Can applying toothpaste cure acne?

The viral post claims that applying toothpaste zaps acne and pimples within a day or two.

"Toothpaste Zaps Pimples! You've heard it before — don't pop your zits! The folks over at Daily Glow suggest applying a bit of toothpaste to a pimple before bed and washing it off with warm water when you wake up in the morning. They say that toothpaste draws impurities out of clogged pores and dries the skin with shrinks the pimple," the caption reads.'

It also advises people to use organic toothpaste rather than gel toothpaste which doesn't work.

Pimples are usually tiny pustules over the skin. Pimples develop when the sebaceous gland becomes clogged and infected, leading to swollen, red lesions and sometimes filled with pus.

FACT CHECK

Firstly, what's toothpaste made of?

Toothpaste contains many ingredients like glycerin, sorbitol, calcium carbonate, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

Medical News Today says: "These ingredients are too harsh to use on the skin. People may find that toothpaste irritates or dries their skin out. This effect could be particularly dangerous for those with dry or sensitive skin."

On performing a keyword search, we found an article by John Hopkins All Children Hospital that says, "Toothpaste could make that spot on your skin even more red, irritated, and noticeable. Why? Today, there are so many different kinds of toothpaste — and lots of them contain ingredients that can hurt your skin. It makes sense that you don't want all that whitening, tartar-reducing stuff on your face."

Additionally, it's better to use medicine designed for treating pimples. Try acne creams or gels that contain 1% salicylic acid or 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, it adds.

Toothpaste is formulated for your teeth, not the sensitive surface of your face. So, while the strength of the chemicals in your toothpaste might be safe on your pearly whites, they could be too strong for your skin, says Healthline.

Healthline warns, "Even if you manage to avoid irritation, there are other possible bad reactions."

Talking about the dark side of this easy-to-go home remedy, toothpaste contained an antibacterial agent called triclosan which is also banned by FDA.

Hence it is evident that applying toothpaste over pimples may cause harm.

The claim is false.