SPOTTY Brits shouldn't use toothpaste to treat their pimples, dermatologists have warned.
While the minty gel does have antibacterial properties, it can actually make your skin worse.
Dr Anjali Mahto, a Harley Street consultant dermatologist and acne expert, told The Sun: "It contains substances that can irritate and damage your skin.
"Like many other 'home remedies', using toothpaste in this way is not dermatologist recommended.
"There are far more effective and safer treatments available over the counter or from pharmacists or GPs."
Speaking to Glamour, Dr Zainab, a consultant dermatologist at GetHarley, added: "Toothpaste might sound like a simple solution to treat spots but it’s likely to cause more harm than good.
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"It contains ingredients that can result in skin redness, itching, inflammation and burning.
"Its effectiveness against acne is unfortunately a myth."
Toothpaste has a higher pH level than specially-designed products meaning it can cause dryness, burning sensations and clog pores.
Dr Mahto instead recommends people worried about blemishes try medicated topical treatments.
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She highlighted several active ingredients to look out for in products, including benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide.
"You can incorporate these into your daily routine," the London-based skin guru added.
"Treatments which use five per cent benzoyl peroxide help kill up to 95 per cent of acne bacteria in one week.
"Benzoyl peroxide has a pore-unblocking effect to reduce blocked pores that are driven to form by the effect of genetics and hormones."
There are numerous options available, but Dr Mahto suggested a gel by Acnecide+Purifide, which is available for around a tenner in Boots and Superdrug.
She also urged people to use sun cream daily, and not to wash their face too often.
"Most of the biological reactions that trigger acne occur beneath the skin, not on the surface, so the cleanliness of your skin has little effect on your acne," she said.
"Washing your face more than twice a day could just aggravate your skin and make things worse.
"The cause of acne is primarily from the increase or change in hormones during adolescence, which causes the oil gland to produce too much oil, blocking the pores.
"The bacteria that live on the skin can act on this blocked pore causing deeper inflammation. It’s a perfect storm."
Anyone struggling with acne long-term should speak to their GP as a key cause of the condition is hormones, Dr Mahto advised.
"Don’t be afraid to consult with a doctor regarding prescription options if things are not improving and it is impacting mental health," she added.
"A healthcare professional will be able to advise on the next step depending on the extent and severity of acne, as well as taking into account your mental health and how you feel about it all."
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Research shows 95 per cent of people aged 11 to 30 in the UK are affected by acne to some extent.
It is most common in girls aged 14 to 17, and boys from the ages of 16 to 19, according to the NHS.
What is acne and how is it treated?
MOST people will experience acne at some point in their lives.
The common skin condition causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that is hot or painful to touch.
Acne most frequently develops on the face, back and chest.
There are six main types of spot. These are:
- Blackheads (small black or yellowish bumps)
- Whiteheads (similar to blackheads but firmer and do not empty when squeezed)
- Papules (small red bumps that may feel tender or sore)
- Pustules (similar to papules but with a white tip in the centre caused by a buildup of pus)
- Nodules (large hard bumps that build up beneath the surface of the skin which can be painful)
- Cysts (large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils)
Acne is most commonly linked to hormonal changes, but it also runs in families.
There is no evidence to suggest diet or poor hygiene play a role.
There are several self-help techniques, such as only cleaning affected areas twice a day, using a mild soap or cleanser, avoiding make-up and washing your hair regularly.
But there are also topical treatments like creams, gels and lotions which contain benzoyl peroxide available from pharmacies.
Topical retinoids and antibiotics, azelaic acid, antibiotic tablets and the contraceptive pill are also available.
People with severe acne can consult a dermatologist for more specialist treatment.
Source: NHS
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