Does it really work for acne?

Some people like to put toothpaste on their pimples because they believe it helps reduce their size.

While some people think that this practice is a quick solution for buttons, dermatologists can say the opposite.

Although toothpaste may seem to be an easy and profitable way to cure pimples, dermatologists do not quite agree.

“Overall, the evidence of the use of acne toothpaste is minimal and anecdotal,” Arizona, a dermatologist certified by the board of directors based in Scottsdale, in Arizona, in Scottsdale in Scottsdale in the Board of Directors based by the Board of Directors in Arizona Health. “Dentifrice is not formulated for the skin and can sometimes cause skin irritation, in particular toothpaste which contain whitening and fluorine agents.”

In fact, toothpaste can contain certain ingredients that can dry the skin, such as menthol and baking soda.

A toothpaste contains an ingredient called Triclosan, which turned out to have antibacterial properties that could potentially help acne. However, research has revealed that triclosan efficiency is limited and only reduces acne to a moderate degree. In fact, as it is an antibacterial agent, triclosan can cause resistant strains of bacteria, which are bacteria that are not killed or controlled by antibiotics. Research shows that triclosan is generally less effective than other acne treatments and is therefore not recommended to treat acne.

It is preferable to optimize food, lifestyle, skin care, drugs and procedures to create a complete diet that addresses the main underlying factors leading to acne.

Dermatologists do not recommend putting toothpaste on buttons. Here are some reasons why.

It irritates and dries the skin

Certain ingredients of toothpaste, such as whitening agents (hydrogen peroxide), calcium and baking soda can irritate and dry the skin.

“This irritation can finally worsen acne because it will make the oil glands in the skin must work harder, which can lead to clogged pores,” said John Barbieri, MD, MBA, assistant professor at the Harvard Medical School and director of the Advanced Acne Therapeutics Clinic of Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Boston, Health.

This can cause inflammation

When applied to the skin, toothpaste can cause inflammation that can cause other skin problems.

“The inflammation caused by toothpaste can also cause long -term brown or white spots, or even scars, so I do not recommend using in any case on the skin,” said Sara Moghaddam, MD, FAAD, a certified dermatologist based on Selbyville, Delaware, FAAD, a dermatologist certified in the Board of Directors in Selbyville, Health.

It can cause periral dermatitis

Fluoride in toothpaste has been linked to perioreral dermatitis, a common skin rash around the mouth and nose that may resemble acne.

This condition can be difficult to treat and often requires oral prescription drugs, said Moghaddam.

To treat pimples and to prevent them from worsening, dermatologists recommend other acne treatments. These include:

• Hydrocolloid button patches: These patches work by absorbing excess liquid and reducing inflammation to help pimples to heal.
• Salicylic acid: This ingredient leads to pores and exfoliates the skin to help treat and prevent acne.
• Benzoyle peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide kills acus acne bacteria and is better used as a treatment for mild pimples.
• Azélaic acid: This ingredient can be used as a daily treatment to fade for dark spots and prevent acne.
• Green tea extract: Green tea extract can help reduce sebum production (oil) and the number of button lesions.
• Retinoids: Over -the -counter and prescription retinoids, such as adaptation (over -the -counter) and Trétinoin (prescription), can help treat buttons and other types of acne.
• Prescription acne drugs: To treat recurring acne thrusts, a topical prescription acne drug such as clindamycin or aczone (Dapsone) can be useful.
• Stress reduction: Research shows that acne can result from a response to stress, which means that the body produces more androgens. Androgens are hormones that stimulate oil glands and hair follicles in the skin, which can lead to acne.
• Food changes: Some research suggests that sugar reduction and dairy products can help reduce acne. However, other large -scale studies are necessary to determine the association between food and acne.

If the buttons do not start to clean with the use of over -the -counter acne treatment within four to six weeks, consult a certified dermatologist or another health care provider.

In addition, if your skin develops acne complications, such as dark scars or stains (also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) after acne has strived, visit a dermatologist. Dark spots are more common in darker tones of skin and indicate that acne causes significant inflammation in the skin.

The toothpaste is not an effective treatment or a quick correction for the treatment of pimples. In fact, it can worsen buttons and other types of acne.

The toothpaste can irritate and dry the skin, which means that the skin produces more oil. In turn, this obstructs pores and can potentially lead to more acne thrusts.

If you want to treat the pimples, try other acne treatments that are more effective and less hard on the skin. These include treatments such as retinoids, salicylic acid, Azélaic acid and benzoyl peroxide.