Polytar Scalp Shampoo , Treats Psoriasis, Seborrhoeic Dermatitis, Eczema, and Dandruff, Soothes Itchy, Scaly Scalps, Contains Coal Tar, 150ml ( Pack of 1)

Product Information

Polytar Scalp Shampoo should be used once or twice a week. Wet the hair and massage into the scalp and surrounding skin. Rinse thoroughly and repeat. Use of coal tar preparations during lactation should only be considered if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the infant. Coal tar has been shown to be foetotoxic and teratogenic to the offspring of laboratory animals when administered topically, orally or by inhalation at high and maternally toxic doses (see section 5.3).

It is not known whether the topical application of coal tar preparations could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable amounts in breast milk.The scalp and adjacent areas should be massaged with the fingertips. The hair should then be thoroughly rinsed and the procedure repeated. Taking both of these shampoo applications into consideration, the total leave on time for the shampoo should be 3-5 minutes. Seek advice before using if you are breast feeding, pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or suffer from allergies. In a study using a variety of coal tar preparations total urinary poly aromatic hydrocarbons were significantly elevated in patients treated dermally for different forms of dermatoses. The treatment period was for an average of 7 days using 1.5% - 40% coal tar preparations over a body surface area that ranged from 9 to 90%. Therefore some of the hydrocarbons present in coal tar may be absorbed through the skin. The highest levels absorbed depend largely on the body surface area treated and on the duration of exposure.

This is a medicine; Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have an underlying medical condition, are taking any other medication or complementary therapy, or if symptoms persist. High dose administration of coal tar to laboratory animals is carcinogenic However, epidemiological evidence that includes prospective and retrospective studies in thousands of patients receiving coal tar therapy followed for more than 40 years do not suggest a potential increased risk of skin or systemic cancer. This medicine is for topical application to the scalp. The hair should be rinsed and a sufficient amount of shampoo applied to produce an abundant lather. No long term studies have been conducted with the product formulations. Coal tar contains certain chemicals that are mutagenic to microorganisms and mammalian cells in vitro. Topical and oral administration of high doses of coal tar to laboratory animals induces DNA adduct formation.

Tar preparations have been used extensively for over 50 years in the management of various skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and other dermatoses. The precise mechanism of action is uncertain. Coal tars are known to suppress DNA synthesis in hyperplasic skin, inhibiting mitotic activity and protein synthesis. They decrease epidermal proliferation and dermal infiltration and thus promote a return to normal keratinisation. Coal tar has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antipruritic, keratolytic, keratoplastic and vasoconstrictive effects.