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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Pimple, Applied Toothpaste, Spots Became Red And Irritating. Cure For Symptoms?

I just used this home ''remedy''by putting toothpaste on an area where there looked likely to be a pimple emerging, sealed it with a bandaid as suggested, then when I woke up the very next morning, the spots were red and irritating, it was the worst ever. I've left it alone but I worry if it could become permanent, what should I do?
Tue, 7 May 2013
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to HCM.
It seems from your query that you got irritation by applying toothpaste over the pimple area known as Contact irritant dermatitis(CID). Tooth paste contains many a chemicals which can irritate our sensitive skin and on occlusion by bandage can make the situation worse.
The very first thing is to do is thoroughly clean the area with simple warm water or with cold water without rubbing the area. Do cold compressions for multiple times a day. Do not apply anything which is oily or greasy or having irritant potential- so no self medications.
You can apply mild potency steroid cream such as hydrocortisone or fluticasone mixed with antibiotic preparation which will help you out in both pimples and CID. There will be formation of scab/ crust over the area, do not try to touch or pull the areas. If you feel more of burning and irritation then can take oral steroid with medical advice so theaat it should not leave any nmarkthen can apply very thin layer of calamine lotion.
In future also kindly discourage yourself from self medication as for face especially.
Hope this information will be helpful.
Dr Sanjay K Kanodia
MD ( Dermatology and STD/ Venereology)
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Pimple, Applied Toothpaste, Spots Became Red And Irritating. Cure For Symptoms?

Hi, Welcome and thanks for posting your query to HCM. It seems from your query that you got irritation by applying toothpaste over the pimple area known as Contact irritant dermatitis(CID). Tooth paste contains many a chemicals which can irritate our sensitive skin and on occlusion by bandage can make the situation worse. The very first thing is to do is thoroughly clean the area with simple warm water or with cold water without rubbing the area. Do cold compressions for multiple times a day. Do not apply anything which is oily or greasy or having irritant potential- so no self medications. You can apply mild potency steroid cream such as hydrocortisone or fluticasone mixed with antibiotic preparation which will help you out in both pimples and CID. There will be formation of scab/ crust over the area, do not try to touch or pull the areas. If you feel more of burning and irritation then can take oral steroid with medical advice so theaat it should not leave any nmarkthen can apply very thin layer of calamine lotion. In future also kindly discourage yourself from self medication as for face especially. Hope this information will be helpful. Dr Sanjay K Kanodia MD ( Dermatology and STD/ Venereology)