Sulfur
An old-school keratolytic and antimicrobial used for acne, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis. Distinctive sulfur odour.
Converts to pentathionic acid on skin, killing C. acnes; mild keratolytic action; reduces sebum.
- Antibacterial
- Anti-fungal
- Sebum control
- Useful for rosacea papules
What the evidence supports.
- All skin types
- Sulfa allergy (caution)
- Very dry skin
Mid-routine serum or treatment step.
Concentration range in well-formulated products: 3%–10%
Year-round.
Dietary sulfur from cruciferous vegetables, alliums, eggs.
No specific deficiency signals tracked for this ingredient.
10% masks are great spot-treatment; nightly use can dry sensitive skin.
The research behind Sulfur.
Every claim on this page traces to published research. Findings below are drawn from randomized trials and systematic reviews, each links to the study on PubMed.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2020
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2020
Journal of Advanced Research, 2015
Dermato-Endocrinology, 2011
No flagged conflicts. Still, patch-test new actives.
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