If you have mild acne, you might consider turning to a treatment that has been used for thousands of years to treat pimples: sulfur. Over-the-counter acne treatments that contain sulfur can effectively treat mild acne, and many people with acne report great success in using these products to clear up their complexions.
Cause
Pimples develop when hormones in your body called androgens signal the skin to produce too much oil, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Excess oil can clog pores and encourage bacterial growth. If you have mild acne, you likely have a combination of blackheads, whiteheads and a smattering of small pimples. Moderate and severe acne involve more infected pimples and inflammation. Over-the-counter sulfur products work best on mild acne.
Mechanism
When used as an acne treatment, sulfur helps to dry out the skin, removing the excess oil that clogs pores and causes bacteria to grow. Sulfur also encourages the skin to peel, which potentially can help dislodge blackheads and whiteheads. Over-the-counter sulfur products often combine sulfur with other acne-fighting ingredients, such as resorcinol, alcohol and salicylic acid.
Types
All over-the-counter sulfur acne products are topical products, which means they are designed to be used on the skin. You can find sulfur in gels, creams, soaps, foaming cleansers and even in shampoo. If you're using a soap, you can use it several times each day. You should use products such as ointments, creams and gels that remain on the skin two to three times per day, or as directed. Popular sulfur-containing acne products include Clearasil Adult Tinted Treatment Cream, Grandpa Brand Thylox Acne Treatment soap and AcneFree Therapeutic Sulfur Mask.
Results
Sulfur works well when applied to the skin to treat acne, medical research shows. In one study, reported in the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion in 1980, clinicians treated 37 patients with two different sulfur medication formulas. Both groups saw their acne lesion counts drop significantly. In the group with the best results, lesions fell by more than two-thirds.
Side Effects
Sulfur does have a couple of drawbacks as an acne medication. Many products tend to smell like rotten eggs, creams and lotions can feel quite gritty, and some people may notice sulfur stains their skin black. Sulfur also can irritate the skin, producing peeling and redness in some people.
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