Acne.org Products
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.
Used Sulfur? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
January 14, 2013
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Cons:
-Caused cystic acne and scarring on cheeks and jawline--- areas I never had acne before using treatment!
-Resulting breakouts were constant and continued to last through months after quitting treatment.
I had light acne prior to using this product and wanted to find a good acne treatment that would get rid of my acne once and for all. I saw this kit in Sephora and thought why not? First week into the treatment, my skin cleared up. Second week and beyond, my skin broke out like crazy. I stopped using this after a month and is still suffering from cystic acne breakouts 3mos later. My skin is currently starting to get better, but it's only b/c of the antibiotics &cream my dermatologist prescribed.
October 8, 2012
Product used: AcneFree (Therapeutic Sulfur Mask)
Pros:
-Sulfur based
-Works on my sensitive skin
Cons:
-Some people say smell (I don't mind it)
-Small tube
AcneFree Sulfur Mask is one of the best products in the AcneFree line. I'm very pleased that it is sulfur based because it works great on my skin. I have oily skin and this product does as it promises: clears skin. After a long day of work and school my skin begins to look like an oil slick which can cause my makeup run. After using this product once or twice a week I have a much more even skin tone. I would recommend this product to anyone with combination skin, not sure how it would work on dry/easily irritated skin but so far I have had great results. Will continue to buy.
June 15, 2012
Product used: De La Cruz (Sulfur Ointment)
Pros:
•Noticeable difference in acne.
•Not harsh on skin.
•Very good price for the amount.
•By itself, it has very little scent.
Cons:
•A tad time-consuming: have to wash before and after use.
•Can stain cloth (my towel had discolored spots on it)
•On cloth, it smells like burning.
I would recommend this. I tried many other types of acne treatment, including ProActiv, Stridex, and Nutrogena On-the-Spot. While Stridex was easier to use, it irritated my skin. ProActiv and Nutrogena had almost no visible effect on my acne.
This, however, was the one thing I tried and after four months, I still use. I apply it once a day. To save time, I wash my face and apply it 10 minutes before I shower every night, so when I shower it comes off naturally. The difference was small but definitely noticeable after 3 days, and after a month most of my acne had disappeared.
Something I learned when using this is to avoid getting it on cloth. When I first bought it, I had read that people had positive results when they applied it before they slept, and left it on all night. I tried this, and to my dismay my pillowcase became discolored. On top of that, it smelled like it had been charred. The smell came out only after washing it 3 times, and the stains never came out.
Another thing I learned was that Sulfur reacts with jewelry. I wear a watch which I now take off before I apply this, because the sulfur reacted with the metal.
In all, I would recommend this product to people with moderate acne. Use it once or twice a day, but try to avoid getting it on clothes, and take off all jewelry before use.
June 8, 2012
Product used: De La Cruz (Sulfur Ointment)
Pros:
Dries pimples out fast.
Not harsh on the skin
Lasts a long time
I love this stuff, it works so well, dries out the pimples fast. Even if I pick at them and a scab forms I use this product and it helps to heal the scab faster.
April 30, 2012
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Refining Mask)
Pros:
Reduces appearance and redness almost instantly.
Cons:
No negatives so far!
I received the sample with my Proactiv kit, I leave it on spots overnight and in the morning my pimples are on the way to being gone.
Love it, and i don't think I could go long periods of time without it.
March 13, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
Skin cleared up
Cons:
May dry out skin a bit, but nothing to be paranoid about.
I just recently bought it, and absolutely love it! My skin cleared up in 3 days, Unbelievable!! I tried so many products and spent so much money. I never broke out until I turned 23 and it was horrible! It was cystic acne, which was so gross and painful! I got a facial at massage envy and they recommended this product, I went home and thought about it for a week and finally went back and bought it.
February 20, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
My skin has cleared up. I have used everything from drug store cleansers to proactive with no results. It is perfect for my oily skin.
