Products
Pure sulfur is available in pharmacies and drugstores. It is found in creams, shampoos and sulfur baths, among other products.
Structure and properties
The pharmacopoeia defines sulfur for external use (S, Mr = 32.07 g/mol) as a yellow powder that is practically insoluble in water. Sulfur melts at about 119°C to form a red liquid. It burns with a blue flame when heated, forming the toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2), see also under redox reactions. Sulfur often exists as cyclo-octa-sulfur, i.e. as a ring with 8 sulfur atoms. In addition, many other modifications occur. Numerous different sulfur qualities exist, for example colloidal, sublimed, purified or precipitated sulfur. Sulfur often occurs near volcanoes and also escapes from them in the form of sulfur dioxide. Today, it is usually obtained as a by-product of petroleum processing. Sulfur belongs to the nonmetals and is one of the few chemical elements that occurs almost purely on Earth.
Effects
Sulfur has keratolytic, antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal) and antiparasitic properties when used externally. Sulfur is an important element of the human body and is found, for example, in proteins in the form of the amino acids methionine and cysteine, with cysteine forming the disulfide bridges. Numerous pharmaceutical agents also contain sulfur, including, for example, the penicillins or substances with the thiazole ring.
Fields of application
Sulfur is mainly used for the treatment of skin diseases. However, it has lost its importance in medicine. Traditional applications include:
- Acne
- Pityriasis versicolor
- Seborrhea
- Dandruff
- Scabies
- Eczema
- Fungal infections
- Rosacea
Sulfur baths are also used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Dosage
According to the package leaflet. The medicines are used externally. For internal therapy, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is used mainly in alternative medicine.
Abuse
Sulfur is abused to make black powder, which can cause serious injury if not handled properly. In pharmacies and drugstores, sulfur should therefore, in our view, not be given to young people (who are willing to experiment).
Contraindications
Contraindications include (selection):
- Hypersensitivity
- Application to the eye and mucous membranes
- Application on injured or diseased skin
- Peroral therapy
- Children, pregnancy, lactation
Full precautions can be found in the drug label.
Adverse effects
Possible adverse effects include local reactions such as skin irritation. This is due to the irritating properties of sulfur. Elemental sulfur has a strong odor that remains on the skin for a long time.