Alexander the Great used sulfur to treat his acne
that troubled him most during his invasion of the Indian
subcontinent and some of the Egyptian Pharaohs
frequented Sulfur Springs for relief from severe acne. In fact, sulfur and
acne treatment goes back several
centuries in the past when other forms of acne treatment
had not been invented. Why, even today, senior citizens
often insist on using sulfur for treating acne, the
other choices being resorcinol, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
Yes, the advantages of sulfur are many.
How Does Sulphur Help in
Acne?
Therapeutically speaking, sulfur contains
keratolytic properties and is therefore an excellent
exfoliating or peeling agent that is generally used when
other medications do not produce the desired result in
adult acne treatments. Thus it
forms one of the principal ingredients in skin ointments
and applications. Contrary to other topical acne
medications that are supposed to be washed off after
application, sulfur-based ointments are the 'leave-on'
type, i.e. the ointment or gel is left on the skin till
it is fully absorbed.
However, sulfur and acne
may not be effective always. Sulfur is good for milder
forms of acne, whiteheads or blackheads but has
practically very little or no effect on severe or cystic
acne. Also, one must consult the medic to find out what
strength of sulfur based drugs is suitable for him or
her. Of course, sulfur drugs having 10% or more of the
ingredient are invariably prescription medications. For
effective relief from mild form of acne, doctors usually
prescribe sulfur drugs in combination with benzoyl
peroxide and salicylic acid where each drug functions
individually to tackle various aspects of this
multi-dimensional ailment.
Despite all it curative properties, some sulfur
based drugs like Sulfacetamide with sulfur - Topical
crème have a few side effects that need immediate
medical attention. This includes minor skin irritation,
cracked skin or rash. Also observed are yellowing of the
skin or corner of the eyes, darkish urine, unusual
weakness, fever and in rare cases, allergic reaction.
The symptoms of allergic reactions may include severe
rash with itching, dizziness, puffiness and breathing
problem. So this aspect needs to be kept in mind when
you are considering sulfur and acne
treatment.
Are Sulphur Medicines Safe in
Acne?
Also, some of the precautionary measures
associated with this type of drug warranty limited use
by people with kidney problem or known allergy to sulfa
drugs. It is especially perilous during pregnancy where
the medication may pass into breast milk, causing
breast-feeding rather hazardous. Care also needed during
application so that it does not get into the eyes or
inside the nose or mouth.
Thus, all things
considered it is better not to opt for the sulfur and
acne treatment. We suggest you opt for holistic remedies
instead. Holistic remedies are not only safe, but they
give quick results too. Holistic remedies can treat all
the contributing factors that lead to acne formation,
and once the root causes are gone, the acne naturally
goes away. And thus, the results are permanent. Holistic
remedies are the way to go when you are suffering from
acne.
