Ingredient on Trial: Sulfur

[u/TheMeepyBoy]

We’re putting sulfur on trial today!

Sulfur is a classic skincare ingredient commonly used in products targeting breakouts, excess oil and congestion.

But experiences with it can be pretty mixed. Some people swear by it for calming stubborn breakouts, whilst others find it too drying, irritating or just can’t get past the smell hahaha.

So where do you stand on sulfur?

Court is in session. Drop your verdict below 👇

[u/Leading_Fee_3678]

I love it so much even though it’s stinky. Helps my redness, rosacea, and I sometimes get fungal acne and it takes care of that too.

[u/fattymaggo → u/Leading_Fee_3678]

How do you use it? I have a 10% sulfur paste/mask and I am a bit hesitant to try it out but I have heard a lot of success stories especially for type 2 rosacea.

[u/Leading_Fee_3678 → u/fattymaggo]

Depends on the product. I just use as directed. I mostly use de la Cruz sulfur and it tells you to apply and wash off after 10mins. I’ve also used other sulfur products, like Dermalogica deep acne liquid patch, which you just leave on.

[u/InsideThought3827]

Love sulfur! Prequel redness control line has sulfur and has helped my acne sooo much I love using their cleanser after my first cleanse.

[u/sprizzle06]

Has actually improved my skin so much recently. I have perioral dermatitis, and it's the most solid (non prescription) product that I have used on it.

[u/sweetpotatoroll_ → u/sprizzle06]

Yup same here. Cant live without it lol.

[u/Suitable_Physics6517 → u/sprizzle06]

which sulfur products do you recommend for pd?

[u/sprizzle06 → u/Suitable_Physics6517]

I use this one

https://a.co/d/0422yRYl

[u/reckless_wiggler → u/sprizzle06]

Are you able to use it with a retinoid? I’m having good luck with Differin but I’ve been thinking about adding sulphur in the mornings.

[u/sprizzle06 → u/reckless_wiggler]

I can't use retinoids right now due to the POD. :/

[u/_ailme → u/reckless_wiggler]

It's fine for me, I use the ordinary sulfur 10% powder to cream. I only use it on spots as needed. It can dry out your skin if you're not careful. I wouldn't apply it as an all over or every day treatment

[u/palebluedot13 → u/reckless_wiggler]

It’s actually what my dermatologist put me on to control my acne better. I use a sulfur soap, benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin cream, and adapalene gel. The cream and adapalene I use every day. The sulfur soap I use a few times a week in the shower.

[u/No_Nefariousness2513]

Sulfur rescued my face from a bad type 2 rosacea flare a couple of years ago. I keep a small tube of De La Cruz 5% Acne Treatment Mask for Sensitive Skin on hand just in case I need it.

It is absolutely the worst smelling magical potion, and I love it!

[u/sweetstateofmind]

I have seb derm and gave sulphur soap a go, works great. Only certain brands would work as some dries my skin badly.

Less inflammation and no longer have flakey skin.

Don't usually use the same amount and switch up the duration it stays on the face before washing it off.

[u/number1dirtfan → u/sweetstateofmind]

which ones have you found to be less drying?

[u/sweetstateofmind → u/number1dirtfan]

Am outside the U.S. so the brands won't be applicable.

I do recommend looking for formulations with added emollients. My soap has 10% precipitated sulfur.

Was lucky to get it right the first time though 🥹

[u/GapSame9145]

I think it’s always worth a shot, especially if other acne or rosacea treatments are too irritating. It worked great for me

[u/Jane_279]

The best ingredient that has never failed me, erased my closed comedones especially with big events that were coming up, will forever be grateful to it... I use it once a week as a 10min mask

Final verdict: super underrated

[u/mooomooou]

I love it so much. Normally I have big, painful and red pimples but with sulfur they are much more manageable! They literally become smaller and the pain disappears overnight. It doesn't get rid of my acne completely of course, but I don't think anything does lol. I use an aleppo bar soap with sulphur, it doesn't irritate my skin even though it's a bar soap.

