Medical Mythbuster: Does Toothpaste Help Get Rid of Pimples?

People find pimples so annoying that they will reach for almost any solution to deal with them – including toothpaste. Although typical white toothpaste does contain some ingredients that can help it dry out pimples, chances are, you won’t find a dermatologist who recommends using it. That’s because toothpaste is designed for teeth, not skin, and can cause irritation including redness and peeling. So you are better off using a treatment made specifically for acne that contains either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which can be applied directly to the pimple. These solutions can also help prevent new pimples from forming too.

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.

Some HTML is OK

Close

Am I eligible to use Virtual ReadyMED?

Are you or the patient 4+ years old?
Are you in Massachusetts at time of video visit?
Do you have a Reliant PCP?
Do you have access to email on the device you are using?
By continuing I’m giving Reliant permission to communicate with me via text or email to complete this visit.
Close

Am I eligible to use Virtual ReadyMED?

Do you have a MyChart account?