coal tar for DH

dkad · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 315 Location: TX (panhandle)

It seems like somewhere on this thread I talked about a Dr. giving me coal tar for severe, blistering itch when I was first told I had DH. I have never found a Dr. since who would get it for me. They would say that was an old fashioned ointment before more modern things. This past week I have had a terrible outbreak and I can't figure out why. I am thinking I had something with a lot of iodine. I just hope it wasn't G because I have been so careful. I was in walmart this AM looking for something to put on my skin. I didn't want to take something because I didn't want to be sleepy. I was asking the pharmacist for a recomendation and told him about how I had used coal tar and he said he never heard of it. So I start my search for something and lo and behold I find the main ingredient in Psoriasin Gel is coal tar. I came home and put it on and couldn't believe how much it helped. Maybe it will help someone else.
Donna

C F Hixenbaugh · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

My grandfather (born in 1900) swore by coal tar for his psoriasis. You can still find it as an ingredient in some of the dandruff shampoos. And old-time pharmacy in a small town may remember sources for it, some pharmacies still formulate their own Rx's when an MD orders them, so the raw ingredients may still be available for them to order from a formulary or pharmacy supply house. I'm reasonably certain it's not a controlled substance that would require a prescription.

mrsppmrxky · Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 1499 Location: GF Kitchen

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/drugs_view/0,1524,682,00.html#Available_In

for information on the safety of coal tar. (My DH uses T-Gel shampoo by Neutrogena and it is coal tar based.)

I did a google search and found that Walgreens sells coal tar. I don't know if this is what you are looking for or not, but here is the link.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?id=prod4511&CATID=100559&skuid=sku304511&V=G&ec=frgl_661800
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D horne · Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 21

funny - back when I was battling "the rash" and didn't know gluten was the culprit I was using my husbands dandruff shampoo to relieve the itching... it gave some relief - but of course until I went GF it didn't go away I'm going to look for that gel - I would like to get away from cortisteroids if I can.