Sulfur Compounds

Sulfur is one of the oldest medicines in dermatology — used for skin conditions since antiquity, long before anyone understood why it worked. It’s present in peat as both inorganic sulfate and organic sulfur woven into the humic substance matrix, and sulfur-rich peats have been specifically sought out for therapeutic use in European spa tradition.

What sulfur does

Softening and shedding. Sulfur is keratolytic — it breaks down keratin, the protein that makes up the outer layer of skin. This softens and removes the thick, scaly buildup that characterises conditions like psoriasis, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis. It’s the same mechanism behind many medicated shampoos and peeling treatments (Gupta 2004).

Killing microbes. Sulfur compounds are both antifungal and antibacterial (Gupta 2004). This makes sulfur-containing peat relevant for conditions where microbial overgrowth is part of the problem — acne (bacteria), dandruff and seb derm (Malassezia yeast), and fungal skin infections.

In peat

Sulfur content varies significantly by peat source — from 0.1% to 2% of dry mass. This variation matters therapeutically. Czech and German spa peats, particularly from iron- and sulfur-rich fen deposits, have been historically preferred for skin conditions precisely because of their higher sulfur content. The iron-sulfur combination in these peats (as noted in Františkovy Lázně tradition) adds both keratolytic and antimicrobial dimensions to the treatment.

Nordic sphagnum peats tend to be lower in sulfur. For conditions where keratolytic action is important, peat source selection matters more than it does for purely anti-inflammatory applications.