Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to sulfur
14 other medicines are given the same way (topical) and in the same FDA class as sulfur or labeled mainly for the same use (acne); the others include 5 retinoids, 3 lincosamide antibacterials and 1 sulfone (FDA labels read October 8, 2026).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as sulfur?
Acne lists all 26 medicines labeled for it, by any route. Each row shows the conditions both labels name. They are listed as public records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another depends on the person and is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine and FDA class | Shared indication | Generic labelers (topical) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfur | this medicine | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Salicylic acid | Acne | none listed | $0.102 per patch Callus removers patch | No | No current entry |
| Benzoyl peroxide | Acne | none listed | $0.0469 per gram 10% wash | No | No current entry |
| Tretinoinretinoid | Acne | 19 labelers | $0.506 per gram 0.025% cream | No | No current entry |
| Adapaleneretinoid | Acne | 34 labelers | $0.504 per gram 0.3% gel | No | No current entry |
| Benzoyl peroxide and clindamycinlincosamide antibacterial | Acne | 11 labelers | $0.622 per gram 1-5% | No | No current entry |
| Dapsonesulfone | Acne | 16 labelers | $0.664 per gram 5% gel | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Adapalene and benzoyl peroxideretinoid | Acne | 11 labelers | $0.626 per gram 0.3-2.5% | No | No current entry |
| Azelaic acid | Acne | 5 labelers | $0.441 per gram 15% gel | No | No current entry |
| Clindamycin and tretinoinlincosamide antibacterial | Acne | 3 labelers | $3.91 per gram 1.2%-0.025% | No | No current entry |
| Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoinretinoid | Acne | none listed | $31.66 per gram 0.1%-3% cream pump | No | No current entry |
| Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide and clindamycinlincosamide antibacterial | Acne | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Benzoyl peroxide and erythromycinmacrolide | Acne | 1 labeler | $1.32 per gram Erythromycin-benzoyl gel | No | No current entry |
| Clascoteroneandrogen receptor inhibitor | Acne | none listed | $10.00 per gram 1% cream | No | No current entry |
| Trifaroteneretinoid | Acne | none listed | $16.36 per gram 0.005% cream | No | No current entry |
Source: FDA drug labels (indications) via openFDA; FDA NDC Directory; CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for each?
The headline NADAC price per unit of each medicine's most widely listed form; strengths differ, so compare like with like on each record.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What next?
- Sulfur: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls
- Sulfur vs salicylic acid
- two records side by side
- Benzoyl peroxide vs sulfur
- two records side by side
- Azelaic acid vs sulfur
- two records side by side