Does Toothpaste Get Rid of Blackheads?
The age-old advice that toothpaste can help treat blackheads and acne has been around for decades.
You most likely have been told by your mom or a friend that toothpaste is the magic household product to make your blackheads disappear.
However, does it actually work? It seems wild and unbelievable that you can address your worst skincare concerns with a common household item like toothpaste.
Who even thought of using toothpaste to treat blackheads?
You may have heard it works because it dries out the skin or that it will suck out impurities.
People may even believe that the peppermint component of toothpaste can act as an anti-inflammatory.
So, does toothpaste get rid of blackheads?
No, toothpaste does not get rid of blackheads and is a highly harsh product to use on the skin, especially toothpaste that contains ingredients to whiten your teeth. It can dry out your skin or lead to irritation and excess oil production.
Unfortunately, toothpaste is not the best product to use on your skin to treat skin problems like acne or blackheads.
The good news is that there are more effective and less irritating ways to treat your blackheads.
Why You Shouldn’t Treat Blackheads With Toothpaste
Usually, DIY or at-home household treatments aren’t the best way to maintain healthy skin.
Even if they contain beneficial ingredients, the dosage your skin receives each time will be highly inconsistent.
Because toothpaste is formulated to care for your teeth rather than your skin, its ingredients can be harsh.
Yes, toothpaste can contain baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, but it can be extremely drying.
If your skin is becoming overly dry from toothpaste, this can do more harm than good.
You could even end up producing more oils, and your blackhead or acne problem won’t go away.
Just because it’s minty and tingling doesn’t mean it’s working.
According to Healthline and the FDA, “Some toothpaste may even contain Triclosan, which can negatively impact the thyroid hormones.”
Toothpaste can disrupt your skin’s pH levels, leading to further skin problems and irritation, such as burning, itching, and rashes.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is another harsh ingredient in toothpaste that can irritate the skin.
It’s time to leave at-home remedies behind, especially when it comes to treating the skin.
Natural or DIY skincare treatments can actually cause more harm than good.
Nowadays, there are many more effective products specifically designed to treat blackheads.
These methods don’t have to be expensive either, and can be found at your local drugstore.
How to Treat Blackheads
Now that we have the uncomfortable and somewhat disappointing truth out of the way, let’s talk about what you can do to get rid of those bothersome blackheads.
BHAs
Beta Hydroxy Acid, or BHAs, will be your new best friend to treat your blackheads.
A well-known BHA that everyone has seen on a skincare product is Salicylic Acid. BHAs are an excellent exfoliant to treat oily, acne-prone skin.
The way BHAs like Salicylic Acid work is to remove excess oil from the skin and clear out your pores.
They improve the skin’s texture and prevent blackheads, acne, fine lines, and wrinkles.
A leave-on BHA exfoliant serum will help clear out the skin from within.
An important thing to remember when using BHAs is always to wear sunscreen.
This will make sure the product works efficiently and prevents damage.
Dermatologists recommend sunscreen that includes zinc oxide for the best protection from the sun. Our favorite is Elta MD’s Clear Facial sunscreen.
Hydrocolloid Patches
Whatever you do, do not use pore strips. Instead, opt for hydrocolloid patches.
Hydrocolloid is commonly used to treat wounds and to speed up the healing process of injuries.
However, these patches only treat the surface layer of our skin.
Also, according to Healthline, “hydrocolloid patches absorb toxins under the skin, while protecting it from external bacteria or face picking.
They can accelerate healing and can also prevent scarring.”
These patches are a no-fuss way to treat blackheads.
Stick them on before sleep and let the hydrocolloid patches work their magic overnight. You will be surprised by the results.
Summary
From now on, whoever tells you toothpaste can treat blackheads, don’t listen to them.
It is completely outdated information. Toothpaste is formulated to keep your teeth healthy, not your skin.
Toothpaste can have extremely irritating ingredients for your skin.
It can even make your blackheads worse by drying out your skin too much. Overly dry skin can lead to excess oil production.
Instead, opt for ingredients and products that are specifically formulated to treat blackheads, acne, and oily skin.
BHAs are an excellent leave-on exfoliant that will penetrate the skin to treat those blackheads.
Hydrocolloid patches are a no-fuss way to treat the skin surface.
Regardless, you can now feel relieved that toothpaste is not the only option for treating blackheads.
