Using toothpaste on pimples is a popular home remedy, but it may not be the best option for treating acne. Toothpaste contains ingredients that can dry out pimples, such as baking soda, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide, and some toothpaste formulas once contained triclosan, which could kill the bacteria that causes and worsens breakouts. However, toothpaste can also irritate the skin, cause redness, stinging, burning, inflammation, and even lead to infection, inflammation, and acne scars. Some of the ingredients in toothpaste may also be comedogenic, which can clog pores and cause new breakouts. Moreover, most toothpaste manufacturers have stopped putting triclosan in their products, and the FDA has reevaluated and taken out triclosan from many products due to questions surrounding its effectiveness and safety for use. Therefore, it is best to use tried-and-true spot treatments that are specially formulated to target occasional acne. Some alternatives to toothpaste for treating acne include products containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, charcoal, sulfur, or clay, and natural sources of salicylic acid found in extract form, such as willow bark.