Treatment of psoriasis with birch tar: recipes, ointments, creams, masks

Tar is vegetable raw materials used for many dermatological diseases. Let's consider its medicinal properties and peculiarities of application in psoriasis.

The substance obtained in the process of dry distillation of wood is tar. It contains such components as betulin, phenol, xylene, cresol, guaiacol, creosote, toluene, as well as esters of organic acids, aromatic hydrocarbons and ketones. Their long-term effect is effective in the treatment of many dermatological diseases, and especially psoriasis.

Pure tar and preparations based on it have the following properties:

• Antiseptic.
• Disinfectant.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Keratolytic.
• Antiparasitic.
• Keratoplastic.

Vegetable raw materials are most often produced from pine, juniper and, of course, birch. The composition of birch tar is distinguished by an impressive number of different substances that have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, dry out the skin, anesthetize and disinfect. When exposed to lesions reduce redness, relieve itching and burning, promote the resorption of abscesses on the skin.

Does birch tar helps with psoriasis?

One of the most common dermatological diseases of a chronic nature is psoriasis. The patient complains of frequent relapses of the rash that occurs on any surface of the body and is accompanied by severe itching and flaking. About 4% of the world's population suffers from this pathology. The disease can be hereditary, or acquired. Most often, its appearance contributes to such factors as: violations of the immune, endocrine and nervous system, metabolic disorders.

For treatment, various methods are used, both traditional and alternative medicine. The composition of the most effective drugs include plant components, the most popular of which is tar. Proceeding from this, many patients have a question: does birch tar helps with psoriasis?

• The substance is an oily liquid of dark color with a characteristic odor. It is used in medicine, veterinary medicine and even in industry.
• It is used in the treatment of various dermatological diseases: psoriasis, scabies, eczema, lichen, allergic rashes, diathesis and others.
• It is an excellent antiseptic, since it speeds up the healing of wounds and burns, preventing their suppuration. Effective in the treatment of skin fungal diseases, boils, festering. Accelerates the regeneration of tissues due to improved blood supply.
• The composition of birch raw materials includes more than 10 thousand different substances: organic acids, resinous components, phytoncides, toluene. They give it detoxification and antiseptic properties

Another advantage of the herbal remedy is that, unlike corticosteroid ointments and other hormonal drugs, it is absolutely safe for the body. Therefore, with all certainty, we can say that with proper application, birch tar helps with psoriasis.

[1], [2]

Indications of the tar in psoriasis

Because of the wide spectrum of action, there are many indications for the use of tar: for psoriasis, chronic and microbial eczema, scabies, alopecia, various fungal skin diseases, neurodermatitis. Vegetable raw materials are effective in dermatoses, ichthyosis, seborrhea, various allergic lesions and other pathologies. Helps with problems of a physiological nature: burns, trauma, inflammation, calluses.

It is also possible to use the internal use of tar in infections of the genitourinary system and the oral cavity, metabolic disorders, inflammatory lesions, upper respiratory tract diseases and oncology.

Efficiency and such comprehensive use of plant raw materials is explained by its antiseptic, that is, antimicrobial properties. The agent prevents the development of harmful microorganisms. Depending on the field of application, it can exert its effect on the skin, mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory or urinary tract.

[3]

Release form

For the treatment of psoriasis, that is, chronic pathology affecting the skin, medicines of different action and different form of release are used. One of the most effective is tar. It helps cure plaques, eliminate itching and flaky skin.

To date, there are many pharmaceuticals and cosmetics based on tar. Most often for the treatment of tar used ointments, soaps, special shampoos, creams and lotions.

Shampoos with tar for psoriasis

To treat psoriatic plaques, various medicinal ointments, lotions and even soap are used on the skin. Shampoos with tar in psoriasis are aimed at treating the disease on the scalp. The complex composition of these agents has this effect:

• Acceleration of regeneration of damaged epidermis, decrease in the size of psoriasis plaques.
• Moisturizing the skin, getting rid of dryness and peeling.
• Minimization of pain, itching and burning.
• Elimination of the inflammatory process.
• Purification of the epidermis from dead cells.

Shampoos can be used not only for psoriasis, but also for the treatment of dandruff, seborrhea, hair loss and other dermatological diseases. The active substance can be either birch tar, pine, juniper, coal or willow.

