Coal tar is a medicine that's used on the skin and scalp to treat itching, irritation and dry patches (scaling and flaking). It also has some antibacterial properties.
It comes as a cream, ointment, scalp lotion, shampoo or a liquid you add to your bath (emulsion additive).
Coal tar can help with problems such as:
Most coal tar products are mild. You can buy them from a pharmacy or shop, or get them on prescription.
Coal tar is sometimes combined with other ingredients such as calamine, coconut oil, salicylic acid, dithranol, precipitated sulfur or zinc oxide. These combined products are available as brands called Capasal, Cocois and Sebco.
Key facts
- Do not use coal tar that you buy from shops or pharmacies on your face, around your bottom, on your genitals or on broken or infected skin. Talk to your pharmacist about coal tar products for these areas.
- For adults, symptoms should improve within 4 weeks of using coal tar treatment. For children, it should be within about 2 weeks. If your symptoms do not get better, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
- Most people do not have any side effects from coal tar, but it can sometimes cause skin irritation, increased sensitivity to the sun (photosensitivity) and acne breakouts.
- Coal tar may stain your skin, hair, clothes or bedding and has a strong smell.
- Some coal tar products contain ingredients that are flammable, which can cause clothes or bedding to burn more easily. Check your product label.