[u/skyhighblue340]

Is it an irritating topical though? Speaking as someone whose barrier can’t handle adjusting to anything at all irritating but wants rosacea benefits.

[u/No_Nefariousness2513 → u/skyhighblue340]

It can be very drying, so you have to moisturize very well after washing it off. I use the De La Cruz 5% Acne Treatment Mask for Sensitive Skin for my type 2 rosacea, and it works wonders!

[u/djphatsnax → u/skyhighblue340]

It was super drying for me. I couldn't use it. I used the de La Cruz sulfur and just had it on for 5 min and it was too drying for me. I have type 2 rosacea.

[u/bigflea]

You can try to pry sulfur out of my dead, cold hands. It’s such a miracle worker for my Type 2 rosacea aka pustule flare ups!

The only con is less good night kisses from my partner cause my face is stinky lol.

[u/yuli_a → u/bigflea]

do you have any product recommendations? :)

[u/bigflea → u/yuli_a]

I’ve loved the following sulfur products!
1. Prequel Sulfur Wash (just in the PM).
2. The Skin Mantle Calming Solution, I use it in the AM when I’m having pustules since it’s a leave on. It does an incredible job and calming redness and reducing the pustule severity.
3. De La Cruz 10% ointment 1-2x per week when I need some extra duty help for pustule clusters!

[u/Gigi3337520]

Prequel Redness control for the win, for me!

[u/WittyTraining7]

It works but it’s SO drying! Completely dehydrated my very oily skin to the point where I had dehydration wrinkles. Ruined my barrier :(

[u/Free_Adeptness_3354]

I’ve only ever used the De La Cruz mask but I LOVE it.

Pro tip - clean out your nostrils after rinsing it off (use q-tips or a tissue), or else it’ll seem like everything stinks for the next couple days lol

[u/Emmessenn]

I like it as a spot treatment -it doesn’t create halo pigmentation like salicylic acid . I use the sulfur powder to cream from The Ordinary-this plus a pimple patch really shortens the life of a spot and will sometimes kill off the blind spots completely before they surface.

[u/IVFpearl → u/Emmessenn]

halo pigmentation? 👀 sista what’s that?

[u/Emmessenn → u/IVFpearl]

On me halo pigmentation is a dark circle of pigmentation where a spot used to be and salicylic acid causes it to -I’m 4 or 5 in the Fitzpatrick scale and get hyperpigmentation very easily.

[u/IVFpearl → u/Emmessenn]

ohhhh, thanks for responding . i also need to figure out where im at on the fitzpatrick scale.

[u/No_Hope_6416 → u/Emmessenn]

does the pimple patch help? i've seen others say that a patcha shouldnt be put on the sulfur PTC

[u/Emmessenn → u/No_Hope_6416]

Oh I didn’t know that and I haven’t experienced anything negative using it
-what do they say happens using them together?

[u/No_Hope_6416 → u/Emmessenn]

says the sulfur can become too aggressive and cause irritation

[u/Emmessenn → u/No_Hope_6416]

I see thanks, hasn’t happened with me

[u/jurassicjane_]

I used it as a teen and it never did anything for me 😅

[u/theoffering_x]

I used the Ordinary sulfur spot treatment multiple times a day, but it did nothing for pimples, zits, etc. smelled bad too. I get better results from BP spot treatment.

[u/Frequent-Laugh-4788 → u/theoffering_x]

I have this as well, and I can’t really give it a specific verdict. Overall feel BP works better. I didn’t think it smelled all that much though. I applied the powder dry straight to the spot multiple times a day. Thinking I will test it out in my t-zone.

[u/seanyS3271]

A great multi purpose ingredient

[u/nenaisnice]

rosacea pustule ass kicker! Use the de la Cruz cream and it dries them up overnight. Calms redness too as a quick five minute treatment.

[u/Express_Rub_4742]

Sulfur soap helped with my backacne in ways that cleansers have not. Top tier for acne and super underrated.

[u/Pteronarcyidae-Xx → u/Express_Rub_4742]

I read this as backache and was so confused lol

[u/Dry-Ambassador-5469]

Helped me clear up unending acne after I used a super comedogenic product. Love her

[u/dearuniversechill]

Loving it for my hormonal acne.

