Sulfur soaps? If you’re wondering what they are and what they are used for, here are some quick facts about sulfur soap.
What is Sulfur?
Sulfur is a yellow nonmetallic mineral found in nature. If you’re ever smelled rotten eggs, that’s the smell. It is the stuff found in gunpowder, in the manufacture of rubber products, such as tires, insecticides and pharmaceuticals. If you ever light a match, it’s the sulfur that produces the flame.
Sulfur Soaps
Sulfur is also used in the making of antiseptic, antibacterial soap to treat many skin conditions. It usually constituted about 10 percent of the soap. The rest of the soap is made of fragrance and neutral soap base. Certain agents may be added to the sulfur soaps to target certain skin conditions.
Benefits
According to PubMed, sulfur has been utilized to treat various skin conditions for centuries. These include:
• Fungal infections
• Scabies
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Acne
• Seborrhoeic eczema
• Cutaneous disorders
How Does Sulfur Soap Works
Sulfur soap works as a topical salicylate. When it is applied to the affected area, it will cause the skin to swell and soften, making it easy to slouch or peel away the affected skin. In addition, sulfur has an active ingredient, kertolytic, that has antibacterial action.
Clears Acne
According to Mayo clinic sulfur soap may be used to treat acne. Such acne sulfur soaps usually have other active ingredients such salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or resorcinol. They work together to remove dead skin cells that are clogging the pores and by removing excess oil.
Treats Seborrheic Dermatitis
If you have red, scaly, itchy skin on the scalp and stubborn dandruff, you may have Seborrheic dermatitis. It can also affect face, upper chest, back and any oily areas of the body and is caused by a fungus. It is commonly referred to as cradle cap in infants. Although it is generally harmless, it can be annoying, embarrassing and uncomfortable. Using sulfur soap can reduce the amount of fungus since sulfur soap is antifungal.
Precaution to Take When Using Sulfur Soap
Before using sulfur soap, make sure you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients found in the soap. Always consult your doctor if you’re not sure. Sulfur soap can be drying, so be sure to use a moisturizer in conjunction with sulfur soap use. There are also milder sulfur soaps with 3 percent sulfur content.
