Sodium Sulfacetamide 10% / Sulfur 5%

Also known as: sulfacetamide-sulfur, SSS

Dermatology

In plain English

This is a long-used combination wash/foam for acne, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis. The sulfacetamide part fights bacteria and calms inflammation, and the sulfur part gently exfoliates and reduces oil. It is a practical option, especially when acne and seborrheic dermatitis overlap. People with a sulfa (sulfonamide) allergy should avoid it.

The science

Sodium sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide that competitively inhibits bacterial para-aminobenzoic-acid utilization, impairing folate synthesis in susceptible organisms (including C. acnes), and adds anti-inflammatory activity; sulfur provides keratolytic and mildly antimicrobial effects. The FDA-approved 10%/5% combination reduces inflammatory lesions and erythema in acne and rosacea; a double-blind trial in rosacea showed 78% lesion reduction at 8 weeks versus 36% with vehicle.

References

• Del Rosso JQ, sodium sulfacetamide 10%-sulfur 5% emollient foam in acne, J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2010
• Sauder DN et al., sodium sulfacetamide 10%/sulfur 5% lotion in rosacea (double-blind study), J Dermatolog Treat 1997