Sulfur is effective in treating whiteheads and blackheads. It reduces skin oiliness, clears clogged skin pores and sheds off dried dead skin cells. Sulfur is not used alone as a treatment, rather it is usually combined with other ingredients to effectively get rid of acne.

Topical sulfur is commonly used for acne treatments. It is usually a leave on treatment for the skin. It is available in cream, gel, lotion, mask, ointment, liquid or soap. It can be applied on the skin to shed off dead skin cells. Sulfur is effective against acne because it can exfoliate the skin and peels off dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin. It can kill bacteria which causes acne.

Sulfur has an unpleasant smell similar to the rotten eggs. This is why it is combined with other substances to mask off its bad smell by using fragrances or other pleasant-smelling ingredients. Sulfur is usually combined with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and resorcinol as an effective acne treatment. The treatment would result to getting rid of bacteria on the skin which causes the acne, removing dead skin cells and clearing clogged pores to make skin clear. Commercial products containing sulfur and these other ingredients are found in soaps, creams and facial masks.

There may be some side effects when using products which contain sulfur. Some experience redness, drying, itching, peeling or burning sensation of the skin. There is also some discoloration of the skin that may be experienced. They can be felt at the start of the treatment or at times during treatment. It would be good to ask your dermatologist for the right dosage to use so you can avoid these discomforts while undergoing treatment.

Aside from its good uses to treat acne, sulfur has a long shelf life which lasts more than 50 years. That is why sulfuric prescriptions last for many years as well. Any other commercial product which contains a good amount of sulfur would generally last longer than other products without it.

The best way for sulfur to treat acne is by cleaning the skin pores. It clears clogged pores, dries them out, and then peel them off to expose new skin. Sulfur is also combined with a substance called sulfacetamide as an effective treatment for inflammatory skin lesions. It can reduce these lesions after about 12 weeks of therapy and treatment. Aside from acne treatment, sulfur combined with other substances is effective against rosacea, dermatitis and some other skin irritations.

If you buy over the counter medications to treat your acne, you can use these medications by strictly following instructions. This prevents skin irritation or other discomfort in case you are not used to medications containing sulfur. You can start with small amounts to check that there is no negative effect on your skin, and then work it up to the dosage that is most effective for you.

Jason Ladock

Copyrighted material; do not reprint without permission.

 

View all articles by Jason Ladock