Pine tar is the result of pine wood carbonization. It's often used as a wood preservative and has traditional uses in treating wounds and infections. Pine tar is used to treat many skin conditions and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to clean your skin. To treat acne, the American Academy of Dermatology instructs you to wash your face gently, one to two times a day with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. There isn't enough medical evidence backing up the claims that pine tar soap can fight skin disease.
Function
Drugs.com indicates that pine tar is used externally in the treatment of skin diseases. It contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. NaturalPureSoap.com recommends your pine tar soap not contain more than 25 percent of the mixture. If your soap is higher than 25 percent pine tar, it's too harsh for your skin. NatualPureSoap.com indicates that if you have less than 20 percent pine tar in your soap, it won't be effective in fighting skin disease.
Uses
Pine tar soap can be used as part of your daily hygiene routine. You can use it for your whole body or just where your acne is. The soap is designed to lather and be applied to your face for a gentle clean. It rinses away, leaving skin and pores clean.
Types
Pine tar is added to soap. You can find it in bar or liquid form. Pine tar is also added to hair products and bath products. You can find pine tar soaps online that contain no added colors or fragrances.
Benefits
Pine tar is used in soaps as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It serves as a body wash, face wash and can also be used to wash your hair. Customer testimonials on Grandpa Brands, a manufacturer of pine tar soap since 1878, indicate they have used pine tar soap to treat many skin conditions including acne, poison oak and psoriasis. Washing your face daily and keeping the pores clean can help your acne get better, according the Academy of Dermatology. If you can treat your acne effectively by using soap and lukewarm water, you can avoid having to use prescription medications, which have side effects.
Warnings
There is not enough medical evidence to prove pine tar soap is effective or safe in treating acne. There are many claims by manufacturers that pine tar soap can treat acne and many apparent customer testimonials to back those claims up, but medical studies have not yet established truth to these claims.