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.
