to your skin. But if you are thinking about how to get rid of acne with toothpaste and not harm your face, you should follow our recommendations.
First of all, it is worth remembering that not just any remedy will suit you. You will have to approach his choice with all responsibility. After all, this is your skin. Choose a product that does not contain fluoride or that contains a minimal amount of this substance. After all, fluorine is the main danger. Choose an expensive product with an organic composition and an antibacterial effect. Anything else will be either ineffective or dangerous.
Secondly, before use, you should test the product on another, less noticeable area of the skin. This is necessary in order to identify the negative effect before the paste ruins your facial skin. Just apply a little on the inside of your elbow and leave it there for 2-3 minutes. After that, wash it off.
If redness or any unpleasant sensations appear (burning, pain, itching), rinse immediately and continue to use the paste only for brushing your teeth.
And thirdly, do not keep the product on your skin for more than 3 minutes. Otherwise, there is a high probability of getting a chemical burn.
Is it possible to smear pimples with toothpaste?
Based on all that has been said above, it is worth summing up and answering the main question. How effective is this product and can it be used without harm to health? And, of course, the answer cannot be unambiguous. Of course, if you apply toothpaste without fluoride to a pimple once, while adhering to our recommendations, then nothing bad will happen. In the end, when brushing your teeth, a little of the product always gets on the skin, but we don’t get burns every time.
But here the question arises about the effectiveness and expediency of such “treatment.”
A high-quality and harmless organic-based paste will not be cheap. And no one guarantees you results. Moreover, if something goes wrong and you get a chemical burn on your face, the manufacturer will not take responsibility.
After all, you did not use his product for its intended purpose, so you cannot count on compensation. You will have to deal with the consequences yourself.
Therefore, to answer the question of whether it is possible to smear pimples with toothpaste, we can answer this way: it is possible, but not necessary. There are more effective means and methods that will not harm your skin. We still dare to recommend trying a different method for treating acne.
Is it possible to leave anti-acne toothpaste on overnight?
Now it’s worth answering other questions that interest our readers. On many websites you can find recommendations from pseudo-dermatologists and cosmetologists who advise leaving acne toothpaste on overnight. The time has come to talk about how correct this is and what it threatens.
Of course, you can't do that. Dermatologists are against applying this product to the face at all, let alone leaving it on for several hours. Especially if you use a cheap product with a large number of active ingredients in the composition.
We can guarantee that in this case, chemical burns are guaranteed. At best, they will heal in a few months. And at worst, they will leave noticeable scars for life.
Even if you have a very good, organic pasta, you should not do this under any circumstances. The fact is that this threatens serious skin problems. If a paste can leave marks 5 minutes after application, then imagine what it can do to your face for 7-8 hours! We can say that in this case, trouble is guaranteed.
How long should you leave toothpaste on acne?
So, since you can’t leave it on all night (under no circumstances), then for how long is it possible? Does application time depend on the composition, skin type or size of the pimple? What to focus on? In this matter, we can say that the less time this product spends on your face, the better. After all, the longer it stays on the skin, the higher the likelihood that it can burn through the epidermis. Yes, even if the paste is organic and fluoride-free.
If you ask how long to leave toothpaste on acne, we can recommend 1-3 minutes. Not longer.
Of course, in this matter the composition of the paste and skin type matter. You don't have to focus on the size of the pimple. If the composition contains even a little fluoride, it is better not to apply it at all. The same goes if you have dry, sensitive skin. Better refrain. But if the skin is normal or oily, and the paste is very soft and does not burn the skin, you can leave it for 2 minutes. Do not wait for the product to dry - wash off immediately as soon as the time is up.
Which one is better to buy?
When choosing a paste to eliminate acne, you need to consider some factors:
- It should be white, without multi-colored stripes, microparticles, etc. This is because the white part of the paste contains components that help fight inflammation on the skin. These include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, triclosan and others. These ingredients help dry the skin and destroy harmful microorganisms.
- Do not use whitening pastes for these procedures. The active ingredients can have a negative effect on the skin - lightening it, possibly causing scars and burns.
- Do not buy gel paste to get rid of acne. It contains completely different ingredients that may not act as a means of drying out and stopping the growth of acne, but cause skin irritation or allergies.
- To get rid of acne, it is better to purchase a paste that does not contain fluoride, or at least one with a low fluoride content. This component can cause dermatitis, allergies and other unpleasant phenomena on the skin.
- The best option is a paste containing natural organic ingredients. It does not contain harmful chemical ingredients, antibiotics, fluoride and other substances that irritate the skin and cause harm to it. So a paste containing tea tree oil, baking soda, eucalyptus oil, aloe or myrrh will not only help get rid of acne, but will also have a beneficial effect on the skin on the face as a care product.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with Raising gums
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Toothpaste for acne on the face: user reviews
But despite the abundance of all of the above, it is worth citing the opinions of real users who have tried the effects of this “super-remedy” and received results.
“So many years have passed, and these scars still have not completely healed”
It happened in adolescence. I remember back then I was fighting pimples with everything I could get my hands on. There was not much money, and the funds were not so accessible then. I don’t remember where I found out about toothpaste... Either I read it in a girls’ magazine, or a friend recommended it. Anyway, I tried it. The paste was also so hot, very minty. I remember my skin burned terribly during the process. But I waited until everything dried and washed it off. The acne remained the same and went away on its own within a week. But the red spots remained after them. Moreover, only on those where I spread the paste... So many years have passed, and these scars still have not completely healed.
Alena, 1 time of use
“A great way to quickly get rid of an unnecessary pimple”
I don’t know about negative consequences - I simply didn’t have them. The skin itself is oily and a lot of pimples appear. Almost like wen, which is almost impossible to squeeze out. But at the same time they itch and don’t look very nice. I just apply toothpaste to these pimples. Helps great! They dry out. A great way to quickly get rid of an unnecessary pimple, it seems to me. In the evening I applied the paste, washed it off, and in the morning there was nothing left
