Coal tar has been used as a topical preparation to treat psoriasis for many years. Unfortunately, the use of coal tar products has been discouraged in recent years because they contain possibe cancer causing properties. I will look at the evidence and consider whether coal tar is as an effective psoriasis cure and whether it’s a safe treatment option.
Firstly, let’s have a look at what coal tar is and how it’s derived. Coal tar, a thick brown or black liquid, is a by-product of the coal industry often used in the building industry. However, over 150 years ago the chemicals contained in the coal tar were discovered to be effective in treating psoriasis, both on its own or mixed with other ingredients. Although it’s still not fully understood how coal tar works in the tretment of psoriasis, it’s thought to reduce inflammation and slow down the turnover of skin cells.
You can find coal tar preparations in many over-the-counter and prescription-only creams, lotions, ointments, bath oils and shampoos and these are usually safe. However, some minor skin irritations have been experienced and in some cases more serious reactions such as hives, swelling, stinging and burning.
Also, coal tar can discolor fair skin and hair as well stain clothes and other fabrics. It’s always a good idea to wear old clothes and use old bedding when you first use coal tar products in case they stain. Very few people suffer from any serious side effects. The biggest problem that people have when using coal tar products is the smell.
At first crude coal tar was used in a 1 to 10% concentration in soft paraffin to treat psoriasis. Fortunately, it is less commonly used this way these days because it is very smelly and messy to use and people couldn’t put up with it. These days creams contain between 0.4 – 2% crude oil tar and are more pleasant and easier to use at home. However, two studies have shown that a 1% crude coal tar used twice daily has significantly less therapeutic effect than a 5% concentration.
The studies concluded that there were no benefits in exceeding a 5% concentration. Preparations such as Psorin ointment which contains dithranol, salycylic acid and 1% coal tar is commonly prescribed for treating psoriais. This is because the active ingredients help slowdown the process of skin cell production, shed old skin cells and reduce inflammation.
A recent study compared a new coal tar preparation, Exorex (containing 1% coal tar) with Calcipotiol cream (containing Vitamin D), and concluded that even though Exorex was as effective as Calcipotriol, patients could tolerate Calcipotriol better. However, the study concluded that coal tar preparations are considerably less expensive than taking calcipotriol and are a useful and effective topical medication for chronic psoriasis.
Even though studies have found that using a 5% crude coal tar concentration is more effective than a 1% concentration, the World Health Organization’s International Cancer Research Agency has classified that a 5% or greater concentration is carcinogenic. Unfortunately some studies have shown that very high concentrations of coal tar may cause cancer and is a cause of concern to doctors and dermatologists. Californian law regards that even a 0.5% concentration is dangerous, whilst the FDA maintains that using 0.5% to 5% preparations is safe.
With all this confusing information, the question to be answered is whether coal tar products cause cancer? In the 1950s, 280 patients were treated with a combination of coal tar and UV light (Goeckerman regimen). After a 25 year follow-up, researchers found that the incidence of skin cancer had not increased above the expected incidence of the general population. The conclusion was that there was a minimal risk for skin cancer using coal tar preparations.
Even though the medical profession remain cautious, there is no definitive evidence that using over-the-counter coal tar preparations cause cancer. Taking everything into account, it appears that coal tar is still a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis.
If you are still concerned about using coal tar products, there are other methods of psoriasis cure. You can read about the best psoriasis cream at my Clear Skin Guide website.
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