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The Ultimate Sulphur Guide - Benefits, Uses & More
Table of Contents
- What Is Sulphur/Sulfur?
- Why You Should Use Sulphur In Your Skincare Routine
- Common Skin Conditions Treated With Sulphur
- How Does Sulphur Compare To Other Similar Ingredients?
- Are There Any Negatives To Using Sulphur In Skincare?
- Which Sulphur Skincare Product Is Right For Me?
- Sulphur Q&A
- References
Sulphur, sometimes spelt as sulfur, is a hugely popular and widely used ingredient in skincare, renowned for its unique and impressive properties that have been utilized for centuries. It’s believed that Hippocrates, a Greek physician from the 5th century BCE and often known as the father of medicine, recognized the therapeutic properties of sulphur and prescribed sulphur baths for their healing and anti-inflammatory benefits.
To this day, this natural element has stood the test of time and is widely used in skincare products due to its ability to help treat acne, reduce inflammation, and regulate excess oil production. This detailed guide will explore all the wonderful benefits of sulphur and how it can be used as part of your daily skincare routine. Whether you’re struggling with acne, oily skin, or just looking for a gentle exfoliator to improve your complexion, sulphur could be the ingredient you’re looking for.
What Is Sulphur/Sulfur?
Before adding sulphur to your skincare routine, it’s important to understand exactly what it is. You may remember from studying the periodic table at school that sulphur is a naturally occurring element known for its distinctive yellow colour. In its pure form, it’s a yellow, crystalline solid. It can be found in various environments on the planet, including:
- Volcanic regions. Volcanic eruptions release sulphur dioxide, a gas that later deposits sulphur nearby.
- Hot springs. For many hundreds of years, sulphur springs have been used as a traditional therapeutic practice.
- Mineral deposits. Sulphur can be found in minerals such as gypsum (calcium sulphate) and pyrite (iron sulphide).
Sulphur plays a vital role for all living organisms, being a key component of some amino acids and vitamins. It’s also used in a wide range of industrial applications such as:
- Agriculture. Sulphur is a vital component of many fertilizers, helping plants to grow.
- Rubber. It helps improve the elasticity and strength of rubber products.
- Preservatives. Sulphur dioxide can extend the shelf life of various foods and drinks to prevent spoilage.
- Skincare. As we’ll discuss in this article, sulphur has many applications in the skincare industry.
The Different Forms Of Sulphur
There are several types of sulphur, each with unique properties and uses. These include:
- Pure sulphur (elemental sulphur). This often appears as a yellow crystalline solid, but various forms of pure sulphur can appear differently, such as flowers of sulphur, which is a powder often used in skincare products.
- Sulphur compounds. These include sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, both gases with a strong smell, which are not used in skincare products.
- Colloidal sulphur. This type of sulphur is found in skincare products and is suspended in a liquid.
Why You Should Use Sulphur In Your Skincare Routine
We’ve already established the importance of sulphur for all life on Earth, but when it comes to skincare, sulphur is extremely versatile and provides many benefits for your skin. Let’s explore some of the main reasons why you should consider incorporating sulphur into your skincare routine:
Antibacterial Properties
Sulphur has excellent antibacterial properties [1], helping to kill harmful bacterial on the skin and making it a popular choice for preventing acne breakouts.
Gentle Exfoliation
As a keratolytic agent [1], it helps shed dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, promoting the renewal of healthy skin cells and unclogging pores.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Sulphur has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects [2], helping to calm irritated skin and reduce redness associated common skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and eczema. This makes it a popular choice for those with sensitive and inflamed skin.
Oil Reduction
Sulphur can help reduce excess oil (sebum) production, which is a contributing factor to the development of acne [3].
Anti-fungal Properties
Sulphur has been shown to have anti-fungal properties [4].
Common Skin Conditions Treated With Sulphur
The properties of sulphur make it a powerful addition to your skincare routine when treating a number of skin conditions:
Acne
Acne is a very common skin condition that presents as spots, commonly on the face but also on the chest, back and shoulders. These can include blackheads and whiteheads, or more serious and sometimes painful nodules and cysts. Sulphur has been shown to help treat acne [5] by helping to reduce excess oil production, kill acne-causing bacteria on the skin and unclogging pores.
For more information, including symptoms and treatments, read our detailed guide on acne here.
Psoriasis
This common skin condition is thought to be caused by the immune system attacking healthy skin cells, leading to red, scaly patches on the skin that can be itchy and sometimes painful. Sulphur may help manage symptoms of psoriasis by reducing inflammation and promoting skin cell turnover.
Learn more with our detailed guide on psoriasis here.
Rosacea
Rosacea in an inflammatory skin condition that causes redness and often papules and pustules, usually on the face. Although there is no cure for the condition, sulphur-based treatments have been shown to manage symptoms of rosacea [6].
To understand more, including causes, symptoms and treatments, read our detailed guide on rosacea here.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Characterized by red, scaly patches covered in yellow, shiny, and oily scales, seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an overproduction of Malassezia, a genus of yeast that can multiply rapidly. The anti-fungal properties of sulphur can help reduce symptoms by tackling the overproduction of yeast.
Read our complete seborrheic dermatitis guide here.
Dandruff
This condition presents as white flakes on the scalp and hair. It can be caused by different skin conditions, such as seborrheic dermatitis, making sulphur an often effective treatment.
