5 Ways To Banish Pimples With Toothpaste

Every year, acne affects up to 50 million Americans. It’s the most common skin condition – but that doesn’t make it easier to deal with.[ref]Acne. American Dermatology Association.[/ref] While you can buy acne-fighting products, you might already own the best remedy, which is toothpaste. When you break it down, it makes perfect sense. Toothpaste is designed to clean the mouth and kill bacteria. It also contains mild abrasives, such as silica or baking soda, which whiten teeth and remove stains.[ref]Toothpastes. American Dental Association.[/ref] Plus, toothpaste dries when it’s exposed to air.

These benefits can battle every aspect of acne. Toothpaste fights bacteria, while the mild abrasives slough away dead skin cells. Did you just pop a pimple? Toothpaste will dry it right up, along with excess oil. Use toothpaste as a spot treatment. Never (ever) apply it as a face mask!

How Can We Use Toothpaste To Treat Pimples?

1. Regular Toothpaste

Toothpaste can be used by itself. Skip the ones with artificial dyes or scents and opt for all-natural when possible. The fewer the chemicals, the better.

• Cover each pimple with a dot of toothpaste. Spread, don’t rub.
• Let it dry for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Gently wash off and pat dry.

2. Toothpaste And Tea Tree Oil

As an antimicrobial, tea tree oil is one of the best natural remedies for acne. The International Journal of Dermatology is of the opinion that it can speed up wound healing.[ref]Pazyar, Nader, Reza Yaghoobi, Nooshin Bagherani, and Afshin Kazerouni. “A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology.” International journal of dermatology 52, no. 7 (2013): 784-790.[/ref] When you have a pimple, these benefits are key. Tea tree oil is strong, so don’t leave it on for long. If you’d like, use a natural toothpaste made with tea tree oil.

• Mix ½ teaspoon toothpaste with 1 or 2 drops tea tree oil.
• Apply on the pimple.
• Leave for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse off and dry.

3. Toothpaste And Turmeric

Turmeric contains a polyphenol called curcumin. This plant chemical can relieve inflammation, calm itching, and most importantly, kill bacteria. It’ll also patch up pimples by promoting wound healing.[ref] Zdrojewicz, Z., M. Szyca, E. Popowicz, T. Michalik, and B. Śmieszniak. “Turmeric-not only spice.” Polski merkuriusz lekarski: organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego 42, no. 252 (2017): 227.[/ref] However, turmeric can stain the skin, so don’t leave it overnight.

• Mix ½ teaspoon toothpaste with ¼ powdered turmeric.
• Stir until completely blended. The mixture should be uniform in color.
• Cover each pimple completely.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Wash and pat dry.

4. Toothpaste And Green Tea

Green tea is another source of polyphenols. In fact, compared to other teas, it has the highest content. These polyphenols can reduce excess sebum, making green tea excellent for acne.[ref]Saric, Suzana, Manisha Notay, and Raja K. Sivamani. “Green Tea and Other Tea Polyphenols: Effects on Sebum Production and Acne Vulgaris.” Antioxidants 6, no. 1 (2016): 2.[/ref]

• Cut open a bag of green tea.
• Combine ½ teaspoon toothpaste and ½ teaspoon tea leaves.
• Mix well. There should be zero clumps.
• Spread onto each pimple.
• Let it dry for 1 hour or overnight.
• Rinse off and pat dry.

5. Toothpaste And Honey

Want a gentler treatment? Mix toothpaste with honey, a powerful anti-microbial. Honey has been proven to kill propionibacterium acnes and staphylococcus epidermidis, two major acne-causing bacteria.[ref]Julianti, Elin, Kasturi K. Rajah, and Irda Fidrianny. “Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Cinnamon Bark, Honey, and Their Combination Effects against Acne-Causing Bacteria.” Scientia Pharmaceutica 85, no. 2 (2017): 19./ref]

• Combine equal parts of toothpaste and honey. Half a teaspoon of each will be more than enough.
• Mix well.
• Spread onto each pimple.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Wash off and pat dry.

Safety Notes

Apply each treatment with a cotton swab. Want to use your fingers? Wash them with soap and water first. Remember, never use a toothpaste that is dyed or scented. This includes kid’s toothpaste that often have glitter and other additives. Avoid gel pastes, which may have different ingredients than creams. Always do a patch test. If you have a bad reaction, don’t put it on acne. You should also skip the toothpaste if your skin is dry or inflamed.