Treating Acne with Sulfur
Dating back to the 1950's, sulfur is one of the oldest medications available to treat acne. Amid the hundreds of products developed for the acne sufferer, sulfur has managed to stand the test of time. While certainly not for everybody, the use of a sulfur based medication may be the one option that is effective when other "new and improved" formulations fail. In fact, prior to the use of antibiotics sulfur was the drug of choice for treatment of infections.
Sulfur based acne medications for acne work as exfoliating agents that can clean out the pores and break down whiteheads and blackheads. The peeling and drying action of the medication can help minimize breakouts, and is what makes this an attractive option in the fight against acne.
Sulfur acne treatments can be found over the counter in the form of soaps, lotions and face masks. While many acne treatment medications are meant to be applied and then washed off, sulfur based treatments are usually meant to be left on. As such, sulfur based treatment is usually applied last in an acne treatment regime.
Sulfur is one of the few over the counter treatment medications that has FDA approval for acne treatment. It is a naturally occurring mineral that has been around for thousands of years and has a great many uses beyond just medicinal properties. It has a slight rotten egg odor in its natural state.
While the use of sulfur medication for acne is generally safe for most people, always check with your physician before starting a regimen of sulfur based treatments. Certain people are allergic to sulfa, and for them sulfur based medications would definitely not be indicated. Likewise, pregnant and nursing women should always consult first with their doctor before using any medications. The use of any acne medications including sulfur may actually worsen the condition if used on irritated or sunburned skin.