Learn more about dandruff here.
Eczema
Also known as atopic dermatitis, this condition is characterized by dry, itchy skin, usually on hands or wrists. Sulphur can provide relief for individuals with eczema by reducing inflammation and soothing irritated skin.
For more information, read our comprehensive guide on eczema here.
How Does Sulphur Compare To Other Similar Ingredients?
Sulphur vs Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a common ingredient for the treatment of acne that targets the acne-causing bacteria P. acnes effectively. It's more suited to moderate-severe cases of acne; however, it can cause significant dryness, redness and burning, especially on sensitive skin. It also bleaches fabric and hair.
Sulphur vs Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that helps to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. Both can be effective at preventing breakouts, but sulphur is generally considered more gentle and less likely to cause irritation.
Sulphur vs Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help fight acne-causing bacteria but can be more irritating than sulphur. It must be diluted before being applied to the skin.
Are There Any Negatives To Using Sulphur In Skincare?
Sulphur can be highly effective when used as part of your skincare routine and is generally well-tolerated, including for those with sensitive skin; however, there are a couple of things to be aware of:
- Sulphur can be drying. Some people may find sulphur to be a bit drying as it can reduce the production of oil (sebum). It can be a good idea to use a moisturizer if this is the case; just be sure to look for a non-comedogenic moisturizer if you are prone to breakouts.
- Allergic reactions. You should avoid skincare products containing sulphur if you have a known allergy.
- Pregnant or nursing. You should consult with a pharmacist or GP before using sulphur-containing products during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
If you have any doubts or concerns, always be sure to consult with a GP or dermatologist, and stop using any sulphur-containing products if you have any negative reactions.
Which Sulphur Skincare Product Is Right For Me?
So you’ve decided to add sulphur to your skincare routine, but you’re not sure which product to choose. There are a couple of decisions you need to make.
What Percentage Of Sulphur Should I Choose?
One of the first things you’ll need to decide is which concentration of sulphur to choose. Generally, most products contain anywhere from 1% sulphur up to 10%. Your first thought might be that the highest concentration is better, but it can be very potent and irritating, especially for people with sensitive skin. 1% should be much better tolerated; however, this may not be too effective, so generally, around 3%-5% is a happy medium for most.
What Type Of Product Should I Choose?
Once you’ve decided on the percentage, you need to decide which type of product. The two main types are usually a bar of soap or a face wash.
- Bars of soap. These tend to contain fewer ingredients and may have a longer shelf life, but they do also come with a few disadvantages. Some soaps can be overly drying and strip the skin of natural oils, plus the pH levels are usually higher than the pH levels of the skin which can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier.
- Face washes. Face washes, on the other hand, tend to have a pH that closes matches that of your skin and are often gentler, making them a great choice for those with sensitive skin.
Sulphur Q&A
How Often Should I Use Sulphur In My Skincare Routine?
Sulphur is generally a well-tolerated ingredient and as such can often be used daily by most. However, when not used to treat specific skin conditions like acne and instead is used on normal or dry skin types, you may wish to use it less frequently, such as once or twice a week.
Can I Just Add Sulphur To My Own Cosmetics?
Whilst some ingredients can easily be added to existing skincare products, sulphur is more difficult to work with and requires certain conditions that are unlikely to be achieved with simple household goods. For this reason, it’s recommended to purchase an existing skincare product that contains sulphur.
Are Sulphates And Sulphur The Same Thing?
Although these two words sound familiar and can both be found in skincare products, they are not the same. Sulphur is a naturally occurring element with a number of beneficial properties for your skin, whereas sulphates like SLS and SLES are a group of mineral salts that are usually used as cleansing agents to lather up. That being said, they may come with some negative side effects and in recent years have gained a bad reputation with many customers looking to avoid them.
Does Sulphur Smell?
Many people are aware that sulphur has a natural, rather potent smell that can be off-putting. So does that mean your skincare products will smell if they contain sulphur? It’s likely there will be some smell yes; however, when combined with other ingredients, the smell is often reduced and far less noticeable than pure sulphur.
References
[1] Gupta, Aditya K., and Karyn Nicol. 2004. “The Use of Sulfur in Dermatology.” Journal of Drugs in Dermatology: JDD 3 (4): 427–31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15303787./
[2] Seth, Sonakshi. 2015. “A Comprehensive Review on Recent Advances in Synthesis & Pharmacotherapeutic Potential of Benzothiazoles.” Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 14 (2): 98–112. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871523014666150528110703.
[3] “How Do You Treat Adolescent Acne in Your Practice?” 2020. Medical Acupuncture 32 (1): 45–50. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.29136.cpl.
[4] Jacob, Claus. 2006. “A Scent of Therapy: Pharmacological Implications of Natural Products Containing Redox-Active Sulfur Atoms.” Natural Product Reports 23 (6): 851. https://doi.org/10.1039/b609523m.
[5] - Akhavan A, Bershad S. Topical acne drugs: review of clinical properties, systemic exposure, and safety. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2003;4(7):473-92.
[6] Jacob, Sherin, Madeline A. VanDaele, and Jamie N. Brown. 2019. “Treatment of Demodex ‐Associated Inflammatory Skin Conditions: A Systematic Review.” Dermatologic Therapy 32 (6). https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.13103.