Chen Yan Jing, Tang Jie, Wang Lin, Hua Wei
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Cosmetics Safety and Efficacy Evaluation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Aug;24(8):e70402. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70402.
Sulfur has been historically used in dermatological therapy due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities and demonstrates therapeutic efficacy in conditions such as scabies, tinea versicolor, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. However, systematic analyses of the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of different forms of sulfur (e.g., sublimed and precipitated sulfur) and bioactive derivatives (e.g., hydrogen sulfide), particularly their effects on cutaneous diseases, remain underrepresented in contemporary literature.
Our study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of pharmacological evidence and regulatory frameworks governing sulfur and its derivatives in dermatology, elucidating their mechanisms and therapeutic potential in various skin disorders.
A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted using medical terms including sulfur, sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and dermatology. Relevant literature published between 1947 and 2025 was reviewed.
This article not only summarizes the indications, potential therapeutic value, and mechanisms of sulfur and its derivatives in skin disorders, but also provides, for the first time, an overview of the usage restrictions and regulations established by food and drug administrations in most regions regarding the application of sulfur and its derivatives in dermatology.
This review highlights critical gaps in understanding the therapeutic bioactivity of sulfur and its derivatives, underscoring the need for preclinical studies to explore their translational potential as adjuvant therapies in dermatology.
由于具有广谱抗菌和免疫调节活性，硫在历史上一直被用于皮肤病治疗，并且在疥疮、花斑癣、银屑病和特应性皮炎等病症中显示出治疗效果。然而，对于不同形式的硫（如升华硫和沉淀硫）以及生物活性衍生物（如硫化氢）的治疗潜力和机制，特别是它们对皮肤疾病的影响，当代文献中的系统性分析仍然较少。
我们的研究旨在全面评估皮肤病学中关于硫及其衍生物的药理学证据和监管框架，阐明它们在各种皮肤疾病中的作用机制和治疗潜力。
使用包括硫、硫化物、硫化氢和皮肤病学等医学术语在PubMed上进行全面检索。对1947年至2025年间发表的相关文献进行了综述。
本文不仅总结了硫及其衍生物在皮肤疾病中的适应症、潜在治疗价值和作用机制，还首次概述了大多数地区的食品药品管理部门对硫及其衍生物在皮肤病学应用方面所制定的使用限制和规定。
本综述突出了在理解硫及其衍生物的治疗生物活性方面的关键差距，强调需要进行临床前研究以探索它们作为皮肤病辅助治疗的转化潜力。
