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Sulfur in pharmacy
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<h2 id="forms-and-uses">Forms and uses</h2> <ul><li><i><a href="/facts/Flowers_of_sulfur/jVtv8W7g">Flowers of sulfur</a></i> or <i>sublimed sulfur</i> (<a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a>: <i>sulfur sublimatum</i>) is the naturally occurring, unpurified form.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> It comes in yellow flakes and has been used in <a href="/facts/Traditional_medicine/WLUmXCHz">traditional</a> and <a href="/facts/Alternative_medicine/XwFG5qtK">alternative</a> medicine for humans and animals, as well as in <a href="/facts/Alchemy/CEx0U1Em">alchemy</a> and sulfuring fruit before <a href="/facts/Drying_(food)/royoV3ho">drying</a>.</li> <li><i>Purified sulfur</i> (<i>sulfur depuratum</i>) is prepared by washing sublimed sulfur with <a href="/facts/Ammonia/MtLtJFtz">ammonia</a>. It is a fine yellow powder. It was formerly used as a <a href="/facts/Laxative/Sd8bddoF">laxative</a>, but this application is rare today.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a></li> <li><i>Precipitated sulfur</i> (<i>sulfur praecipitatum</i>) is prepared by boiling sulfur and <a href="/facts/Calcium_oxide/Wh9C8l7j">calcium oxide</a> in water and then <a href="/facts/Precipitation_(chemistry)/s3BgsLLY">precipitating</a> with <a href="/facts/Hydrochloric_acid/HqItJlUT">hydrochloric acid</a>. It, too, is a fine yellow powder.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Colloidal/9EVucqND">Colloidal</a> sulfur</i> (<i>sulfur colloidale</i>) is an extremely fine sulfur powder prepared by repeated precipitation, first from <a href="/facts/Polysulfides/PpfaUlw4">polysulfides</a> with protein and then from a slightly <a href="/facts/Alkaline/s6NqPGSP">alkaline</a> solution with <a href="/facts/Ethanol/3lCLfBSP">ethanol</a> or <a href="/facts/Acetone/cVyJxKqw">acetone</a>. It has a greyish-white colour. Colloidal solutions in water are milky, and bluish when viewed against the light due to the <a href="/facts/Tyndall_effect/QJ9I8yeI">Tyndall effect</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></li></ul> <h3>Topical uses</h3> <p>Precipitated sulfur and colloidal sulfur are used, in form of <a href="/facts/Lotion/GXollPbk">lotions</a>, creams, powders, soaps, and bath additives, for the treatment of <a href="/facts/Acne_vulgaris/TKJxhHSd">acne vulgaris</a>, <a href="/facts/Acne_rosacea/jxYUX2ml">acne rosacea</a>, and <a href="/facts/Seborrhoeic_dermatitis/d1CfhTDG">seborrhoeic dermatitis</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Other topical uses included the treatment of superficial <a href="/facts/Mycoses/YVK551qC">mycoses</a> (infections with fungi) and scabies, but this is largely obsolete now. </p> <h2 id="adverse-effects">Adverse effects</h2> <p>Common adverse effects include irritation of the skin at the application site, such as dryness, stinging, itching and peeling.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Generalised <a href="/facts/Allergic/dYAVosh8">allergic</a> reactions are rare; they include <a href="/facts/Hives/zMkVo9qL">hives</a> as well as swelling of lips, tongue, and throat, potentially closing up the <a href="/facts/Respiratory_tract/nnG9UEmr">respiratory tract</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="overdose">Overdose</h2> <p>Ingesting more than a few grams can lead to poisoning by <a href="/facts/Hydrogen_sulfide/UbCqjMMk">hydrogen sulfide</a> (H2S), which the <a href="/facts/Gut_flora/Xy1IWzSP">gut flora</a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="mechanism-of-action">Mechanism of action</h2> <p>Sulfur is converted to <a href="/facts/Hydrogen_sulfide/UbCqjMMk">hydrogen sulfide</a> through <a href="/facts/Redox/Pyd5RVcj">reduction</a>, partly by bacteria. H2S kills bacteria (possibly including <i><a href="/facts/Propionibacterium_acnes/zVSHsuX8">Propionibacterium acnes</a></i> which plays a role in acne<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a>), fungi, and parasites such as scabies mites. In the gut, H2S increases <a href="/facts/Gut_motility/R6zzQb1d">motility</a>, acting as a laxative.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> Sulfur's keratolytic action is also mediated by H2S; in this case, the hydrogen sulfide is produced by direct interaction with the target <a href="/facts/Keratinocyte/drqhJjuS">keratinocytes</a> themselves.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Sulfur/IK0amTfM">Sulfur</a> (general information about this chemical element)</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>FDA Professional Drug Information: Perrigo Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur. <a href="https://www.drugs.com/pro/perrigo-sodium-sulfacetamide-and-sulfur.html" target="_blank">https://www.drugs.com/pro/perrigo-sodium-sulfacetamide-and-sulfur.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Arzneibuch-Kommentar. Wissenschaftliche Erläuterungen zum Europäischen Arzneibuch und zum Deutschen Arzneibuch [Pharmacopoeia Commentary. Scientific annotations to the European Pharmacopoeia and the German Pharmacopoeia] (in German) (23rd ed.). Stuttgart: Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft. 2004. Monographie Schwefel zum äußerlichen Gebrauch [Monograph Sulfur for external use]. ISBN 978-3-8047-2575-1. <a href="978-3-8047-2575-1" target="_blank">978-3-8047-2575-1</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Multum Consumer Information: Sulfur topical. <a href="https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sulfur-topical.html" target="_blank">https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sulfur-topical.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Multum Consumer Information: Sulfur topical. <a href="https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sulfur-topical.html" target="_blank">https://www.drugs.com/mtm/sulfur-topical.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>FDA Professional Drug Information: Perrigo Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur. <a href="https://www.drugs.com/pro/perrigo-sodium-sulfacetamide-and-sulfur.html" target="_blank">https://www.drugs.com/pro/perrigo-sodium-sulfacetamide-and-sulfur.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (in German). Vol. 6B (4th ed.). Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer. 1978. pp. 672–9. ISBN 3-540-07738-3. <a href="3-540-07738-3" target="_blank">3-540-07738-3</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Lin AN, Reimer RJ, Carter DM (March 1988). "Sulfur revisited". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 18 (3): 553–8. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(88)70079-1. PMID 2450900. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>