Coal Tar
Helps reduce scaling and itching in psoriasis and some scalp products.
Key facts
Coal Tar at a glance.
Helps with
Psoriasis scale and dandruff
Results
Condition- and product-dependent
Skin tolerance
Irritation and sun sensitivity
Routine fit
Follow the product directions
At a glance
Top things to know about Coal Tar
- What it is. Anti-scaling medicine mixture.
- What it does. Helps reduce scaling and itching in psoriasis and some scalp products.
- What limits the claim. Small older trials studied particular tar preparations. Strengths expressed as crude tar and coal-tar solution are not directly interchangeable, and evidence cannot be generalized to every shampoo.
- Choosing a formula. Consider for scaly psoriasis or an appropriate scalp product if smell and staining are acceptable.
More details: strength, timing and precautions
| Bottom line | Consider for scaly psoriasis or an appropriate scalp product if smell and staining are acceptable. |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-scaling medicine mixture |
| What it does | Helps reduce scaling and itching in psoriasis and some scalp products. |
| Best for | Psoriasis; Scalp Psoriasis; Dandruff |
| Studied concentrations | 1–5% crude coal tar preparations in older psoriasis trials; labels use different equivalents. |
| When to use | Morning or night, as directed by the finished product. |
| Time to results | Often 8–12 weeks in small cosmetic studies; results may be subtle |
| Irritation | Can irritate, stain skin or fabrics, and increase sun sensitivity; follow the label. |
| Sensitive skin | Choose a simple formula and test a small area first. Individual tolerance matters more than an ingredient’s reputation for being gentle. |
| Available | Prescription or cosmetic status depends on the active, formula and country; check the label. |
Often used for
What Coal Tar is used for
Psoriasis
Older controlled studies support some coal-tar preparations for plaque psoriasis.
Scalp Psoriasis
Can help scale in appropriate scalp products; the cited body trials are indirect.
Dandruff
Used in labelled scalp products; evidence varies by formula.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
The reviewed sources do not establish this ingredient as a treatment for this concern.
Acne
The reviewed sources do not establish this ingredient as a treatment for this concern.
Perioral Dermatitis
The reviewed sources do not establish this ingredient as a treatment for this concern.
HOW IT WORKS
How Coal Tar works
Diagram explanation and sources
Acts on rapid cell buildup: Coal tar affects abnormal epidermal activity. Helps reduce scale and itch: Response depends on the condition and formula.
Schematic illustration; not a measurement of skin penetration. Effects vary with ingredient identity and formulation.
Strengths
Coal Tar strengths
U.S. dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis products use 0.5–5% coal tar under specified labeling conditions. The percentage of a coal-tar solution is not necessarily the percentage of actual coal tar.
0.5–5%
A range for qualifying medicated products. Read the actual coal-tar equivalent when the label also names a coal-tar solution or extract.
Choosing a strength: Match shampoo, cream or ointment to the condition and body area. Look for the active concentration rather than comparing solution percentages.
Higher strengths: A larger solution percentage can be misleading. Stronger preparations may be less acceptable because of irritation, odor or staining.
Formula matters: Crude coal tar, coal-tar solutions and refined preparations differ. Their printed numbers should not be treated as identical doses.
Forms
Coal Tar forms
Shampoo
A cleansing vehicle that spreads through wet hair and rinses away. Cleansing agents can affect dryness and comfort.
Ointment
A greasy, protective base that helps hold moisture in. Often comfortable on very dry skin, but can feel heavy or sticky.
Bath solution
A liquid preparation dispersed in bath water. How it mixes and feels depends on the base and product directions.
Products
Product examples
Soap Works Coal Tar Bar Soap
Coal tar works for psoriasis. This bar will not say how much is in it, and it is alkaline soap perfumed with essential oils, sold for eczema.
MG217 Psoriasis Gel
Coal tar 2% in an alcohol gel that washes out of hair. Flammable, and it contains fragrance.
Psoriasin Deep Moisturizing Ointment
Coal tar 2% in petrolatum. A real psoriasis drug, and the label says adults only.
More products (2)
MG217 Psoriasis Ointment
Coal tar 2% in petrolatum — probably the most effective over-the-counter psoriasis product, and the messiest.
MG217 Psoriasis Medicated Conditioning 3% Coal Tar Shampoo
How to use it
When to use
Morning or night, as directed by the finished product.
How to apply
Apply a thin layer to clean skin using the amount on the product label.
Moisturizing
Use a simple moisturizer if needed; for rich oils or balms, start with a small amount.
Tolerance
Can irritate, stain skin or fabrics, and increase sun sensitivity; follow the label.
If it is not working
Reassess after roughly 8–12 weeks, or sooner for worsening symptoms. Persistent pigment, acne or a rash may need a different treatment.
Sun protection
Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher each morning, especially when treating uneven pigmentation.
What to expect
First few weeks
Assess tolerance and texture; immediate softness can come from the base formula.
4–8 weeks
Subtle changes may appear in some tested products; evidence varies.
8–12 weeks
Compare photographs in the same lighting and reassess benefit.
3–6 months
Photoaging trials often need several months; expect modest rather than dramatic change.
6–12 months
Long-term evidence is limited for many cosmetic actives; continue only if useful.
What it pairs with
| Ingredient | Use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Moisturizer | As needed | Choose a simple formula that improves comfort. |
| Sunscreen | Each morning | Use a tested broad-spectrum product; do not mix other skincare into it. |
| Other active treatments | Introduce separately | Compatibility does not prove an added benefit. Seek a treatment plan when combining medicines. |
Alternatives
Alternatives
Topical steroids
And much faster on an inflamed plaque. They cannot be used continuously because of skin thinning, which is why tar is often used to hold the ground between steroid courses.
Vitamin D analogs such as calcipotriol
Cleaner to use, and the usual prescription first choice for plaque psoriasis. Coal tar is available without a prescription and does not have the same limits on how much can be used.
Salicylic acid
It lifts scale rather than treating the process underneath, and it works well used before tar rather than instead of it.
Ketoconazole or pyrithione zinc shampoo
For dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, and far more pleasant to use. Coal tar does more where psoriasis is the real problem.
Phototherapy
More effective than any topical, and it requires a course of hospital or clinic appointments.
Safety and cautions
Common reactions
Can irritate, stain skin or fabrics, and increase sun sensitivity; follow the label.
When to stop
Stop for persistent burning, swelling, blistering or a new rash. Seek urgent care for breathing difficulty or a severe allergic reaction.
Sensitive or inflamed skin
Choose a simple formula and test a small area first. Individual tolerance matters more than an ingredient’s reputation for being gentle.
Important limits
Do not use a cosmetic product as a substitute for diagnosis of an unexplained, changing or persistent skin problem.
Pregnancy
Not stated in existing content
Questions
Questions you might be asking.
What should I choose coal tar for?
Consider for scaly psoriasis or an appropriate scalp product if smell and staining are acceptable.
How strong is the evidence?
Small older trials studied particular tar preparations. Strengths expressed as crude tar and coal-tar solution are not directly interchangeable, and evidence cannot be generalized to every shampoo.
Sources
Sources and further reading
Research updated 2026-10-25. Evidence grades reflect confidence in a specific benefit, not its size.
Related
Keep exploring.
Scalp Psoriasis
Psoriasis
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dandruff
Salicylic Acid
Acne
Perioral Dermatitis
Phototherapy
Coal Tar vs Salicylic Acid
Coal Tar vs Pyrithione Zinc
Coal Tar vs Selenium Sulfide