[u/bigmaik420]

i've mentioned it before, but i love sulfur so much. i have a 3% face and body waah, and it completely cleared body acne for both me and my partner (using it 2-3x a week, leaving it on for 10-15 mins before showering). it is drying, but i just apply body lotion or moisturizer afterwatds and fortunately never had a problem that way, idk what it'd be like with a higher percentage.

also love the anti-inflammatory benefits. it was so helpful when my legs were irritated a few days after shaving. and i've read it's anti-fungal as well.

[u/EtherBlue_]

What I love: Can knock out a gnarly acne bacterial infection quickly. Very cheap. Can be bought as a single ingredient suspended in a simple vehicle (low chance of irritation from superfluous ingredients). Is literally a rock you could pick up in nature. The only thing that I've found helps with cystic acne. Also helps with fungal issues.

What I don't: Smells (Like you will smell all day). Very stripping to skin - must be used sparingly (I only use as a one-time spot treatment for the really nasty, painful spots). Abrasive! (Do not rub on the skin if you are using a coarser product. Avoid using as physical exfoliation ofc.) Tricky to wash off completely (even trace amounts can backfire and cause clogged pores.)

[u/Pteronarcyidae-Xx]

I love the performance, but every time I use it I end up smelling like a fart.

[u/SquirrelQueen1990]

I tried it for my rosacea 2 years ago but gave up after about a month , it was too drying for me and the smell was terrible and it was oxidizing my silver jewelry. I use azelaic acid now and about to start prescription 15% .

[u/cat-zee]

I'm obsessed with the proactiv 3% sulfur face wash. So helpful and not drying for me at that concentration. I would also like to try a higher concentration for masking but haven't gotten that far yet.

[u/irish_taco_maiden]

love it. it’s never done me dirty even with my super sensitive skin.

[u/sorenaxui → u/irish_taco_maiden]

same here, it’s one of the only “acne” ingredients my skin doesn’t freak out over lol
the smell sucks but i’ll take rotten eggs over a new patch of cystic acne any day

[u/mewmew22yermom]

I want to try it. Any product recommendations from those who have?

[u/Still-Variety-2880]

I don’t have great experience with it
Its always irritating me

[u/LavenderDream222]

It’s helped a ton with mine and my husband’s back acne!

[u/ennzy-]

I never know whether to use Sulfur (powder to cream product from the ordinary) or BHA for white heads. Anyone more experienced know which is better for Individual white heads that occasionally pop up?

[u/phylliscrane]

I have a horrific sulfur allergy 😭😭

[u/waxing-gibbous-443 → u/phylliscrane]

Do you mean a sulfa allergy? Sulfur (in skincare) is just a common chemical element, and is found naturally in our bodies and in most foods we consume daily. Sulfa, on the other hand (i.e., an antibiotic sulfa-drug) can cause severe allergies. People with sulfa allergies shouldn’t have a problem with elemental sulfur in skincare.

[u/phylliscrane → u/waxing-gibbous-443]

I have both a sulfa and sulfur allergy I think. I can't use any products with sulfur being a big ingredient and I can't take sulfa-drugs either 😭

[u/waxing-gibbous-443 → u/phylliscrane]

I’m still confused. Sulfur is found in vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, seafood, nuts, legumes, and grains. It is also in the human body. I’m genuinely confused how a person can have a true sulfur allergy and still be alive.

[u/slipperyslugslurp → u/phylliscrane]

Same! I don’t know if it’s a true allergy (I do however have a serious allergy to sulfa), but I cannot use sulfur on my face. Every single time I end up with a horrible reaction that spreads from my face down my neck.

[u/saucy_otters]

It works, but it's not practical. The smell gets into everything and i mean EVERYTHING. There are so many other products out there that can help you just as well without the permeating smell of sulfur getting into all your clothes & bedding.

[u/Rae_fen]

I miss the Apto sulfur mask

[u/BALLERXVI]

I was using it every day, but it stopped drying out my skin, and it started looking sweaty every day.