Toothpaste: Not Just for Scrubbing Teeth
Is it true that you can ditch your Retin-A and spread toothpaste on your zits instead? There are so many different toothpastes on the market today. How do you know which one to pick? Whitening, sensitive, paste versus gel? The list goes on and on. While the numerous toothpastes available are certain to keep your teeth clean no matter which you choose, how else can you use your toothpaste?
Does toothpaste clear up pimples?
NO! This widespread myth does make logical sense. Toothpaste is very drying. So, if you put toothpaste on your zits, it will dry them out and cause them to disappear, thus leaving you with clear skin. While we would all like to believe that getting rid of pimples was that easy, it is unfortunately not true. Not only does toothpaste not clear up pimples, but it contains fluoride and other chemicals which can actually be irritating to sensitive skin. Be aware that putting toothpaste on your face can actually leave you with skin that is even more red and uneven then when you started. Instead keep your face clean and moisturized, avoid too much sun. If that doesn’t help consider using a topical treatment for acne like Retin-A or for severe cases your doctor can prescribe Accutane to beat bad acne for good.
Ok, so you shouldn’t use toothpaste on pimples, but what about burns? Should toothpaste be used to treat first degree burns? Once again, the answer is NO! While many people may believe that drying out a first degree burn like a sunburn or a mild cooking burn with toothpaste is beneficial, it is actually the exact opposite of what you should be doing to treat your burn. First run the affected area under cold water for at least 5 minutes to cool down the burn. Then gently rub petroleum jelly on the burn to moisturize the skin. Lastly, cover the burned skin with gauze to protect it from any germs or irritants. Burned skin is extremely sensitive; toothpaste contains irritants that can be harmful to your skin.
It seems that toothpaste should be used to clean teeth, and clean teeth only!