Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur Foam

Dosage form: foam aerosol
Drug class:Topical antibiotics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 23, 2021.

Disclaimer: This drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective, and this labeling has not been approved by FDA. For further information about unapproved drugs, click here.

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Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur Foam Description

Sodium sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide with antibacterial activity. Sulfur acts as a keratolytic agent. Chemically sodium sulfacetamide is N-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]-acetamide, monosodium salt, monohydrate. The structural formula is:

Each gram of SSS 10 - 5 Emollient Foam contains 100 mg of Sodium Sulfacetamide and 50 mg of Sulfur in an aqueous based emollient foam vehicle containing: Butane, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Polysorbate 20, Propane, Titanium Dioxide, Water.

Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur Foam - Clinical Pharmacology

Sodium sulfacetamide exhibits antibacterial activity. 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 unknown, but it is reported to result from the interaction of sulfur with the cysteine content of keratinocytes. Furthermore, in combination with sulfacetamide, sulfur has been reported to inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, thereby adding to the product’s antibacterial activity and reducing associated inflammation.

INDICATIONS

SSS 10 - 5 Emollient Foam is indicated in the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.

Contraindications

SSS 10 - 5 Emollient Foam is contraindicated for use by patients having known hypersensitivity to sulf...