What can you mix with sulfur?
- Sulfur with benzoyl peroxide needs care: start slowly or alternate days.
What it does
Sulfur is one of the oldest skin treatments. It has antibacterial, antifungal and mild keratolytic (peeling) activity, which is why it appears in acne masks, spot treatments and washes, and in prescription products combined with sodium sulfacetamide.[1]
Strengths
- A dermatology review describes its use in acne, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and other conditions.[1]
- Side effects are usually mild application-site reactions.[1]
- It works alone or combined with ingredients such as sodium sulfacetamide or salicylic acid.[1]
Who it suits
Oily or breakout-prone skin, people who want a spot treatment, and some people with rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis under a doctor's advice.
Who should skip
Very dry skin, and anyone with a known sulfur or sulfonamide sensitivity in combination prescription products. The smell bothers some people.
How to start
Sulfur is easiest as a spot treatment at night or as a wash-off mask once or twice a week. Leave masks on for the time on the label and rinse well.
Because it dries the skin, pair it with a plain moisturizer and avoid stacking it with several other drying acne treatments in the same session. If you use benzoyl peroxide, give each its own time of day or alternate days.
Sulfur can discolour some silver jewellery and has a distinctive smell, so many people prefer night use. Common questions: Does sulfur help fungal acne?
It has antifungal activity, but confirm the diagnosis with a doctor. Is it gentle?
Gentler than many acne treatments, but it still dries. How long does it take?
Spot treatments may calm a pimple in days; overall acne control takes weeks.
What we recommend
We haven't found a product that passes our check yet.
Pairing grid
In tracked products
3 of the 144 products we track list sulfur as a key active; In their ingredient lists it sits at a median position of #6, from #1 in Kate Somerville EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser to #6 in Succinic Acid; It is among the first five ingredients in 1 of them, meaning a main ingredient rather than a trace; The actives it most often shares a bottle with: salicylic acid (2) and hyaluronic acid (1); Water is the first ingredient in 1 of them; the rest are oil, silicone or solvent-based. Product by product: Kate Somerville EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser lists it first of 29 next to a stated 3% on the label; Succinic Acid lists it at #6 of 22; Mario Badescu Drying Lotion lists it at #6 of 11.