To date, the pharmaceutical market is represented by many shampoos with tar, aimed at treating psoriasis. Consider the most popular of them:

• Psorilom - a product with a natural composition (birch tar, extract of string, chamomile, celandine and St. John's wort). Has antimicrobial, antifungal and antiseptic action. Effectively removes itching and peeling, accelerates healing. The positive effect is noticeable after the first application. For medicinal purposes, shampoo should be used every other day, and in preventive - once a week.
• 911 tar - has a pleasant smell and rich composition: birch tar, coconut oil, glycerin, cathon. It fights against fungal lesions, accelerates the departure of psoriatic scales, activates regeneration processes. Suitable for daily use, both in the acute course of psoriasis, and for its prevention.
• Friederm tar - a product based on refined coal tar. Relieves the painful symptoms of psoriasis, accelerates the process of skin cleansing and healing. Prevents the spread of plaques to healthy parts of tissues. On average, the course of treatment lasts about 3 months with shampoo application 2-3 times a week.
• Super psori - a cosmetic product based on naphthalan oil, tar and magnesium salts. Relieves irritation, minimizes inflammation, moisturizes and softens the skin. Promotes careful exfoliation of scales. It has regenerative and antiseptic properties. The course of treatment is 1 month, with application of the drug 2-3 times a week.
• Tana is a shampoo based on birch raw materials, coconut oil, provitamin B5 and allantoin. Quickly removes itching and irritation, moisturizes, improves local blood circulation and restores water-salt balance. To achieve lasting results, the drug should be used for a month 1-2 times a week.
• Algopix - a remedy with juniper tar. Effectively removes inflammation, itching, burning, peeling. Accelerates the healing of wounds and has an antiseptic effect. The recommended course of treatment is 1 month with application once a week. To fix the result after the 14-day break, the therapy must be repeated.

In addition to the above shampoos, positive remarks in the treatment of chronic dermatological disease have such means: a solid shampoo LUSH c with juniper tar, shampoo and air conditioning with coal tar Denorex Therapeutic Protection, means Fongitar and Polytar. And also Image, Gold silk and a tool based on coal tar Alfosil. Before using any cosmetic product with medicinal properties, it is necessary to consult a physician. Self-use of tar tar shampoos without observing the frequency of their use can aggravate the course of the disease.

[4], [5], [6],

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacological properties and preparations based on tar are due to the curative effect of the substances that make up its composition. Pharmacodynamics of cresols and phytoncides indicates their disinfecting effect. Guyacol shows antiseptic and antiparasitic activity, and phenol effectively disinfects.

In its pure form, the active ingredients of the drug have strong irritant properties, so when applied to the skin, a chemical burn can be triggered. Therapeutic doses cause reflex irritation of nerve endings and skin receptors. With the internal application of the substance, special attention is paid to the complex action of all components, and with its external antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

[7], [8]

Pharmacokinetics

For the treatment of psoriasis, tar is most often applied externally. Pharmacokinetics indicates the absence of systemic absorption, since all components have a locally irritating effect. Herbal remedy effectively removes itching, disinfects, dries and numbs the inflamed skin. The therapeutic effect develops 10-15 minutes after application and persists for 1.5-2 hours.

[9], [10]

Dosing and administration

The effectiveness of treatment depends largely on the way tar is used in psoriasis. The herbal remedy can be used both internally and externally. Consider the general rules of therapy, the observance of which will not allow the exacerbation of the disease and irritation of the skin:

• When fighting with chronic disease before applying tar, you need to take a bath with herbs or medicinal oils. This will enhance the action of the herbal remedy.
• Tar can be used as compresses. To do this, moisten gauze or bandage in plant raw materials and apply to the affected surfaces for 5-6 hours.
• To treat wet wounds, the product should be rubbed 2-3 times a day. If there is a lesion of the scalp, the tar is diluted with alcohol in a 1: 1 ratio.
• In case of extensive skin lesions, the drug should be used during water procedures. Add 100 g of raw material to a warm bath and lie in the water for 10-15 minutes, in order for the scales to come off the skin.

Do not use pure tar, it is recommended to dilute it with 2% boric acid. Apply ointment on psoriasis plaques better with a hard brush. The agent is applied for 30 minutes, after which it is washed off and the treated areas are covered with ointments based on lanolin or paraffin applications. Procedures should be carried out daily.

Within 24 hours after using tar, the skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. During this period, it is necessary to shorten stay in the sun, and cover the treated areas with clothing. If this recommendation is not followed, you can get a serious sunburn that will aggravate the course of the disease and complicate the treatment.

