One of the most common ingredients in over the counter acne products is sulfur. Sulfur is one of the oldest medications used for acne and other skin conditions, with over a thousand years of history. Sulfur’s limitations and the emergence of newer topical drugs such as benzoyl peroxide or retinoids have not made it outdated; in fact, even today sulfur acne treatment has its place in an ever-growing list of products and procedures available for the acne sufferer.
Sulfur acne treatment works if you have mild acne. Many people with acne report great success in using sulfur acne products to clear up their complexions. Though sulfur use is not as common today as in the past, its results are unquestionable and that explains its staying power.
Availability
Sulfur is available in preparations such as Novacet® or Sulfacet-R®, and Thylox Acne Treatment Soap, among many others . It is also used by Murad in their spot treatment formulation. It is available over-the-counter and comes in creams, gels, lotions, ointments, soaps, masks and facial washes.
Sulfur is not typically used by itself to fight acne; it is usually combined with other acne fighting ingredients such as beta hydroxyl acid, salicylic acid, resorcinol, or benzoyl peroxide.
A popular combination of sulfur and sodium sulfacetamide (itself a sulfur compound), a drug that has antibacterial properties. Sulfonamides are thought to prevent bacterial growth through limiting key acids needed for their reproduction. Together, sulfur and sodium sulfacetamide are extremely effective in reducing inflammatory lesions and in preventing acne development.
How sulfur works
Pimples develop when hormones in your body called androgens signal the skin to produce too much oil. Excess oil can clog pores and encourage bacterial growth. If you have mild acne, you likely have a combination of blackheads, whiteheads and a smattering of small pimples.
Sulfur is a keratolytic agent, which means that it encourages shedding of dead skin cells which could block pores if retained. It also has comedolytic effects, helping to heal pre-existing comedones and preventing formation of new ones.
When it is used consistently over a period of time, it dries out the top layer of skin causing it to peel. This effectively removes that buildup of dead skin cells that can cause acne-forming blockages.
Medical research shows that sulfur works well when applied to the skin to treat acne, In one study, reported in the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion in 1980, clinicians treated 37 patients with two different sulfur medication formulas. Both groups saw their acne lesion counts drop significantly. In the group with the best results, lesions fell by more than two-thirds.
Sulfur is also used for spot treatment and as mentioned above, is a key ingredient of a Murad acne spot treatment formulation. In some aspects it is better than benzoyl peroxide because it is not as drying. Too much drying effect could actually become counterproductive when the skin overcompensates by producing even more oil.
Application
A typical treatment with sulfur medication lasts for about 12 weeks. Sulfur medication is typically left on the skin for a prolonged period. Soaps that contain sulfur are applied in the same manner as traditional soaps. The soap is placed under warm running water and is rubbed until a lather forms. The lather is applied to the skin. Some soaps can produce dry skin especially if the acne sufferer has sensitive skin.
Side effects
The main drawback of sulfur is its unpleasant odor. It smells exactly like rotten egg (in fact, the chemical responsible for the rotten egg odor is a sulfur compound called hydrogen sulfide). For this reason, many people strongly dislike the use of sulfur even as drug manufacturers try to mask its odor with fragrances and other ingredients.
Sulfur medication that treats acne can have significant side effects on the treated area. It commonly causes burning, itching, peeling and redness of the skin. Sulfur can also discolor the skin in some cases. Over time, you can typically increase application as the skin becomes more acclimated to the treatment. You also may wish to apply a soothing moisturizer to reduce drying or redness.
Summary
Overall, sulfur works for mild acne and spot treatment. If you are not getting results from other acne over-the-counter medications and can tolerate sulfur’s odor it is worth giving it a try.