Sulfur, a solution for acne-prone skin?

It has been reported that sulfur is more effective against mild to moderate inflammatory acne and comedonal acne. Therefore, if you have red pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, or a combination of the three, sulfur can improve the appearance of your skin due to the numerous benefits it can provide. However, it is less effective in cases of moderate to severe forms of acne or cystic outbreaks, especially when used as a standalone treatment.

• Absorbs Sebum: Sulfur aids in the absorption of excess sebum, a source of acne, by drying out blemishes and freeing clogged pores.

• Neutralizes bacteria: When applied to the skin, sulfur is transformed into hydrogen sulfide (H2S) through the action of three enzymes present in the skin (cystathionine-γ-lyase, cystathionine-β-synthase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase). This compound has a lethal effect on bacteria, including Propionibacterium acnes, thus preventing the spread of bacteria responsible for acne and causing irritations. Research also shows that sulfur is an effective treatment option for controlling vulgar acne caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus. It also kills fungi and other parasites.

• Exfoliates the skin: It has been demonstrated that sulfur has keratolytic effects, which means it aids the skin in shedding dead cells, thereby enhancing the renewal of skin cells. This property thus helps to prevent the clogging of pores (the precursor to a breakout) from developing.

• Calms inflammatory reactions: Studies have shown that sulfur affects the permeability of the cell membrane in tissue affected by pain. The action of this mineral enhances the effects of the body's pain-relieving hormones to alleviate inflammation.

Whether you're using it as a facial mask once or twice a week for prevention, or as a localized treatment to soothe stubborn pimples, sulfur appears to be a quadruple threat to acne. Several clinical studies demonstrate its effectiveness on mild to moderate acne with a significant reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions and comedonal lesions, with an improvement generally observed after 4 to 6 weeks of daily use.

However, the evidence is insufficient regarding its sole effectiveness on acne. Although sulfur-based treatments could potentially be useful on their own, sulfur is often combined with other topical agents, such as benzoyl peroxide, thesalicylic acid, sodium sulfacetamide, or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) which have the same anti-inflammatory and keratolytic properties as sulfur. Combined, they have a synergistic effect to enhance their effectiveness in treating acne. Therefore, additional studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of sulfur for this use.

Sulfur against acne scars?

Sulfur is not a treatment for acne scars. There are more effective options available to promote wound healing and reduce the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or professional treatments such as microdermabrasion and fillers. That being said, sulfur can provide some improvements to the skin due to its exfoliating effects to even out the skin and lighten brown spots, which may remain once an inflamed lesion heals.