Overview of Sulfacetamide User Reviews
This section contains all of the individual user reviews and antibiotic susceptibilty rankings for Sulfacetamide (Clenia, Klaron).
If you have used Sulfacetamide as a treatment for acne vulgaris, please share your experience and opinions.
Type of Treatment: Rx Medication – Antibiotic (Topical) - Sulfa Family
How It Works: Sulfacetamide is an antibiotic. Antibiotics can improve acne symptoms by limiting the growth of bacteria that contribute to Acne Vulgaris.
When is this medication used? Sulfacetamide is rarely used as a treatment for acne. Sulfacetamide is a topical antibiotic that can be used as a treatment for all types of acne vulgaris (Acne Types: 1-4). Topical Sulfacetamide is generally used in combination with an oral antibiotic or oral retinoid for the treatment of moderate to severe acne (Acne Types: 3-4).
Frequency of Sulfacetamide Resistant P. acnes Bacteria: Rare. (What does this mean?)
Official Name: Sulfacetamide.
Popular Brand Names: Bleph, Cetamide, Clenia and Klaron.
Related Medications: Sulfamethoxazole, Co-Trimoxazole, Silver Sulfadiazine, Dapsone, Sulfamylon.
Important Note: The information provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. The Science of Acne strongly encourages you to consult a qualified medical professional before making any treatment decisions. For the complete disclaimer, click here.
Overall (Composite) Ranking for Sulfacetamide
Sulfacetamide (Clenia) Overall Score – Scale: 1 (WORST) to 5 (BEST)
The COMPOSITE ranking is calculated from a combination of all of the individual rankings for this medication (EFFECTIVENESS, ADVERSE EFFECTS and ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY).
This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (WORST) to 5 (BEST).
Share Your Experience with Sulfacetamide – Rate This Medication
Effectiveness Ranking for Sulfacetamide
Sulfacetamide (Clenia) Effectiveness Score – Scale: 1 (NOT EFFECTIVE) to 5 (VERY EFFECTIVE)
Sulfacetamide is a topical medication that is occasionally used to treat acne vulgaris. Sulfacetamide appears to be moderately effective for treating acne vulgaris. Sulfacetamide tends to work best for cases of mild to moderate acne (Acne Types: 1-2). Sulfacetamide tends to be marginally effective on its own for the treatment of moderate to severe acne (Acne Types: 3-4). For moderate to severe acne, topical sulfacetamide is often used in combination with an oral antibiotic, oral retinoid or light-based treatment.
The EFFECTIVENESS ranking is based on patient reports of how effective this medication was at improving their acne symptoms.
This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (NOT EFFECTIVE) to 5 (VERY EFFECTIVE).
Share Your Experience with Sulfacetamide – Rate This Medication
Adverse Effects Ranking for Sulfacetamide
Sulfacetamide (Clenia) Side Effects Score – Scale: 1 (NONE) to 5 (SEVERE)
Topical sufacetamide medications tend to have minimal side effects, most of which are mild. Allergic reactions are the most common problem associated with this medication.
The ADVERSE EFFECTS ranking is based on patient reports about the adverse effects and side effects that they experienced with this medication.
This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (NO SIDE EFFECTS) to 5 (SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS).
Share Your Experience with Sulfacetamide – Rate This Medication
Antibiotic Susceptibility Ranking for Sulfacetamide
Sulfacetamide (Clenia) Antibiotic Susceptibility Score – Scale: 1 (NOT SUSCEPTIBLE) to 5 (VERY SUSCEPTIBLE)
The ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY ranking is based on scientific research reports about the antibiotic sensitivity of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which is a bacterium that is a primary cause of acne symptoms. Our antibiotic susceptibility data is generated from the combined results of over 50 independent scientific studies. For more information about which antibiotics are most effective against P. acnes bacteria, visit the Antibiotic Susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes page.
Frequency of Sulfacetamide Resistant P. acnes Bacteria: Rare. (What does this mean?)
This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (NOT SUSCEPTIBLE) to 5 (VERY SUSCEPTIBLE).
Share Your Experience with Sulfacetamide – Rate This Medication
User Recommendations for Sulfacetamide
Do Acne Patients Recommend Sulfacetamide (Clenia) as a Treatment?
The USER RECOMMENDATIONS chart indicates how many reviewers recommended this medication as a treatment for Acne Vulgaris. These recommendations are only from The Science of Acne users. For additional reviews of this medication from outside sources, refer to the section below.
There are four options available for this ranking:
YES (definitely recommended)
MAYBE (conditionally recommended)
NO (not recommended)
DON’T KNOW (no opinion)
Share Your Experience with Sulfacetamide – Rate This Medication
Outside Reviews of Sulfacetamide
The following is a list of links to pages that review or discuss the use of this medication. Note: Some of these reviews are not specific to the use of this medication in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
Additional Patient Reviews of Sulfacetamide: Acne.org, WebMD, Drugs.com, EverydayHealth.com, DrugLib.com, RXList.com, Treato.com, RateADrug.com. MakeupAlley.com.
