Ingredient · dataset v56
Sulfur and fungal acne
Antifungal · known to help
Why it's known to help
A classic mild antifungal and keratolytic; sulfur preparations have a long record against flaky, yeast-adjacent skin.
Direct Malassezia kill-data is thinner than for the azoles, and the flaking benefit confounds the picture — limited.
Evidence strength
Strength 1/3
Function
Antifungal
Also listed as
Sulphur, Precipitated Sulfur, Colloidal Sulfur, Sublimed Sulfur
Checked products with this ingredient (5)
Product types: Antifungal treatments, Serums & Treatments
Antifungal treatments (4)
- De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment 10% (Acne Treatment)
- Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment (Sulfur 10%, spot)
- DermaHarmony 10% Sulfur + 3% Salicylic Acid Bar Soap
- Bye Bye Blemish Original Drying Lotion 1 oz
Serums & Treatments (1)
Related antifungal
- Benzoyl Peroxide — Antifungal · known to help
- Bifonazole — Antifungal · known to help
- Ciclopirox — Antifungal · known to help
- Climbazole — Antifungal · known to help
- Clotrimazole — Antifungal · known to help
- Econazole — Antifungal · known to help
- Ketoconazole — Antifungal · known to help
- Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil — Antifungal · known to help
Sources
- Bamford 1974 — sulfur-salicylic shampoo vs placebo in tinea versicolor RCT (Arch Dermatol)
- EU CosIng database — search the INCI name
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13 (dataset v56).
Questions
Does Sulfur help with fungal acne?
It is known to help: A classic mild antifungal and keratolytic; sulfur preparations have a long record against flaky, yeast-adjacent skin. It is commonly used against Malassezia — that is not a claim that any product treats or cures anything.
Does Sulfur feed Malassezia?
No: Sulfur is known to help against Malassezia, not feed it. That is not a claim that any product treats or cures anything.
Is this medical advice?
No. We screen ingredient lists; we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. When in doubt, ask a dermatologist.
Check a full list containing Sulfur →
Not medical advice: we screen ingredient lists for potential triggers — we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. Dataset v56.