Where Can I Buy Coal Tar For Psoriasis
Because it can effectively remove scale, salicylic acid is often found in products for scalp psoriasis. Your dermatologist may also include salicylic acid in your treatment plan if you have thick plaque-type psoriasis anywhere on your body.
where can i buy coal tar for psoriasis
It is important to use products containing salicylic acid as indicated in the instructions. Too much can worsen psoriasis, causing dry, red, itchy skin where you applied it. Other active ingredients that can soften and remove scale are:
Anti-itch productsSome people say that the itch is the worst thing about having psoriasis. The best way to get rid of the itch is to treat the psoriasis. Until you start seeing results from treatment, using an anti-itch product can help. Look for a product that contains calamine, camphor, hydrocortisone, or menthol. These ingredients tend to work best on itchy psoriasis.
Like all medicines, some patients should avoid coal tar. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may want to use a different treatment. We have too little information about how coal tar can affect an unborn baby or a child who is nursing.
Many patients who have difficult-to-treat psoriasis on their palms and soles (palmoplantar psoriasis) see clearing when they use coal tar along with a corticosteroid that they apply to their psoriasis.
To date, studies fail to show an increased risk of cancer in people who use coal tar to treat psoriasis or atopic dermatitis (eczema). People who work with industrial coal tar, however, have an increased risk of developing cancer of the lungs, scrotum, and skin.
Salicylic acid is classified as a keratolytic, or peeling agent. It works by causing the outer layer of skin to shed. It is a common and effective treatment for a wide variety of skin problems. As a psoriasis treatment, it acts as a scale lifter, helping to soften and remove psoriasis scales.
Studies show some of the chemicals in coal tar may cause cancer, but only in very high concentrations, such as in what is used in industrial paving. If you are using tar regularly, make sure to follow a regular skin cancer checkup schedule.
California requires OTC coal tar shampoos, lotions, and creams that contain more than 0.5 percent coal tar to be labeled with cancer warnings. However, the FDA maintains that OTC products with coal tar concentrations between 0.5 percent and 5 percent are safe and effective for psoriasis, and there is no scientific evidence that the tar in OTC products is carcinogenic.
Keeping the skin moisturized daily is an important part of psoriasis care because it reduces redness and itching and helps the skin heal. Dermatologists recommend heavy creams and ointments that lock water into the skin. Cooking oils and even shortening can be effective as economical substitutes for commercial moisturizers. Here are some quick tips for keeping your skin moisturized:
Bath solutions can be beneficial in treating psoriasis. Adding oil, oatmeal, Epsom salts, or Dead Sea salts in a bath has been effective for some when it comes to removing psoriasis scales and soothing itch. Soak for around 15 minutes and apply a moisturizer or oil to the skin immediately after getting out of the bath.
Scale lifters help loosen and remove scale, allowing medications to reach the psoriasis plaques. There are scale-lifting products designed for the scalp and body. Note that scalp products are usually stronger and may be too harsh for other skin sites. OTC products that contain an active ingredient of salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea, or phenol can be used as scale lifters.
Some topical medications or moisturizers can be occluded (or covered) to increase their effectiveness and the amount absorbed into the skin. With occlusion, the topical is applied to psoriasis plaques, and the area is covered with plastic wrap, cellophane, waterproof dressing, cotton socks, or a nylon suit. Always check with your health care provider before occluding any treatments.
Inverse psoriasis can be treated with Castederm, a liquid that is painted on the affected skin to help dry moist plaques of psoriasis in the folds of the body. The use of powders may also help to dry the moist plaques associated with inverse psoriasis.
Dr. Susan Bard is an ABMS board certified dermatologist and fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery. She completed her dermatology residency, clinical research fellowship in pediatric dermatology, and a procedural dermatology fellowship at the University of Miami, where she further trained in Mohs micrographic surgery, lasers, and cosmetic surgery.
The foundation advises that even people with less than 3% appearing on the body may have significant inflammation and could experience other related conditions such as psoriatic arthritis. Because of this, people should treat any psoriasis symptoms they experience.
