This is why some people think you should put toothpaste on your spots

Who among hasn't tried this one out?

It's a cheap and easy quick-fix - slathering a spot with some toothpaste from the bathrooms soon as it appears on your face. It's a bit of a throwback, but does it actually make a difference? And why on earth do we do it in the first place? Well, a skincare expert has finally weighed in on this age-old cure. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Allure recently that the trick might have worked before but not these days. He explained that toothpaste used to contain an ingredient know as triclosan.

"Triclosan was used to help treat acne because it killed acne-causing bacteria, while subsequently reduce inflammation," he said. "Currently, almost no toothpaste contain triclosan. While it may still be used to treat pimples, it's likely due to its ability to dry out a pimple directly."

So there you have it - the reason we started putting toothpaste on spots isn't even in toothpaste anymore, though we still like to think toothpaste will dry our spots out. Toothpaste may reduce redness and fight bacteria, but can irritate skin so if you're having problems with spots regularly maybe turn to trusted skincare products or chat with a dermatologist.