Does Toothpaste Help Acne? No, Its Very Bad For Your Skin
It is said that applying toothpaste can really help in getting rid of acne fast. You might have read or heard about this advice from friends, on various websites, forums and even magazines that toothpaste can be an effective and quick remedy to get rid of pimples.
So, is toothpaste really good for acne or is it just a myth? One simple and straightforward answer to this question is – no, toothpaste does not help acne. In fact, applying toothpaste is extremely bad for your skin. Do you know the reason why? Because it can cause dryness.
There are 2 ingredients present in most toothpastes which are not good at all for your skin. These ingredients are – menthol and fluoride. Menthol is that thing which gives you a minty feel in your mouth when you are brushing. However, it can cause itchiness and inflammation if you apply it on the face.
The other ingredient – fluoride is even more harmful. It is not present in all toothpastes, but is usually present in majority of the popular ones. Fluoride is known to cause problems for sensitive teeth. As you know teeth are made up of tougher stuff than your skin. So, if this ingredient can cause problems for teeth, imagine how much effect it can have on your skin. It can cause skin breakouts.
Actually, a few years back toothpastes were very simple products which did not contain strong chemicals which they contain today. These old toothpastes did not do much harm to your skin and it is during these times that the myth started.
People who have tried the toothpaste remedy can usually confirm this. For a few days, it looks like the technique has worked. But after some days, you will notice your skin getting burned. And usually this technique works only for people who get a few pimples once in a while.
Even then, it works just for a few days and it leaves unwanted side-effects in the form of skin itching, rashes etc. If you repeatedly try it, you may damage your skin more than you ever expected.
Natural Alternatives For Fast Acne Cure
There are other natural remedies which you can try for the pimples which are far more effective and do not carry the risk of damaging the skin. For instance, you can try applying tea tree oil or you can try honey. Honey has very strong anti-bacterial properties which can kill acne.
Honey also contains enzymes which rejuvenate the skin to give it a soft and younger look. As you know, honey is a miracle nature food which has immense uses and health benefits. So, why not try such harmless natural stuff instead of toothpaste which has strong chemicals meant for the teeth.
If you are really interested in trying out the honey therapy, here is what you need to do:
Apply honey on your face or wherever you have pimples
Let it dry for about 15-20 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water
Make sure to avoid the area around your eyes
It is as simple as that. Honey can help in not only getting rid of the pimples, it can also enhance the look and feel of your skin naturally. To make this treatment more effective you can even mix oatmeal or olive oil with honey before applying on your skin.
Hope this article cleared the doubt of whether toothpaste helps acne or not. As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid putting anything on your skin which has got strong chemicals. Be specially protective about the face as the skin here is very sensitive.