Psoriasis is a chronic condition of the skin that usually makes its appearance in the individual between the ages of fifteen to thirtyfive. This skin condition is one that causes the epidermis to proliferate at a faster rate than is normal. So instead of new skin arising from the basal layer every 28 days,skin emerges every three to four days, giving rise to an excess of epidermal cells on the surface of the skin.

Body parts affected present with silvery lesions on a red, itchy base. The degree of skin involvement ranges from mild to severe. Body parts that are usually affected are the scalp, knees, elbows and the lower part of the back and the genitalia.

Medical treatment usually involves the application of topical lotions, salves and or corticosteroids topically and sytematically along with medication that slows the excessive growth of epidermal cells. Regardless of how well most treatment modalities work, most of them have side effects that are pretty damaging to the system. Others, like tazaroten pose some risks to pregnant women and others such as retinoids leave users with sensitivity to sunlight.

Pine tar is traditionally used in animal husbandry, as an antimicrobial and antifungal wound dressing and for other wound treament that disappeared with most things espoused by home remedians. The use of tar for treating skin conditions however, is making a resurgence and doctors who treat patients with all manner of skin conditions are prescribing tar treatments for their patients. Pine tar may be added to bath soaks, ointments and shower gels.

Pine tar soap is not much different from other kinds of soap - The basic ingredients are the same. However, the difference is that between 15-20% of pine tar needs to be incorporated into the soap.

Here are some pointers for creating pine tar soap:

1. Use oil combination that will not be drying to the skin. Since coconut oil is the biggest drying kind of oil --which is inversely proportionate to how well it produces a sudsy bar-- limit the amount of coconut used to 10-25% of the formulation.

2. Use between 15 - 20% pine tar - Yes, that much, or else it will be lost in the bar and will not make much of a difference.

3. Use pine tar also in body washes, body soaks - contact with the skin is more prolonged in these products. However, there is a delicate balance between having a product that penetrates the skin versus one that macerates the skin to the point that skin breakdown occurs, leading to infection.

Below is a sample Formulation with Pine Tar

Quantity - 64oz.
Coconut oil-- 16oz.
Olive Oil--48oz.
Pine Tar--12.8 oz. (20% of recipe)
Lye--8.97oz.
16oz. water or liquid
--------------------------
64oz.

Follow directions for making cold process soap, adding pine tar with oils and proceeding with tracing and saponification, etc.

In hot process soaping add all or some of the pine tar with the oils, cooking out the mixture as usual, or if you are of the opinion that some precious part of the pine tar will be destroyed with saponification, then hold back some and add at the end of the cook, stirring completely to incorporate it fully in the mixture.

Sources for Pine Tar
Double R Discount sells products for farmers and the animals in their livesClick Here for Website.

McMurray Hatchery sells chicken farm supplies as well as pine tar in quart containers online. To visit them,Click Here.

Research information obtained from:
Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing by Brunner & Suddarth, Volume 2.