Some people like to put toothpaste on their pimples because they believe it helps to shrink their size. While some people think this practice is a quick fix for pimples, dermatologists may say ...

“Using toothpaste for acne typically does more harm than good,” says S. Tyler Hollmig, MD, the director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School.

For years, people have turned to toothpaste as a quick fix for whiteheads—mostly because older formulas contained drying ingredients like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol. These gave the ...