DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Herricks Highlander
HTML https://highlander.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Features
*****************************************************
#Post#: 108--------------------------------------------------
Is toothpaste really the answer?
By: mkrishna Date: December 16, 2012, 9:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Is toothpaste really the answer?
By Meenakshi Krishna (’13)
Waking up in the morning to find a big inflamed red monster
sitting on your chin can sometimes be a bit scary and
traumatizing. Many people will do anything possible to quickly
get rid of the little demon and deal with the crisis. Can you
imagine that as a quick fix some people actually grab a tube of
toothpaste and dab a little bit on. But is this really the right
method to get rid of the pimple?
According to Dermatologist, Audrey Kunin toothpaste could be
used as a spot treatment for pimples once in a while. When
describing the mechanism by which this treatment works, Dr.
Kunin states, "It dries (the pimple) and basically works like a
clay mask. It dehydrates the pimple and absorbs the oil." The
menthol and fluoride in some tooth pastes dries out the skin and
the pimple, causing it to recede.
Toothpastes also contain an ingredient called triclosan, which
is an agent used to killed bacteria. It is found in many
antibacterial hand soaps and many face washes such as Clearasil
and Clean and Clear. The triclosan in the toothpaste helps
disinfect the pimple and prevents it from growing any further.
If someone wants to try this treatment, first wash your face,
and apply a little bit of toothpaste on the infected area with a
sponge or cloth. It is believed that in order to have good
results, the toothpaste should be left on for a few hours or
until it dries, and then washed it off. Applying moisturizer
after washing off the paste is important in order to prevent
your skin from over drying.
When using the toothpaste treatment, one should be careful
about which toothpaste to use, because some may have adverse
effects. Dr. Kunin warns people to “be careful not to use
whitening toothpastes because they tend to have high levels of
hydrogen peroxide that may irritate or burn the skin." It is
also important to not use a gel, but a solid white paste for the
pimple. According to the Acne Team, Colgate Total is a popular
choice among many teenagers who use toothpaste on their skin,
and it is supposedly effective.
Anecdotal data suggests that toothpaste treatment is not
effective on all skin eruptions, but is effective on small zits
and pimples. Dr. Kunin shared that the treatment worked best on
pimples that had come to a white head. This treatment is not
effective on blackheads, unless they contain pus, nor does it
help alleviate widespread and severe acne. The toothpaste helps
get rid of the white head in the zit or pimple, and makes it
much less noticeable. Toothpaste, however, should never be used
as a facial mask because it will cause dehydration on the entire
face. It should only be used as a spot treatment.
Prolonged use of toothpaste on pimples is not recommended
either, as it may severely dry out skin and cause irritation.
This method may not work on all skin types either, and should be
used with caution. This method is not a long term acne
treatment, instead it is a quick fix in case of an emergency,
and therefore should not be used on a daily basis. It should
only be used if there is an urgent need for it.
Toothpaste will not magically make the pimple disappear in a
few hours. However, this treatment is effective in reducing the
inflammation of the pimple and making it less prominent.
Therefore, if the night before a big day a pimple pops up,
applying toothpaste for a few hours may not be such a bad idea.
*****************************************************