So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (2024)

Layering a little bit of toothpaste on your spots has long been thought of as a quick bathroom cabinet trick to dry out unwanted blemishes overnight.

But is it ever a good idea to squeeze the minty stuff onto your pimple? To find out, WH called on skincare expert Dr Johanna Ward, founder of ZENii Skincare. And the answer to whether you should apply toothpaste on spots might surprise you...

Is putting toothpaste on pimples a good idea?

'To a certain extent, yes,' Dr Ward surprisingly tells us. 'It has long been known that putting toothpaste on spots will help to dry them out and zap them up.'

Okay. So, how come? 'Toothpaste works by drying out pimples and reducing redness. It does this mainly through the anti-inflammatory action of triclosan and the drying effects of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol.'

So that secondary school technique is rooted in science.

How long should you leave toothpaste on your spots for?

Real talk: this should not be your go-to fix. Using a little paste on a nasty zit for 30 minutes isn't the end of the world – but should not become a habit.

'Toothpaste is there to clean your teeth and has abrasive ingredients that are just not meant for your skin. It is okay to use in an emergency and won’t hurt to do once, but it is much better to use clinically evidenced and safe ingredients such as salicylic acid, retinol and benzoyl peroxide that have been used in clinical dermatology for years.'

'You won't damage your skin this way and you'll be preventing suture flare-ups too,' adds Dr Ward.

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.

So, how do you get a pimple to go away, fast?

'The best way to get a pimple to go away fast is to treat the area with a combination of salicylic acid, which is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and reduces oil production, and retinol, which helps reduce redness and controls skin cell turnover,' notes Dr Ward.

'Benzoyl peroxide 5% is good at killing bacteria, so it's a great option instead of antibiotics. It kills over 95% of the pathogenic bacteria in acne (predominantly Propionibacterium acnes, known as P.acnes bacteria for short) with no issues of resistance. These three products are the go-to for rapid spot treatment and for future prevention.'

So, while you can use toothpaste in a pinch, it's much better to get yourself some spot treatments that have been expertly formulated to treat and prevent.

Keep scrolling for the WH edit of the best spot treatments to use instead of toothpaste.

With 2%salicylicacid, this lotion reduces oil production and sloughs away dead skin cells that can block pores.Salicylic acid is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, and this lotion alsoworks to brighten a dull complexion.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (2)

ZITSTICKA KILLA

Each of these water-resistant patches is imprinted with small 'microdarts' that deliver salicylic acid, calming niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid into those pesky under-the-skinspots to reduce the size before they come to a head.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (3)

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion 29ml

Now 86% Off

With salicylic acid, drying sulfur, and calming zinc oxide, this works overnight to dry, soothe and reduce the size of spots while you sleep.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (4)

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Layer this serum onto blemishes and the anti-inflammatory niacinamide and zinc will work throughout the day to placate the angriest of blemishes.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (5)

Acnecide 5% Gel Benzoyl Peroxide 30g

Now 55% Off

Available at Superdrug pharmacies, this potent cream contains 5% benzoyl peroxide whichis clinically proven to kill up to 95% of the bacteria that can causespots.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (6)

ClearCalm Non-Drying Spot Treatment

If you have sensitive skin salicylic acid may irritate, so look to this Ren spot treatment instead.Willow bark replaces the salicylic to calm blemishes, whilst prebiotics feed the good bacteria.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (7)

SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 - 30ml

Retinol (a Vitamin A derivative)speeds up skin cell turnover, so use this lotion two to three times per week (at night)to prevent pores from getting blocked.

This lotion contains a cocktail of spot-fighting ingredients, niacinamide to reduce the size of the blemish;lipo hydroxy acid and salicylic acid to unclog pores and zinc to reduce oil. Glycerin also helps to keep the skin hydrated and comfortable.

Now you know all about toothpaste on spots and our favourite spot treatments, these are the best exfoliators to try.

So, does putting toothpaste on your spots actually work? (2024)
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