Skin Care MYTHS: Toothpaste treats spots.

STATEMENT: Toothpaste treats spots.

Facts: The application of whitening toothpaste to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) spots may have a temporary bleaching effect on the skin, similar to lemon juice and other so-called home style approaches.

However, the solution is brief and not fully successful in reducing post inflammatory hyperpigmentation redness. Also, the darker the skin, the less successful these “remedies” work. True correction relies on accelerated cellular turnover. Alpha hydroxy acids and retinols are far more effective for this purpose. And, of course, the diligent use of sun protection will defend the skin from regenerating melanin that is responsible for the unwanted pigmentation.