Is it true that … toothpaste is an effective spot treatment?

It might dry out a pimple, but it could make things worse, so it’s worth exploring other solutions The idea that toothpaste can be used to treat spots has been around for years. But does it actually work – or could it make things worse? “A spot happens when a sebaceous gland gets plugged and inflamed,” says Dr Rosalind Simpson, a consultant dermatologist and associate professor at the University of Nottingham. Acne develops through a combination of blocked pores, increased sebum production and changes in Cutibacterium acnes, bacteria that naturally live on the skin. Continue reading...