The following side effects are expected to occur in the first few weeks of treatment, and resolve with continued use of resorcinol / sulfur. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
Skin dryness, peeling, or itching | Up to 65% of all users |
Skin irritation, burning, or stinging sensation | Up to 45% of all users |
Unpleasant odor | Up to 33.3% of all users |
Redness and/or warmth over the area | Up to 30% of all users |
Hyperpigmentation following inflammatory lesions | Up to 15% of all users |
If you experience any of the following side effects, stop using resorcinol / sulfur immediately and contact your doctor or get emergency medical care right away:
- A sudden appearance of swelling and rash (known as hives)
- Swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, or entire face
- Severe itching
- Trouble with breathing
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Severe skin irritation or burning
- Severe skin peeling or blistering
Resorcinol / Sulfur may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using resorcinol / sulfur.
References
- DailyMed. Resorcinol. Available from:. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=03f57a4a-f94b-4ba6-b709-41cfb6e16261. Cited 3 April 2017.
- Dayal S, Amrani A, Sahu P, and Kumar Jain V. Jessner’s solution vs. 30% salicylic acid peels: a comparative study of the efficacy and safety in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. J Cosmetic
- UpToDate. Sulfur and sulfacetamide: drug information. Available from: https://eresources.library.mssm.edu:3285/contents/sulfur-and-sulfacetamide-drug-information?source=search_result&search=sulfur&selectedTitle=1~121. Cited 30 March 2017.
- Breneman DL, and Ariano MC. Successful treatment of acne vulgaris in women with a new topical sodium sulfacetamide/ sulfur lotion. Int J Dermatol 32(5), 365-367 (1993).
- Draelos, ZD. The multifunctionaliry of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses. J Drugs Dermatol 9(3), 234- 236.