Topical Keratolytic
Reviews
3.1
2211 Reviews
Topical Keratolytic
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Topical Keratolytic
Side Effects
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Topical Keratolytic
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Due to its antimicrobial properties and ability to absorb skin oil and dry out the skin, sulfur has been used for thousands of years for various skin conditions, including acne. However, it is normally reserved for noninflammatory acne (whiteheads and blackheads), because it doesn't work as well as other over-the-counter medications for inflammatory acne (papules and pustules).
Topical Keratolytic
How to Get It
This is an over-the-counter treatment. Here are some places you can find it online.
Read All About Sulfur
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.1%
4
24.2%
3
17%
2
16.1%
1
20.6%

Used Sulfur? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 25, 2010

Pros:

-makes your skin feel smooth
-gives you a clean feeling
-helps put redness down for a little while

Cons:

it makes you break out sometimes
you don't really get to many good results
some of the products burn

Its good for about 1 maybe 2 weeks ,but after washing with it night and day you should take a break than try it again. Its not very god but it helps little so I would try trying it
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July 2, 2010

Pros:

works great as a spot treatment, dries quickly, a little goes a long way.

Cons:

the sulfer smell

definitely good to use in your arsenal, but only as a spot treatment. I used to use it all the time until my condition changed.
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June 19, 2010

Pros:

NOTHING!!!

Cons:

Everything!!! It made me break out a lot and it's so darn expensive. It's a waste of money!!!

Not worth it!!!
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September 8, 2009

Pros:

Made Pore size smaller
Skin Less Oily
Dried out big deep spots quickly and worked on under the skin bumps over time

Cons:

Smells awful
Have to go to bed with pinky white smears all over your face

I have bad skin since coming off the Pill about 6 months ago. my skin was oily and i had lots of bumps over my face and deeper spots around my mouth, on my chin and on my back. Despite the horrrible smell i think this product really works well. For those who have complained it dries the skin out, they should read the name of the product 'Drying lotion', thats what its supposed to do! If it dries your skin excessively just reduce the amount you are using it, it is also designed to be used on spots not the whole face.
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July 1, 2009

Pros:

Love it! I finally found something that works. I have exczema & sensitive skin. Even wearing sunglasses all day can cause a problem. This product will handle the breakouts in a day or 2. Can't say enough good. I also feel it is very affordable

Cons:

Like there are any! It burns a little if your skin is broken but that goes away as the alcohol evaporates.

I am 30 and have tried a host of medications & over-the-counter products. I was afraid I'd just have to live with it. I can tolerate a little dry skin if the result is clear skin (finally!!) Thank you!
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June 25, 2009

Pros:

Worked for a few days-made my skin really clear. Thought i'd found the thing to cure the tiny outbreaks i got every now and then

Cons:

After a week-really dried out my skin-didnt even apply it to my whole face and it started to dry out my skin on my eyelids. Made spots come up really angry and red-never had spots like these before

Wouldnt use it ever again. I've had spots for a week on one side of my face and the rest is clear so i know this has caused it because thats where i applied it and it dried out my whole face. My skin is still healing. Calamine lotion is so much better. Soothing my skin until it goes back to normal.
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March 19, 2009

Pros:

Zaps pimples in less than 24 hours if you catch it quickly, dries quickly

Cons:

Must be used at night, smells like matches

Well, I actually like the smell, but my husband hates it. Regardless, I have moderately severe acne (or at least did up until four months ago). I use this in conjunction with Clean & Clear Continuous Control whenever I see/feel a pimple coming up. I put it on before bed, after I wash my face, and it is greatly reduced by AM. I usually have tons of breakouts all over my cheeks, chin, lip line, around my nose, on my brow bone, temples, and forehead. I get whiteheads and pustules. These two products have helped me unlike any other product, cheap or expensive, prescription or OTC. I can't say enough positive things about these two products. Much better than any acne system. But, just be sure your skin is oily and you actually DO have acne problems. Otherwise, they'll probably dry your skin out. I know that people that have more than three pimples at a time think they have acne and then they complain a product burnt their skin or dried them out. So, if you don't have acne, then don't use it
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July 4, 2016
The Best Zit Zap Recipe You'll Find
If you're already using a prescription and/or all the usual over-the-counter acne solutions and it's still not entirely successful in clearing up the skin, De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment can be immensely useful as a spot treatment. It's great on its own but I've found a way to make this product work even better than anything else on the market. I typically mix a very minute amount of this product with tea tree oil, apply to the spot and leave it overnight. My skin can already tolerate Differin (Rx) application every other day, benzoyl peroxide (Clean & Clear in the AM) and salicylic acid facial wash (in the PM). Still, I suffer hormone-driven break-through acne. De La Cruz Sulfer Ointment and Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil is my emergency spot-treatment remedy of choice. Instead of cystic acne persisting for a week or more, if I catch it in the early stages I can halt the size and duration of the spot. Although I don't typically need more than a dab of tea tree oil and sulfur combined, a "trifecta approach" can come handy in an emergency: First, apply a thin layer of OTC hydrocortisone cream, secondly apply a very, very tiny amount of sulfur ointment and tea tree oil to the tip of your finger and rub it together. Apply lightly on top of the cortisone cream . When applied overnight as a spot treatment, this combo will bring down inflammation a lot faster than anything else on the market. Now for the disclaimer: The directions for this product do not advise leaving it on as an overnight spot treatment, let alone in combination with additional ingredients, as I've described. If you take this approach make sure you're already tolerant of the use of tea tree oil and sulfur ointment individually, and when initially using this approach follow the recommendation and remove it after ~10 minutes. If there is NO problem with this approach, you can take a step-wise approach to leaving it on a bit longer each time until you know you can leave it overnight without awaking to an itchy, flaky mess. Personally, I have no redness and flaking using this multi-ingredient approach but I didn't go straight away to overnight use, either. As with anything this powerful, it is important to introduce new products and approaches, such as the one I've described here, one at a time. Ensure you can tolerate each product you use on your skin before you begin layering ingredients. What I've described here is extremely successful as a spot treatment but I wouldn't recommend it for daily or whole-face use.
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July 27, 2011

Pros:

the cleanser was cool :)

Cons:

expensive for something crappy. -.-
toner made my pimples redder and stung like a bish.
70 bucks. really? FML.

i had acne since i was in 6th grade and i used it in 6th grade and it made my pimples worser and redder. now im going to highschool and my face is clear from using a different product. honestly save ur money for something better. i dont care if i get thumbs down, im just trying to help you guys out. (: <3
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March 19, 2011

Pros:

Makes skin soft and glowy.

Cons:

More breakouts than before. The only spots where your skin is soft and glowy is where you don't have a whitehead or a pimple- which isn't much.

When I first started using this product, I had very light acne. As soon as I started it, my skin got very sensitive and I broke out more than I had ever before. It was horrible. I was getting more breakouts and lots of whiteheads. I even got a couple of cystic pimples, which I had never experienced before. Before I knew it, I had full-blown acne. I read that acne gets worse before it gets better- and OHMAN, does it get worse. I went through with the whole packet, hoping that when I finished the whole thing the acne would go away. It's been three months and my acne never went away. It only got worse. My face is very irritated and it hurts when I touch it. I have since stopped using the product and will see if I can get any medical attention. I can honestly say that Murad is by far the worst acne product out there. I don't recommend it.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.