Ingredient glossary
Sulfur
On your shelf ✓What Sulfur does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Sulfur · Also: Precipitated Sulfur
In short: Sulfur delivers anti acne and keratolytic, suits oily skin best, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Anti acne, keratolytic
- Best for
- Oily skin
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
- How long
- Never measured
What it actually is
The Glow take
Genuinely worth a spot in your routine.
When your goal is calming breakouts and congestion, Sulfur pulls genuine weight, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Introduce it gently, and pair it with something soothing if your skin runs sensitive.
— Maya
What it does
- anti acne
- keratolytic
- antimicrobial
moderate evidenceHistorical and modern data support three to ten percent sulfur in acne and seborrheic dermatitis with clear lesion reductions though high quality contemporary RCTs are fewer than for newer agents.
On a label: usually effective at 3-10%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- oily
- acne prone
- seborrheic dermatitis
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- dry
- compromised barrier
- Clogs poresModerate
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DryTake care
- CombinationNeutral
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for acne prone, seborrheic dermatitis. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: compromised barrier.
Where it fits in your routine
Nobody has published how long this takes to work.
What is known, and what is missing
Measured on: Inflammatory acne lesion count.
Modern sulfur data are combinations with sodium sulfacetamide, a sulfonamide antibacterial carrying an unknown share of the effect: an uncontrolled open-label 8-week foam study in 24 subjects reports roughly a 50% fall in total lesion counts, and 12-week lotion reports run higher. A conference abstract on a sulfur-plus-niacinamide spot treatment claims reduced lesion erythema by day 1. No vehicle-controlled trial of sulfur alone at the 3-10% this KB lists publishes a time course - which is what its historical evidence label actually means.
PMID:20232584 (sodium sulfacetamide 10%/sulfur 5% foam, open-label 8 weeks); JAAD 2023 conference abstract on sulfur with niacinamide
Plays well with
Sulfur, answered
Is Sulfur safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Sulfur is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Sulfur?
Approach Sulfur with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive, dry, and compromised barrier. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first. It carries a moderate risk of clogging pores, so acne-prone skin should go carefully.
What concentration of Sulfur actually works?
Sulfur tends to do its job in the 3 to 10% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
During pregnancy
Treat Sulfur as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.When it is worth booking →
Compare Sulfur with
Can you mix Sulfur with
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