Nope! It is actually terrible for your face. Although for many, many years it’s been cited as the best home remedy for acne, toothpaste can make things worse before they even have an opportunity to get better, so avoid it at all costs.
Okay, so it contains hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, alcohol, essential oils, and a whole host of other ingredients with drying properties.
This might give the illusion that it helps, by causing a pesky pimple to dry up if you apply a blob at bedtime.
It’s also possible this rumor was fuelled because toothpaste used to contain triclosan, a chemical that naturally fights against the bacteria which initiate and further encourage breakouts… but it’s no longer present in modern-day formulas.
Even if it was, it could absolutely not do the job as well as salicylic, glycolic or hyaluronic acid would – these are three primary ingredients found in cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers manufactured by skincare companies.
Given that it has been designed to clean your teeth – which can handle a bit of roughness – and not your naturally sensitive skin, the chemicals that toothpaste contains are irritants that will actually worsen the condition of your skin and acne.
Your teeth are protected by enamel and therefore some of the strongest parts of your body – how do you think they can put up with eating all day every day!
Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the surface of your precious skin.
They do an excellent job at scrubbing up your beautiful smile, but the basic pH level of toothpaste meddles with the naturally acidic pH level of your face, messing up your complexion with redness, burning, and even rashes in some cases.
Once you start messing with your skin’s pH level, you’re also leaving yourself vulnerable to conditions like eczema and rosacea, especially if you’re predisposed to those.
Then you have acne and dry, flaky skin – not a hot look!
Likewise, sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient utilized in many formulas, could really irritate your blemishes and instead of drying them up, make them larger and more unattractive.
You really should stick to keeping the paste inside your mouth!
Besides, the drying properties of toothpaste might be good when you have a zit, but they’ll also cause the skin around it to dry out as a consequence, which is irritating, unsightly, and actually promotes the appearance of more acne as a result.
It is widely believed that drying out a pimple and removing the oil will mean that it shrinks down and disappears quicker, but unfortunately, this is not the case.
Sure, it makes it smaller, but you’re not targeting the bacteria deep inside the pores.
Just because these remedies passed down through generations are “natural”, a word that usually gives you reassurance, doesn’t mean they’re good for your face.
In fact, by trying to avoid harsh man-made chemicals, you could make things worse!
For instance, many will utilize fresh lemon or lime juice in their skincare routines, which has the negative effect of making your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and therefore increasing your chances of burning, or worse, developing skin cancer.
Likewise, putting toothpaste on your face could cause you to develop perioral dermatitis, an unfortunate-looking set of rashy raised bumps that come up around your mouth and nose.
One of the major triggers of this condition? Fluoride!
Given that almost every toothpaste under the sun contains fluoride and it is important for maintaining good dental hygiene, putting them on your face is starting to sound more and more like a bad idea right? You’ll just look like you have more pimples!
Plus, the cinnamic aldehyde flavoring agent (or other flavorings, including menthol) used in the majority of formulations is also known to kick off an allergic reaction if it is directly applied to the skin, causing the affected area to become red and swollen.
If you’re looking for something that comes from the Earth and won’t harm your skin or worsen your acne, but instead have a positive effect, don’t despair: you still have a couple of options to choose from, easily grabbed at the local market.
For instance, tea tree oil is proven to tighten skin, reduce inflammation and minimize your pores, and it can be beneficial for acne that is mild to moderate, though if you’re experiencing a significant breakout you’ll need the over the counter stuff.
Likewise, any masks containing clay or charcoal, which have become increasingly popular on social media and in drugstores, are also great for your skin without resorting to harsh chemicals.
Speaking of chemicals, if you’re looking for a natural source of salicylic acid, check out willow bark, which in extract form contains enough to have a positive effect on your skin’s condition, and also tick the box of being provided by mother nature.
Unfortunately, however, the only way to treat your acne and keep your skin in good condition is to use skincare products that have been specifically designed and scientifically proven to do so, with all of the right ingredients to help you out.
Just because the names of these products sound scary, doesn’t mean they’re bad for you.
Plus, they don’t need to cost you a huge amount of money in order to start yourself off with a good skincare routine for the morning and the evening.
In fact, all you need really is a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and a clean washcloth. Provided you wash your face when you wake up and before you go to bed following this three-step routine, you should see a marked improvement in your skin.
Not only are they going to help far more than a blob of Colgate would, but they also won’t have any of the negative side effects that trying home remedies and so-called “natural” skincare treatments can often bring with them, without even helping the zits!
If your acne shows no sign of calming down, then you’re probably going to need to take a trip to the doctors so they can prescribe you something stronger that isn’t available over the counter.
Don’t take matters into your own hands!
