Exorex

Exorex is a lotion applied to the skin that contains a coal tar solution. It's used to treat symptoms of mild to moderate psoriasis and helps prevent them from returning. You can buy Exorex over the counter without a prescription.

Coal-tar treatments, such as Exorex, can help soften your skin, reduce the build-up of dead skin caused by psoriasis, and ease itching and inflammation. Coal tar has been used in medicine to treat psoriasis for over a century, with its preparation dating back to the 17th century. It's a well-established treatment for skin conditions.

We're not entirely sure how coal tar solutions like Exorex work to treat psoriasis, but there are some scientifically backed theories. Psoriasis happens when skin cells renew themselves too fast, likely due to an abnormal immune response. This leads to patches of crusty, flaky skin, which can cause itching and inflammation.

Exorex has anti-inflammatory effects that can help lessen swelling and redness. Psoriasis and the inflammation it brings about are believed to be linked to your body's immune system. Coal tar solutions can target the receptors involved in this immune response, addressing psoriasis at its root.

Exorex can also help address the root cause of psoriasis by slowing the rapid growth of skin cells. Coal tar treatments like Exorex work by suppressing DNA synthesis and slowing cell division, which helps to normalise the production of new skin cells. This should help reduce the plaques and symptoms linked to psoriasis.

Exorex is a coal tar treatment available over the counter for managing mild to moderate psoriasis symptoms. Coal tar treatments can also be used with phototherapy, where a clinician applies natural or artificial light to the affected skin to help reduce the speed of skin cell production.

If your psoriasis is moderate to severe, a treatment combining a corticosteroid and vitamin D, such as Dovobet, might be more suitable. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation.

The vitamin D part works by slowing down the growth of your skin cells. This can help ease psoriasis symptoms and reduce scaling. When used alongside corticosteroids, a vitamin D analogue can make them more effective, allowing for a lower dose and shorter treatment duration, which may decrease the risk of side effects.

Vitamin D analogues are man-made molecules that resemble the natural vitamin D found in your body.

You can also use emollients for psoriasis, which are applied directly to the affected skin. They help to hydrate and soften your skin, easing scaling and itchiness. Emollients also form a protective layer over the skin, helping to lock in moisture and shield against external factors. It's believed that other topical treatments for psoriasis might work better on well-moisturised skin, so you might be given an emollient to use alongside another cream, lotion, or gel.

Since inflammation results from an immune response, calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus can be beneficial for psoriasis. These medications work by targeting your immune system, lowering its activity to ease inflammation. They're typically prescribed when psoriasis occurs in sensitive areas, like the face or genitals.

Coal tar products, such as Exorex, are commonly recommended by doctors for treating psoriasis and have been in use for more than a century. A review of 25 studies, including two that were placebo-controlled, showed that 21 studies backed the effectiveness of coal tar products. The two placebo-controlled trials also confirmed it as an effective treatment.

Coal tar treatments are cost-effective and come with minimal side effects.

Nonetheless, bigger and more comprehensive clinical trials are needed to establish how effective Exorex is for treating psoriasis.