Advertisement
It can actually make your blemish worse, not better
If you’ve ever needed to get rid of a pimple in a pinch (and who among us hasn’t?), you may have thought back to the advice you heard back in high school. Some well-meaning friend told you, “Just dab some toothpaste on it and it’ll dry out overnight!” — and it’s stuck with you ever since.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
But is it true? Does it work? Dermatology resident Taylor Bullock, MD, explains why you should skip the toothpaste trick and what to put on your pimples instead.
Toothpaste is made for your mouth, and in your mouth is where it should stay. When it comes to your skin, stick with tried-and-true spot treatments that are specially formulated to target occasional acne.
“The toothpaste advice sounds like an easy, quick solution using something already available around the house,” Dr. Bullock says, “but it’s not a good idea.”
Toothpaste used to be made with an ingredient called triclosan, a compound that was also thought to help acne by killing off bacteria. But triclosan’s effectiveness has long been debated, and in 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a rule to significantly limit its use. As of 2019, no toothpaste brands sold in the U.S. use triclosan.
With the original reasoning behind the toothpaste-as-spot-treatment guidance now outdated, it’s time to put the myth to rest!
“Toothpaste will likely do more harm than good for your skin,” Dr. Bullock states, “so, what happens is that you end up with a redder, more irritated pimple than you started with.”
That’s because your toothpaste is full of ingredients formulated to help your teeth by reducing tartar and strengthening enamel. But those same ingredients can be too strong or harsh for your skin, leading to:
Basically, all of the things you don’t want to deal with, especially when your goal is to zap an already-obvious zit.
Better pimple treatment options
When you feel a pimple coming on but don’t have a ton of money to drop on fancy products, what can you do? The good news is that plenty of spot treatments (the kind that are actually designed to go on your skin) don’t cost much more than a tube of toothpaste, and you can buy them at the drugstore.
“They’re easy to come by, they’re cheap and they’re much better, more effective spot treatments for a pimple,” Dr. Bullock notes. Look for products with these ingredients:
Spot treatments that contain these ingredients are designed to be dabbed onto existing pimples. Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are also common ingredients in face washes that aim to prevent acne in the first place.
So, leave the toothpaste to your teeth and give your blemishes the TLC they need. Your skin will thank you.
To learn from a dermatologist on related topics, listen to the Health Essentials Podcast episode, “Skin Care Tips, Tricks and Trends.” New episodes of the Health Essentials Podcast publish every Wednesday.
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
The results aren’t great, and the risks — like vision problems — aren’t worth it
During an annual exam, your provider will check for any moles or spots that have changed in size, color or shape
Dry air, harsh soaps and even some medications can bring on an itch, but in some cases, itchiness can be a sign of an underlying condition
Moisturize often, take oatmeal baths, use Epsom salts and follow a healthy diet to help reduce your symptoms
Adding a little milk to your bath can leave your skin smooth, silky and refreshed
Wear properly fitted shoes, break them in ahead of time and wear moisture-wicking socks
Topical treatments — and even some cosmetic procedures — may help reduce the appearance of this crinkled-paper look
Ferulic acid can help make other antioxidant products more powerful
Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress
PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body
While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims