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Is Bitumen an Effective Psoriasis Treatment?

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

Bitumen is one of the elements found in and around the Dead Sea (in the water and the mud) that is considered by many to be an effective treatment for Psoriasis.  Bitumen’s association with the Dead Sea fuels its modest reputation as a psoriasis treatment.

Bitumen is a naturally-occurring tar, a derivative of petroleum that has the consistency of cold molasses.  It can be extracted from crude oil or coal.  Bitumen is thick and sticky enough to be used as one of the main ingredients for asphalt or “blacktop.”  Judging by its close relation (in origin at least) to coal tar, it is not surprising that it might have similar, psoriasis-treating properties.

Bitumen is still being researched by the professional community as a potentially effective treatment for psoriasis.  Many claim that it has anti-inflammatory properties, which would help to restrain the irritated, swelling symptoms that often characterize psoriasis.

Bitumen is packaged and sold most commonly as a Dead Sea product, as a medicinal soap or a bath solvent.  For the purpose of treating psoriasis, Bitumen is more of an informal or home remedy.

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The Goeckerman Regimen for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The Goeckerman Regimen is a psoriasis treatment that involves exposing the skin to UV-B light shortly after soaking up heavy doses of coal tar.  This particular psoriasis treatment has been in use since 1925, when a doctor at the Mayo clinic named Dr. Goeckerman developed it.

Coal tar or UV-B light have proven to treat psoriasis on their own so, from the point of view of “heavier treatment is better,” it makes sense that the two working together would have even better results.  On the other hand, there are others (including Neutrogena, maker of T/Gel) who recommend avoid mixing these two, since coal tar can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

The Goeckerman Regimen is called a “regimen” because it’s a deliberate, intensive, prolonged process that is designed to clear up psoriasis treatments quickly.  It’s traditionally done at a hospital over the course of a few days.  Depending on the dermatologist in charge, different degrees of UV-B light are administered in combination with different levels of coal tar concentrations (usually 1-5% solutions).

Advantages:

  • A high rate of success
  • It can suppress psoriasis for a relatively long time.

Disadvantages:

  • It’s a messy process
  • Too much coal tar can stain your skin
  • Both of these elements, coal tar and UV light, are suspected carcinogens (possibly cancer-causing), so I would be hesitant to combine the two in such intense concentrations.

Obseration:

  • The Goeckerman Regimen bears a close resemblance to another psoriasis regimen – PUVA – which combines psoralen with UV-A light.

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Neutrogena’s Extra Strength T/Gel — Update After One Week

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

I have been using Neutrogena’s Extra Strength T/Gel for the last week or so, every other day.  I have found that, while the immediate effects aren’t as drastic as T/Gel with menthol, the itch-reducing effects do effectively last for at least.  I feel an intense urge to itch about 3 times per day on average on a day when I have used Extra Strenth T/Gel in the morning.

This particular kind of T/Gel has a significant effect on my scalp, but I am still looking forward to finishing off this bottle so I can get back to T/Gel, Stubborn Itch Control (with menthol).

Neutrogena’s T/Gel, in case you’ve never heard of it, is one of the most common types of psoriasis shampoos.  It is common enough that, if your local grocery store stocks any psoriasis shampoo at all, it’s probably T/Gel (as well as maybe a generic version for a dollar less).  Extra Strength T/Gel has about twice as much coal tar (the active ingredient) as it’s sibling, Original Formula T/Gel.

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Neutrogena’s Extra Strength T-Gel Psoriasis Shampoo — Product Review

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

t gel extra strength

Coal tar is T-Gel’s active ingredient.  This particular version of T-Gel is called “Extra Strength”  because it contains twice as much of coal tar than Neutrogena’s other T-Gel, “Original.”  Extra strength T-Gel contains 1% refined coal tar (4% Neutar) and Original T-Gel has 0.5% coal tar (2% Neutar).

Neutar is Neutrogena’s new and improved variation of coal tar.  Coal tar by itself, which is extracted from coal, has been used for decades to treat psoriasis.  Neutar is a derivative of coal tar, with a whole less the stifling smell and dark color.

Notice the dark brown color of the T-Gel pictured above (this is the actual color of the shampoo).  This color results from the thick, tar-like quality of coal tar.  Original T-Gel has more of a brownish-orange color.

Whether or not you should use Extra Strength or Original T-Gel depends on your psoriasis (or seborrheic dermatitis, or the like).  Start with Original if you’ve never used it before.  Ideally you should to consult with your dermatologist to get authoritative answers about how to treat your psoriasis since every case is unique.

When you first use T-Gel you will notice right away what a deep, penetrating effect coal tar has on your scalp.  In my case, the itchiness that had plagued me for so long went away immediately.  For mild cases of psoriasis such as mine, T-Gel (Extra Strength for me) keeps the burning itchiness at bay for about 24 hours.

T-Gel (especially Extra Strength) is a one of the most effective psoriasis shampoos I have ever used.  Neutrogena did a great job minimizing the smell (which can follow you around all day if you don’t rinse well enough) all the while making the shampoo as concentrated and effective as possible.

I have used Extra Strength T-Gel alternately with T-Sal to drive back the symptoms of psoriasis for years, right up until recently, when I discovered another variation of T-Gel — Stubborn Itch Control — which works better still.

Related: What is Coal Tar?

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