Tar is inside with psoriasis

There are many recipes for alternative medicine that provide for both external and internal use of herbal components with medicinal properties. Tar inward with psoriasis is prescribed for general strengthening of the body, and especially the endocrine system. It treats not only dermatological diseases, but also tuberculosis, oncology and many other pathological conditions.

The most popular recipe for psoriasis is tar with bread:

• Take a piece of any bread and drop 5 drops of tar on it. Do not wash down, carefully squeeze everything and go to bed.
• The next evening, add another drop, that is, take 6 drops. Within ten days, add one drop.
• On ten drops it is necessary to hold out for 14 days, after which gradually reduce the dosage to 5 drops. That is, the entire course of treatment will take 24 days.

In this case, the positive effect of therapy will be noticeable in the second week. This product will help clear the skin, remove toxins from the body, normalize sweating and help with constipation. If desired, you can use an apple, honey or sugar instead of bread.

[14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20]

Tar with milk for psoriasis

Another unconventional method of treating chronic dermatological diseases is tar with milk. In psoriasis, it is taken according to the following scheme:

• 1-7 days - 1 drop of tar
• 7-14 day - 2 drops
• 14-21 day - 3 drops

And so to ten weeks, adding each time one drop and diluting it in 50 ml of milk. After this, you need to make a 2-month break and repeat the course of treatment.

When using the product internally, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that it purifies magnesium and potassium from the body. Therefore, it is recommended to take mineral-vitamin complexes additionally.

Use of the tar in psoriasis during pregnancy

The need to use tar in psoriasis during pregnancy and breastfeeding can only be determined by the attending physician. In most cases, the drug is not applied. Tar contains a large amount of benzopyrine, which has teratogenic and carcinogenic properties. The herbal remedy is not recommended for use during pregnancy planning.

Contraindications

The main contraindications to the use of tar for the treatment of psoriasis are associated with the individual characteristics of the patient's body and the nuances of the course of the disease.

The herbal remedy is contraindicated when:

• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Diseases of the kidneys and liver.
• Lipoma.
• Acne.
• Furunculosis.
• Exacerbation of chronic pathologies.

In any case, before using the drug, you should consult your doctor. This will significantly reduce the risk of unwanted reactions from many organs and systems.

[11], [12]

Side effects of the tar in psoriasis

Incorrect application of tar and preparations on its basis can cause side effects.

Consider the main ones:

• Increased dryness and irritation due to blockage of pores and hair follicles.
• Hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.
• With prolonged use or application of the drug to large areas of the body, toxic effects on the renal system may develop.
• When applied to the skin with deep erosions and wounds, a burning sensation appears, which stops after 10-15 minutes.

In rare cases, tar in psoriasis increases the inflammatory process and provokes an aggravation of other chronic diseases. When the above reactions appear, you must reduce the dosage or stop using the product and seek medical help.

[13]

Overdose

Long-term use or exceeding the recommended dosage of tar or preparations based on it can cause adverse symptoms. Overdose is most often manifested by various allergic reactions that occur after the drug is withdrawn. If the remedy was used for internal use, then there may be attacks of vomiting and nausea, headaches and discomfort in the spine, gastrointestinal disturbances and insomnia.

[21], [22], [23], [24]

Interactions with other drugs

When treating psoriasis with tar, special care must be taken when interacting with other drugs. Dangers are drugs (sulfonamides, phenothiazine derivatives), which increase the sensitivity of the epidermis. Simultaneous use with salicylic acid or sulfuric ointment enhances the effectiveness of the herbal remedy and prevents irritation.

[25], [26]

Storage conditions

According to storage conditions, tar should be kept in a dark place, protected from moisture and inaccessible to children. The storage temperature should not exceed 25 ° C. Failure to comply with these recommendations can lead to premature damage to the drug.

[27], [28]

Shelf life

Pharmacy tar has a shelf life of 5 years (indicated on a jar or tube). If you buy this medicine from your hands or manufacture it yourself, the expiry date will depend on the observance of storage conditions. As a rule, this is 3-5 years.

[29], [30]

Reviews

Positive feedback on the treatment of psoriasis using a substance obtained during the dry distillation of wood, confirm the effectiveness of such therapy. Regardless of the method of using tar, it can easily relieve itching, burning and dryness, contributes to the detachment of plaques and scales.

Tar for psoriasis for many patients becomes a life saver. Vegetable raw material is harmless to the body, has a minimum of contraindications and side effects. With its correct application, you can achieve a stable remission or completely get rid of dermatological problems and improve the body.