Sulfacetamide Background
Sulfacetamide (Clenia) Molecule
Sulfacetamide is a sulfa family antibiotic that is related to sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine. Sulfacetamide inhibits the growth of susceptible bacteria by preventing them from synthesizing folic acids, which an essential B-vitamin. The most common pharmaceutical preparations of sulfacetamide also include elemental sulfur.
Sulfur has been used in the treatment of skin problems since the times of the Ancient Greeks. Sulfur is an anti-bacterial and keratolytic agent, which can both kill Propionibacterium acnes bacteria and help prevent hyper-keratinized follicles (clogged pores) that contribute to acne symptoms. In addition to the treatment of acne vulgaris, sulfacetamide-based medications are frequently used to treat Rosacea and to prevent skin infections in burn patients.
Additional Names for Sulfacetamide: Albucid, Anginamide, Antebor, Apisulfa, Aureomix (Sulfacetamide and Chlortetracycline), Avar, Blefamide, Blephamide (Sulfacetamide and Prednisolone), Cerisa, Cetazin, Clarifoam, Nicosyn, Novacet, Ovace, Paraqueimol, Plexion, Prascion, Rosac, Rosaderm, Rosula, Sivex, Sodium Sulfacetamide, Sulamyd, Sulfacel, Sulfacet, Sulfacetamid, Sulfacetamida, Sulfacétamide, Sulfacetamidum, Sulfacid, Sulfacyl-Na, Sulfanilazetamid, Sulfatol, Sulfex, Sulphacetamide, Sumaxin, Suphera, Topisulf, Vasocidin (Sulfacetamide and Prednisolone), Zetacet and Zencia.
Important Note: The information provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. The Science of Acne strongly encourages you to consult a qualified medical professional before making any treatment decisions. For the complete disclaimer, click here.
Cost and Availability of Sulfacetamide
Topical medications that contain sulfacetamide and sulfur were once a very popular treatment for acne vulgaris, but have have been displaced by erythromycin, clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide as the preferred topical acne treatments. If possible, sulfacetamide should be obtained through consultation of a physician. Most doctors and dermatologists are comfortable with this medication and it is commonly prescribed as a topical treatment for skin infections, including acne vulgaris. Both plain sulfacetamide and sulfacetamide plus sulfur are commonly used and are available in brand name and generic formulations. Sulfacetamide medications tend to range from inexepensive to moderately expensive.
Important Note: The information provided above is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement. The Science of Acne encourages you to adhere to all applicable legal regulations in your jurisdiction. Before ordering pharmaceutical medications online, please read our overview: A Guide to Buying Prescription Medications on the Internet.
Sulfacetamide Price Comparison
The following pharmacies carry sulfacetamide and can be used as sources to compare prices. The laws regarding prescription medications in most countries in North America and Europe require that a pharmacy receive a valid doctor’s prescription for all antibiotics and other non-narcotic prescription medications. However, pharmacies in many other countries (eg. India, Turkey and Mexico) classify antibiotics and other non-narcotic medications as “Over The Counter” and may not require a doctor’s prescription to dispense these products.
Pharmacies for Price Comparisons
CanadaPharmacy.com (Canada)
Drugstore.com (Rite-Aid) (USA)
Related Articles from The Science of Acne
In Depth: Sulfacetamide (Clenia, Klaron) and Acne
Overview: Avoiding Negative Drug Interactions
A Guide to Buying Prescription Medications on the Internet
Overview: Prescription Medications Used in Acne Treatment
In Depth: Antibiotic Susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes
References and Sources
Books
PDR Staff Writers. 2011. 2011 Physicians’ Desk Reference (Library/Hospital Version) (Physicians’ Desk Reference (Pdr))
Gallagher. 2011. Antibiotics Simplified, Second Edition
Habif. 2009. Clinical Dermatology
Goodheart. 2006. Acne For Dummies
Bartlett. 2012. Johns Hopkins Antibiotics Guide 2012 (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Online Resources
PubMed Health - The National Institute of Health (US)
Sulfacetamide @ Wikipedia
Physician’s Insert for Sulfacetamide
Physician’s Insert for Sulfacetamide + Sulfur
Scientific Research Articles
Del Rosso. 2009. The Use of Sodium Sulfacetamide 10%-Sulfur 5% Emollient Foam in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
William, et al. 2007. Sulfur/Sodium Sulfacetamide Preparations.
Draelos. 2010. The multifunctionality of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses.
Del Rosso. 2008. Emerging topical antimicrobial options for mild-to-moderate acne: a review of the clinical evidence.
Swanson. 2003. Antibiotic Resistance of Propionibacterium acnes in Acne vulgaris.
Sauder, et al. 1997. The treatment of rosacea: the safety and efficacy of sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 5% lotion (Novacet) is demonstrated in a double-blind study.
Akhavan, et al. 2003. Topical acne drugs: review of clinical properties, systemic exposure, and safety.