Does toothpaste really treat Acne?

Acne is a skin problem characterized by whiteheads, pimples, small red tender bumps or blackheads appearing on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders. Teenagers are more prone to this condition although anyone can be affected. It occurs when the hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Everybody seeks to know Does toothpaste really treat Acne?

When your sebaceous (oil) glands overproduce oil and combine with dead skin blocking your pores and hair follicles. Bacteria then develops in the clogged follicles causing a breakout.

• Heredity. If a parent has had occasional acne, then it is likely to happen to the children too. It is thought to be the contributing factor though not a must.

• Occupations. Jobs with a great exposure to industrial chemicals such as oil have a greater risk of acne.

• Cosmetics. Some of the most used skin care products and cosmetics are comedogenic meaning they are pore clogging.

• Medications. Drugs containing iodides, bromides, injected steroids, lithium may cause or worsen acne. Most acne, however, is not drug-related.
In case you are convinced of using toothpaste on pimples and acne, then I have some tips for you.

• Choose white-colored toothpaste. White-colored toothpaste contains ingredients such as triclosan, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. Triclosan is an ingredient that kills bacteria although most companies ditched it for toothpaste. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are believed to dry up pimples faster. You may want to say toothpaste is toothpaste despite the color but most multiple colored kinds of toothpaste do not contain these ingredients.

• Avoid teeth whitening toothpaste. Most teeth whitening toothpaste contain bleaching agents as ingredients for whitening teeth. These agents may cause the same effect on your skin or even burn your skin. Extra melanin is more reactive to the agents thus may leave marks and blemishes. It is better to avoid such toothpaste while looking for a good toothpaste for your skin.

• Keep off of gel toothpaste. Gel toothpaste has a different manufacture formula thus may lack the ingredients you are looking for to eliminate the acne and pimples. It might even go to an extent of harming your skin more than helping you.

• Choose a toothpaste with low fluoride levels. This is especially important for people with a fluoride allergy. Most toothpaste have high fluoride content for preventing gum diseases. High fluoride levels might cause skin rash in case it comes into contact with the skin.

• Organic toothpaste is better. Organic toothpaste has little or no fluoride content making it your best option. They also contain natural ingredients which could be helpful to your skin.

Before applying toothpaste on pimples and acne, it is necessary to check the expiry date of the toothpaste. Expired toothpaste may be toxic to your skin causing more damage than intended.

Make sure to wash your skin first and lets dry before applying the toothpaste.this will ensure there is no dirt or excess oil in the skin increasing the effectiveness of the paste.

Apply a thin layer of the paste. For the treatment to be effective, just a small amount of the toothpaste will be needed. Apply the toothpaste directly onto the acne. Do not apply toothpaste to the uninfected skin.

Give the toothpaste two hours time before washing it. It is advisable to first leave the toothpaste on for about thirty minutes and then wash it off to see the reaction of the skin. If the reaction is positive, then you can leave it for longer periods to obtain the results. This is because your skin might react negatively with the ingredients in the toothpaste and leave more harm.

Wash the toothpaste gently. Rubbing off the paste too hard might cause irritation or damage the skin that is why it is necessary to do it gently. You may use a soft clean towel to wash it off. If the skin feels tight and dry, you can use a moisturizer.

It is worth noting that in as much you want to use the toothpaste to dry up the pimples, you can not use it multiple times in a day or frequently. Excessive use of it may cause skin irritation besides other harmful effects. Remember toothpaste is made for the teeth, not for the skin. Only a few dermatologists if not none advocate for toothpaste as a remedy for acne and pimples. There are other better and safer remedies for dealing with acne, pimples and acne scars. These include:

• Tea tree oil. This is a natural remedy for acne. It has a pleasant smell. It reduces the size of existing pimple as well as prevent future breakouts.

• Baking soda. This is an uncommon home remedy for acne and pimples treatments. It contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic ingredients. It is simple to apply as you only need to mix it with water and apply the paste t individual spots.

• Crushed-up aspirin. This is also a powerful anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce the size and redness of the pimples. It is related to salicylic acid.

• Sulfur. Sulfur regulates sebum production and draws out oil out of blocked pores. It is an excellent remedy for sensitive skins.

• Salicylic acid.

• Benzoyl peroxide

In case the acne persists after treatment, it is important to see a dermatologist. He will be able to provide a better and effective solution for acne treatment.