However, they advise that the studies in question were animal studies or occupational studies involving people working with industrial coal tar, which is much more highly concentrated than the amount of coal tar found in products that treat psoriasis.
Coal tar may irritate the skin and cause redness and dryness. Additionally, it may cause a rash or acne-like breakout. Therefore, people should test coal tar on a small area of skin before using it for psoriasis.
People can purchase coal tar in several forms, including shampoos, lotions, and soaps. They should thoroughly massage the product into the skin but avoid applying it to sensitive areas such as the genitals and rectum unless a doctor advises this.
Coal tar may cause side effects, and people should stop using it if they have severe stinging or swelling or if their symptoms worsen. In addition, coal tar shampoos may cause hair to become discolored or brittle.
Coal tar is sometimes used with phototherapy to make the skin more receptive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This should only be performed by a dermatologist using specialized phototherapy equipment. Never use a tanning bed or tanning lamp to treat psoriasis as it is more likely to cause skin damage or trigger a flare.
A 2016 review from the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews reported that 33% of people treated with coal tar shampoo experienced an improvement in scalp psoriasis symptoms but did not have a significant reduction in plaque size. Even so, coal tar caused fewer side effects than other topical products and may be beneficial when used in combination with other psoriasis treatments.
As effective as coal tar can be in treating psoriasis, it can also make psoriasis worse in some people, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. You should stop treatment immediately if you develop severe burning or stinging, swelling, or worsening psoriasis.
Elmets CA, Lim HW, Stoff B, et al. Joint American Academy of Dermatology-National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with phototherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(3):775-804. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.04.042
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Volume 5, Subchapter D -- drugs for human use. Part 358, miscellaneous external drug products for over-the-counter human use. Subpart H--drug products for the control of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Commonly used topical medications for psoriasis include corticosteroids, Vitamin D analog, keratolytics, anthralin, coal tar, and tazarotene. They may be used individually or in various combinations.6 Careful selection of both class of medication and its vehicle is crucial in the treatment of psoriasis in difficult-to-treat areas. New vehicles provide improved penetration and cosmetic acceptability of medications that previously could not be used.
Psoriasis affecting the scalp at baseline (A). The patient appied coal tar 2% foam in combination with clobetasol in an emollient foam vehicle twice daily and showed significant improvement by Week 2 (B). The patient maintained improvement at Week 6 by appplying coal tar 2% foam twice daily on week days and clobetasol in an emollient foam vehicle twice daily on weekends (C).
The mechanism of action of coal tar is not well understood. Postulated effects include a suppression of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis and subsequent inhibition of keratinocyte proliferation.9 Coal tar is thought to help correct the defect of differentiation in keratinocytes of patients with psoriasis. Additionally, it may possess antimicrobial as well as anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects.8 Coal tar has been employed as monotherapy for psoriasis or in combination with other topical and systemic agents as well as phototherapy.10 The use of coal was popularized by its effective use in combination with ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy, either as part of the original Goeckerman regimen11 or in later modified regimens.8,12,13 The Goeckerman regimen is performed on an inpatient basis and is safe and reliable, even in patients unresponsive to other conventional therapies. Additionally, it results in long-term remissions, as long as 12 months.14
Coal tar exists in various preparations including crude coal tar, coal tar ointment, and coal tar solution.15 These products have been poorly tolerated by patients for several reasons. Cosmetic concerns include staining of the clothing as well as a malodorous tar smell. Medical side effects also occur, such as irritant contact dermatitis, folliculitis, and UVA photosensitivity.6 While coal tar is not used commonly in the United States, in other parts of the world, such as the Netherlands, it is considered to be first-line therapy.16
Coal tar 2% foam (Scytera Foam, Promius Pharma) is a novel coal tar formulation in a foam vehicle. It is a behind-the-counter product that may be obtained by the patient with a recommendation from the physician, but without a prescription. This formulation differs from previous forms of coal tar in that the emollient foam vehicle spreads easily and dries quickly, with minimal odor from coal tar. In addition, in a foam vehicle, it is versatile and can be used in even difficult-to-treat areas such as the scalp, where hair limits the use of medications in many other vehicles. 041b061a72