ReviewThe Australasian journal of dermatology2017
Topical pine tar: History, properties and use as a treatment for common skin conditions.
Review in The Australasian journal of dermatology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 49 citations in OpenAlex.
- Chemical characterization, antimicrobial, and antioxidant potentials of Juniperus phoenicea wood tar.PloS one · 2026Article
- The Therapeutic Potential of Kiwi Extract as a Source of Cysteine Protease Inhibitors on DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in Mice and Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- In vitro Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of a Skin Ointment and Its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Larch Turpentine, Turpentine Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil.Skin pharmacology and physiology · 2025Article
- In Vitro Anti-inflammatory Effects of Larch Turpentine, Turpentine Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, and Their Mixture as Contained in a Marketed Ointment.Planta medica · 2024Article
- From Nature to Healing: Development and Evaluation of Topical Cream Loaded with Pine Tar for Cutaneous Wound Repair.Pharmaceutics · 2024Article
- Do flickering lights impact turkey hen behavior, stress, and fear?Poultry science · 2024Article
- Chemometric analysis of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes of conifers.Frontiers in plant science · 2024Article
- Evaluating the effects of stocking density on the behavior, health, and welfare of turkey hens to 11 weeks of age.Poultry science · 2022Article
- Assessing the effects of common topical exposures on skin bacteria associated with atopic dermatitis.Skin health and disease · 2021Article
- Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Pine Tar on Periodontal Pathogenic Bacteria: An In Vitro Study.Ethiopian journal of health sciences · 2020Article
- Breaking the Itch-Scratch Cycle: Topical Options for the Management of Chronic Cutaneous Itch in Atopic Dermatitis.Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Review
- Pilot Studies on Two Complementary Bath Products for Atopic Dermatitis Children: Pine-Tar and Tea.Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Article
- Assessing the Effects of Stocking Density on Turkey Tom Health and Welfare to 16 Weeks of Age.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Pine tar is the end product of pine wood carbonisation following distillation using extreme heat. An extensive literature search was conducted back to the 1950s for this review. Pine tar has been used in medicine for more than 2000 years to treat a range of skin conditions because of its soothing and antiseptic properties. Pine tar should not be confused with coal tar, which has been produced from coal for approximately a hundred years. Pine tar is thought to exert its effect by reducing DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which promotes a return to normal keratinisation. In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. These properties make pine tar suitable for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions. Topical products available over-the-counter in Australia today contain up to 2.3% pine tar, and come in several different formulations that can be used on the entire body, including the face. Modern day pine tar is manufactured with increased purity to eliminate toxic phenol and carcinogenic components, which have been of concern in the past. Primary irritation is uncommon. In conclusion, the long experience with topical pine tar therapy and its worldwide usage, together with the evidence presented in this review, suggests that pine tar is an effective treatment with minimal safety risk.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.