Contents

Sulfur in pharmacy

Molecule used for pharmaceutical treatment of skin conditions

Sulfur in pharmacy

Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	Multum Consumer Information
Routes of administration	Topical, rarely oral
ATC code	D10AB02 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	US: OTC In general: Over-the-counter (OTC)
Identifiers
IUPAC name Octathiocane
CAS Number	10544-50-0 Y 7704-34-9 (elemental sulfur)
PubChem CID	66348
ChemSpider	59726
UNII	70FD1KFU70
ChEBI	CHEBI:29385
Chemical and physical data
Formula	S8
Molar mass	256.48 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES S1SSSSSSS1
InChI InChI=1S/S8/c1-2-4-6-8-7-5-3-1 Key:JLQNHALFVCURHW-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Sulfur is used in pharmaceutical skin preparations for the treatment of acne and other conditions. It acts as a keratolytic agent and also kills bacteria, fungi, scabies mites and other parasites.

Chemically, it is the naturally occurring octasulfur (S₈).

Forms and uses[edit]

• Flowers of sulfurorsublimed sulfur (Latin: sulfur sublimatum) is the naturally occurring, unpurified form.^[1] It comes in yellow flakes and has been used in traditional and alternative medicine for humans and animals, as well as in alchemy and sulfuring fruit before drying.
• Purified sulfur (sulfur depuratum) is prepared by washing sublimed sulfur with ammonia. It is a fine yellow powder. It was formerly used as a laxative, but this application is rare today.^[1]
• Precipitated sulfur (sulfur praecipitatum) is prepared by boiling sulfur and calcium oxide in water and then precipitating with hydrochloric acid. It, too, is a fine yellow powder.^[1]
• Colloidal sulfur (sulfur colloidale) is an extremely fine sulfur powder prepared by repeated precipitation, first from polysulfides with protein and then from a slightly alkaline solution with ethanoloracetone. It has a greyish-white colour. Colloidal solutions in water are milky, and bluish when viewed against the light due to the Tyndall effect.^[1]

Topical uses[edit]

Precipitated sulfur and colloidal sulfur are used, in form of lotions, creams, powders, soaps, and bath additives, for the treatment of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, and seborrhoeic dermatitis.^[1][2][3] Other topical uses included the treatment of superficial mycoses (infections with fungi) and scabies, but this is largely obsolete now.

Adverse effects[edit]

Common adverse effects include irritation of the skin at the application site, such as dryness, stinging, itching and peeling.^[4] Generalised allergic reactions are rare; they include hives as well as swelling of lips, tongue, and throat, potentially closing up the respiratory tract.^[4]

Overdose[edit]

Ingesting more than a few grams can lead to poisoning by hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which the gut flora produces from sulfur. H₂S is also generated on the skin, but topical formulations do not induce toxic concentrations, except when large quantities are used for small children.^[1]

Mechanism of action[edit]

Sulfur is converted to hydrogen sulfide through reduction, partly by bacteria. H₂S kills bacteria (possibly including Propionibacterium acnes which plays a role in acne^[2]), fungi, and parasites such as scabies mites. In the gut, H₂S increases motility, acting as a laxative.^[1] Sulfur's keratolytic action is also mediated by H₂S; in this case, the hydrogen sulfide is produced by direct interaction with the target keratinocytes themselves.^[5]

See also[edit]

• Sulfur (general information about this chemical element)

References[edit]