Sometimes I shake my head at how times have changed. Growing up, I used sulfur for acne, and yes, it smelled like rotten eggs. I really cannot remember complaining about the smell. I mean, it worked wonderfully, but things change when you have kids. Is it an old treatment today or can it still help?
As my kids reached puberty, their faces began to break out. So to the drug store, I went to get sulfur soap that had cured my acne. My daughter refused to use the sulfur soap, so back to the store I went. I searched the shelves for a product that would treat her acne without the smell. To my surprise, I found many products that had used sulfur for acne treatment.
After some trial and error, I did find an over-the-counter treatment for my daughter that did not have a sulfur smell. But why is sulfur so important when it comes to acne treatment?
Studies On Sulfur For Acne
Sulfur is not proven to help acne, but if we look at the results sulfur has produced through the years, it says that sulfur will work to treat acne. Way back in 1988, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology stated that sulfur, when applied topically, can have beneficial effects. It does clearly state that sulfur is not for the moderate to severe cases of acne.
Sulfur is also thought to help scars produced by acne because of the exfoliating properties produced by the drying agents in sulfur.
Why is sulfur added to acne treatments?
Sulfur is antifungal and antibacterial. This is why it is given orally sometimes when you are sick. When it comes to the skin, there is a bacterium that contributes to the formation of acne. Since sulfur treats bacterial infections, it makes sense that the results would be the same when applied to the skin.
Another characteristic of sulfur is the fact that it is very drying. When applied to the skin, it helps acne by drying up the excess oil produced, and it exfoliates the dead skin. These actions help remove substances that could clog the pores and reduce the chances of an acne breakout.
Types of acne
Before taking the time to run to the drug store to buy up every acne treatment with sulfur in it, let’s take a look at the different types of acne.
I never really knew there were different types of acne. I knew through my experience with acne that sometimes the bumps were under the skin, and they hurt. While I knew they were there, they were not visible.
My nose was a different story, I would occasionally get a white head, but most of the time, there were little black dots all over my nose, called blackheads.
A whitehead that is red and swollen with a white center is a pustule. The reason for going into the world of pimples is to explain when sulfur will work and when it will not.
If you have simple whiteheads and blackheads, then you have what is referred to as mild acne. Any acne at all is no small matter. Sulfur will work on whiteheads and blackheads. It won’t work if your pimples are inflamed with white, pus-filled heads. When your body has an inflammatory response, sulfur alone will not work.
This is why they add ingredients like sodium sulfacetamide and benzoyl peroxide to help fight advanced acne.
Now that we understand different types of acne let’s discuss how sulfur can play a role in your skincare.
Understanding your DNA and its role in skincare
It is important to understand acne above and beyond the surface of your skin because so many factors can affect it. A DNA test can help you have this deeper understanding. A DNA test will decode what your body says and give you more information about why you have acne or a more severe type of acne.
There a couple of DNA tests that can tell you what your body needs or what you may be deficient in.
GxRenew will check how your body ages. This DNA test takes a look at how your DNA has programmed your skin to respond to such things as sun and aging.
Gx Nutrient checks for a tendency of vitamin deficiency and your body’s responses to vitamins and minerals. What you put in your body is an important factor for your skin and your health.
Both of these tests will create a clearer picture of what your skin needs to look its best inside and out.
DNA test
Collecting your DNA is not a complicated process. You just swab the inside of your cheek, which only takes one minute, seal it up and send it off to the lab. The hardest part of this process is waiting for the results.
Your results will come back to your DNA representative. You will receive a message with the test results in 2-3 weeks after sending it off. Your DNA representative will set up a time to go over these results with you and make suggestions on how to improve your skin. You can ask your DNA representative any questions you may have firsthand during your consultation.
Treating acne can be a trial and error porcess. But your DNA will help to clear up some of the trial time. You can use the suggestions you are given and take this information to your physician. It will help him see the whole picture and know which direction you may need to go with the treatment.