Toothpaste, lemon and garlic on spots: what home remedies really do
How toothpaste, alcohol, baking soda, lemon and garlic affect the skin, and what actually works instead.
AuthorDr. Aygun MustafayevaAesthetic dermatologist, dermatovenereologist and trichologist
Toothpaste, alcohol, baking soda, lemon and garlic on a spot. These "quick fixes" are passed down from generation to generation. At first the spot seems to dry out, but often the skin becomes irritated or burned, and a mark forms that lasts longer than the spot itself. Let us look at each one through the eyes of science.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is not made for the skin. Sodium lauryl sulfate, found in many toothpastes, is used in scientific studies as the "standard" substance for irritating the skin. Toothpaste has no proven effect on acne, while irritation increases the risk of marks on inflamed skin.
Alcohol and baking soda
Alcohol dries out the skin’s protective layer. Baking soda is alkaline: the pH of healthy skin is on average below 5, and this acidic environment matters for the beneficial microorganisms on the skin. Alkaline products upset this balance, and the skin becomes dry and sensitive.
Lemon
Lemon and lime juice contain substances that make the skin sensitive to sunlight. When skin touched by the juice is exposed to the sun, a burn-like reaction, blisters and a dark mark lasting for months can appear. In medicine this reaction is called phytophotodermatitis.
Garlic
Cases of chemical burns from putting garlic on the skin have been described in the medical literature. Especially when kept on for a long time as a compress, it can cause blisters and wounds.
So what works
- Products with proven effectiveness such as benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, azelaic acid and salicylic acid
- Treatment prescribed by a doctor for moderate and severe acne
- A gentle cleanser, light moisturiser and daily sunscreen
- Not touching or squeezing spots
Scientific sources
The information in this article is based on the peer-reviewed papers, systematic reviews and clinical guidance below.
- Reynolds, R. V., Yeung, H., Cheng, C. E., et al. (2024). Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 90(5), 1006.e1-1006.e30. [PMID: 38300170] | [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017]
- Lee, C. H., & Maibach, H. I. (1995). The sodium lauryl sulfate model: an overview. Contact Dermatitis, 33(1), 1-7. [PMID: 7493454] | [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1995.tb00438.x]
- Lambers, H., Piessens, S., Bloem, A., et al. (2006). Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 28(5), 359-370. [PMID: 18489300] | [DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x]
- Sasseville, D. (2009). Clinical patterns of phytodermatitis. Dermatologic Clinics, 27(3), 299-308. [PMID: 19580924] | [DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2009.05.010]
- Kaçar, C. K., Kiliç, E. T., Akelma, H., et al. (2019). Medical Folk Remedy: Two Cases of Garlic Burns. Journal of Burn Care & Research, 40(1), 133-135. [PMID: 29931078] | [DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irx042]
