Medication reference

Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% Sulfur 4%

TOPICAL

Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% Sulfur 4%. Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% and Sulfur 4% Topical Suspension is indicated in the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.

Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% Sulfur 4%

Brand names

SODIUM SULFACETAMIDE, SULFUR

Active ingredients

SULFACETAMIDE SODIUMSULFUR

Indications

Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% and Sulfur 4% Topical Suspension is indicated in the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.

Dosage

Apply Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% and Sulfur 4% Topical Suspension once or twice daily to affected areas, or as directed by your physician. Wet skin and liberally apply to areas to be cleansed. Massage gently into skin for 10-20 seconds, working into a full lather, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. If drying occurs, it may be controlled by rinsing off Sodium Sulfacetamide 8% and Sulfur 4% Topical Suspension sooner or using less often.

Warnings

Although rare, sensitivity to sodium sulfacetamide may occur. Therefore, caution and careful supervision should be observed when prescribing this drug for patients who may be prone to hypersensitivity to topical sulfonamides. Systemic toxic reactions such as agranulocytosis, acute hemolytic anemia, purpura hemorrhagica, drug fever, jaundice and contact dermatitis indicate hypersensitivity to sulfonamides. Particular caution should be employed if areas of denuded or abraded skin are involved.

Contraindications

This product is contraindicated for use by persons with known or suspected hypersensitivity to sulfonamides, sulfur or any other component of this preparation. This product is not to be used by patients with kidney disease.

Adverse reactions

Although rare, sodium sulfacetamide may cause local irritation. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Mechanism of action

The most widely accepted mechanism of action of sulfonamides is the woods-fildes theory, which is based on the fact that sulfonamides act as competitive antagonists to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential component for bacterial growth. While absorption through intact skin has not been determined, sodium sulfacetamide is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally and excreted in the urine, largely unchanged. The biological half-life has variously been reported as 7 to 12.8 hours. The exact mode of action of sulfur in the treatment of acne is not known, but it has been reported that it inhibits the growth of Propionibacterium acnes and the formation of free fatty acids.

NDC examples

87026-203

Indicated ICD-10 codes

Source: openFDA + RxNorm · 2026

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