Cons:
I have nothing negative to say.
I am 29 and have oily skin. I only use the oil control mattifier (step 3) after cleansing face. I love my new clear skin. I have spent years and a lot of money on skin care products and never had such great results. I buy the product at Sephora for 39.00 usd.
February 5, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
cleanser smells and feels nice
Cons:
everything else. PURGING PERIOD IN WHICH YOU BREAK OUT FOR WEEKS. I hate this and wish no one to ever buy this. I would hate for anyone to experience what I went through.
Let me start by saying, this is my first review, ever. But I feel so strongly about this product that I felt I must write something. Here is what I'm going to write, RUN AWAY, RUN AWAY AND DON'T LOOK BACK.
A little background on me: 19 yrs old. College sophomore. Tried Murad acne complex kit during my winter break. I wanted to heal my moderate jaw line and forehead acne before my spring semester began.
First, the ONLY good part. The cleanser had a very pleasant scent (refreshing, left skin smooth). However, most cleansers do the exact same thing, so after using the product for a while. I realized the cleanser was THE ONLY part of this kit that was pleasant.
Now, bottom line. This kit is HORRIBLE. PURGING PERIOD. Oh my goodness. The lady who sold this to me made me aware that there "may" be a "slight purging period" in which the underlying acne will surface before the healing begins...well...she was right. HOWEVER, the "underlying acne" surfaced, and never left. I used Murad twice daily for roughly a month, AND MY ACNE GOT WORSE. It was embarrassing, upsetting, discouraging. My jawline acne turned to being ENTIRE RIGHT CHEEK acne. My mild forehead breakouts turned to acne near my side burns and hair line. I tried to stick with it with hopes that it would start healing as it should, but nope, just kept worsening. I've been off of murad for 3 weeks now, and now my face is beginning to SLIGHTLY heal. FINALLY. Ugh. I regret NOT reading the reviews before purchasing because apparently MANY people had my horrific experience. I WOULDN'T RISK IT. There are other options people. This MAY work for you, but its not a risk I'd take. (I'm using GNC beBeautiful hair skin nails vitamins now since i never had "bad" acne to begin with, but MURAD gave me bad acne). Hope this helps.
January 27, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Smells Horrible
Doesn't Work
Gives you painful acne
Leaves Scars
Burns your sk
I've struggled with acne most of my life, after being on accutane when I was around 16 it cleared my skin for the most part but I still have the odd breakout and always seem to have at least 5 pimples on my face at any given time...after trying endless over the counter and prescription medications to try and clear my skin I thought I would give murad a try to see if I would experience any positive results from it. After using it exatcly how the directions say, 4 weeks later I have more acne then what I started with. The new pimples that I have are in spots I have never gotten them before (lip lines, forehead, under the nose). It also turned the existing pimples I had into these huge, red and extremely painful lumps. One of them has cleared up a bit and I can tell it is going to leave one heck of a scar...I do not understand the whole "purging" process but I do not think that it should last over a month - if I were to experinece any positive results from this product I would have seen them by now. Overall, I am very disappointed - I am hoping that my skin will recover from what this product has done to it.
November 15, 2011
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
The only good part of this regimen is the Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel...WHICH by I would just buy separately if you want to use something from Murad. The treatment gel has good ingredients, (glycolic acid, witch hazel, retinol) and can be beneficial just by itself. Don't buy the whole kit.
Cons:
Sticky residue
No improvement in skin clarity
So many things wrong & I blame the clenser. This cleanser has so much OIL in it, I can't understand how people with sever acne have had success: hydrogenated castor oil (I have seen this very ingredient in hair products!) Tangarine leaf oil, Citronella oil, lemon peel oil, Lime Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil. So this is straight from the ingredient list...8 different oils in the cleanser in this regimen. Do your research and read the ingredient lists before you give in to those TV commercials where a smiling perfect-skinned teenager tells you they had a miracle with this kit!!!
Pros:
Smelled nice.