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 23, 2013
Product used: AcneFree (Therapeutic Sulfur Mask)
Cons:
- sticky
- bottle gets clogged and messy
This stuff is amazing. It works better than proactiv's sulfur mask and is way cheaper. I randomly get really bad hormonal breakouts on my chin and use this as a spot treatment. By the next day my cystic bumps are half the size and on the second day are almost flat completely. I highly recommend this mask to anyone who wants a quick fix for their skin.
January 1, 2013
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Refining Mask)
Pros:
- Its really effective!
- It reduces zits or pimples.
- Good for sensitive skin.
Cons:
- It takes a couple of days for it to be effective though but its worth it.
- also it has a funny odor but nothing bad.
- a bit pricey
i was about 13 when I noticed I was starting to break out, my acne is somewhat irregular I have it bad somedays then somedays calm and very little. When I breakout sadly my pimples are big and throughout my chin I have tiny red zits. I started proactive when I was 14 since then it really was effective. The refining mask is the only thing that i use because the rest of the case was not useful. The refining mask does not permanently disappear your acne BUT it will reduce your specific pimple and or zit you want to get rid of. Its expensive for a little bottle but its worth it. It takes a few applications for it to be effective but overall good.
December 20, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
Gentle
Effective
Clears skin
Cons:
Purging phase
Takes 4-6 weeks for skin to clear
I'm surprised to find so many negative reviews on this product. So far Murad has been the only product that treats my acne effectively. I've been using it for several years now and it keeps me 90% clear. I still have the occasional break out which is usually hormonal or if I'm using a cosmetic that doesn't agree with my skin. If this system works for you I recommend buying the full size versions of these products. They are economical and last a very long time.
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.
August 27, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
Refreshing feeling, noticeable change, really feels like it works.
Cons:
Purging stage, stings a little, smells weird.
Okay, everyone is complaining about the purging stage. The truth is, this happens with almost EVERY acne treatment you'll use. It's the hidden stuff coming up and your face adjusting to the change. It takes a while to adjust to and everyone reacts differently. After using the product only once, my face started to break out a little..However, in the spots where it was clear, you could tell that those spots were actually cleaner. You can feel both the 1st and 2nd step working while you apply it. My face still hasn't cleared up, but I'm still in the purging stage and I have hope for this product, honestly. I know it will work out in the end. You shouldn't lose hope either. I got this product at Sephora for 27 dollars; 25 with my mall discount. If you want to buy this product, you can find it cheap, I'm sure. I got the entire package. I will update my review once I get past the purging stage.
July 18, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
- Gentle
- Clears skin fast
- Not too drying
- You can feel it working
Cons:
-There is a 'purging stage' but that happens with lots of products!! It doesn't last long.
This was recommended by my dermatologist and its amazing! I use the cleanser and the spot treatment every second day and the treatment gel every other day. It's really great for my skin and works really well except it varies for different people's skin. But it's really gentle and I'm surprised to see so many bad reviews! I experienced the 'purging stage' about a week after i started using it but that passed quickly and just started clearing up. You should definitely try it!!
July 14, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
clearer skin in about a month
Cons:
burns first few days
I purchased my Murad kit at Sephora. I've had acne for about 13 years now. I'm African American with Light Skin. I've tried lots of OTC medications, Proactiv, Herbal Remedies, Antibiotics, Retin-A-Micro, and Differin Gel. Some of these products worked, but they took a really long time to work or they had side effects I didn't like. This kit has defiantly cleared my skin in the past month. I'm not completely clear, but I have noticed a big difference. I use the cleanser twice a day, and I use everything else in the kit three times a day. Plus I drink more water than I did in the past, and I take a multivitamin. I didn't notice a purging stage because my skin breaks out all the time. Just be patient and using less works best.
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.
May 23, 2012
Product used: Murad (Acne Complex)
Pros:
Seems to be working. Reduces scarring, minimizes (but does not remove entire, yet) breakouts. Blackheads are diminished. Cost effective despite initial costs.
Cons:
Expensive initial costs. Improvement, but not "clear skin" in 4 weeks. Moisturizer was too rich for skin so had to return to my previous moisturizer. Peeling/dry skin can occur. If bought online, you have to cancel automatic shipments of product that you are not ready for. Not totally free of parabens as the website states...
My skin looks better, no doubt about that. I tried this as a last resort. It started to work by the 3rd day. I started very slowly with the treatment gel so I did not get too many adverse reactions to the salicylic/retinal in the gel (which I think is what many of the negative reviews are attributed to, alongside the moisturizer). I was using an application at night and in the morning, but now I only do an application at night and my skin is definitely healing much better. Cleanser and mask are good; sulfur spot treatment works for me; moisturizer congested my pores and gave me non-inflamed pimples so I switched moisturizers and my skin really started to look better. The amount of product you get should last you a long time; if it does not, you are might be using too much. I have been using this since April 13, and it is now May 22 and I have enough of all the products for atleast another month, if not longer. I plan on buying the cleanser, gel treatment, maybe the sulfur treatment, and maybe the mask in full size. If you do not want to try out the kit, I definitely recommend trying the gel treatment; I have attributed it to be the most helpful product in this kit and you could easily add it to your skin care regime without buying the rest of the Murad line. I took off a star because of the lotion issue and because I was nearly charged for another shipment of Murad due to silly automatic shipment. Overall though, I plan to keep using parts of this line and buy them locally at Sephora to avoid shipment charges (I wanted mine ASAP so the shipment charge was like... $16.00).
April 2, 2012
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Refining Mask)
Pros:
-Clears face over time
-Makes pimples smaller really fast
-Reduces the redness
-Easy to use
Cons:
-Can be hard to wash off sometimes
-Dries the face really bad, recommend the Green Tea moisturiser
-Don't leave the refining mask on over night, it dried my skin and made extremely irritating
Use it and follow to instructions. Never leave the refining mask on over night!!! Also use it daily, make it part of your daily routine and the acne will be gone in no time.
Pros:
- shrinks pimple overnight
- makes your skin soft