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Coal tar soap anyone?

(91 Posts)
Whethertomorrow Sun 21-Jul-24 11:21:48

Does anyone else use coal tar soap, the proper one made by wrights?

I’m having a lot of skin issues at the moment (spider bite) and then a sweat rash inside my elbow from too much crocheting.

Usually I use loads of different creams to heal these sort of things and shower with different shower gels. But I treated myself to a bar of old fashioned coal tar soap and it worked a treat. It’s not too drying and smells wonderful.

I’m just wondering if there’s any actual detergent in shower gels or is it all perfume and emollients.

Is there anything you would recommend?

sazz1 Tue 23-Jul-24 12:36:04

I use simple shower cream or gel as others irritated my skin. Also simple bubble bath.
Son can't use any shower gels only imperial leather soap which doesn't bring him out in a rash.
If you have a sweat rash using talk or cornflour can help. If it's v bad try caneston thrush cream. Mum's gp prescribed this for a sweat rash under her breasts and it cleared it up.
Hand-wash liquids with antibacterial in it drys my skin badly so I use ones without. Germs don't need it anyway as any Hand-wash will remove them

GrannySquare Tue 23-Jul-24 12:42:29

As Karmalady & NotMySpaghetti say Wright’s ‘coal tar’ soap’s active ingredient is tea tree with a scent reminiscent of coal tar - maybe it was always scented this way?

GrannySquare Tue 23-Jul-24 12:43:41

Simple soap was a default plain un scented shampoo, these days it’s not worth the space on the sink, the quality is awful & for some reason it is ‘shaped’.

Bah!

Spec1alk Tue 23-Jul-24 13:16:30

I was prescribed this medicated shampoo containing coal tar by my dermatologist. Excellent product.

Chas77 Tue 23-Jul-24 13:41:42

Is the wirghts coal tar soap the original one from the fifties as I bought some but definitely not the same look or smell which I miss greatly, brings back such memories as a child.

JMcD Tue 23-Jul-24 14:21:04

There is a really good app called Yuka. It reads the barcode of toiletries and lists the ingredients. It gives a rating, advises if the item is good or bad according to the chemical makeup and then offers better alternatives.
It’s amazing that many of the well known and expensive brands are full of nasty chemicals! For skin care Nutragena products come out very well.

Sandgrownun Tue 23-Jul-24 14:51:53

When I read that it isn't coal tar now I looked it up. The ingredient list includes a lot of palm products which I'm trying to avoid (although it's getting increasingly difficult). Seeing some on here have stopped using shower gel (because of the plastic) I thought it was about time we did to. We never had shower gel when we were children so I'm sure the 2 of us can get used to not having it again.
The ingredients from Wrights website:
Sodium Palmate, Aqua, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Cocamide DEA, Parfum, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Palm Kernel Acid, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Etidronate,Tetrasodium EDTA, Amyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Eugenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, CI 15510, CI 21100

pascal30 Tue 23-Jul-24 15:30:02

Pinkhousegirl

I would recommend Savon de Marseille, made from the third pressing of olives. Lasts for months, smells wonderful and doesn’t dry your skin. Mild enough for babies as well.

I absolutely love that smell.. when I used to stay in southern France they used it to wash clothes. The smell takes me straight back to the sunshine and mountains..
I use Faith in Nature soaps.. very pure,, but I'm now tempted to buy both Savon de Marseille and coal tar just for the memories

spabbygirl Tue 23-Jul-24 15:35:52

Pinkhousegirl

I would recommend Savon de Marseille, made from the third pressing of olives. Lasts for months, smells wonderful and doesn’t dry your skin. Mild enough for babies as well.

I quite agree pinkhousegirl David Lebovitz, fab American cook living jn Paris tells us how and why to choose the real sort

www.davidlebovitz.com/french-soap-savon-de-marseille/

Suzyb Tue 23-Jul-24 15:55:56

Wrights coal tar and Izal toilet paper remind me of my aunts tiny bathroom in the 50’s. Not sure which product overpowered the other but who cares as I loved the smell of her bathroom.

Mirren Tue 23-Jul-24 15:56:28

We swear a good old bar of this soap got us through the pandemic winter getting Covid....thoroughly washed hands with this felt clean as a whistle.
Whether that is true, who knows but I still love the soap after gardening or a mucky job .

4allweknow Tue 23-Jul-24 16:42:24

Bought a stock of it last time visiting The Devils Porridge Museum (near Gretna). Place famous for production of cordite for WW1. Coal tar was used by workers, mainly women. He soal was good for safely removing any of the explosive dust. Just love the smell, have a few bars in a basket in my bathroom and even though wrapped still give out a locely smell.

SusieB50 Tue 23-Jul-24 16:56:46

JamesandJon33

Does anyone remember the coal tar burners, used for heavy colds and coughs?

Yes ! My DS is asthmatic and often had broncial asthma as a young child in the 80’s I remember burning these and the lovely smell. I’m told they were actually not such a good thing but it certainly cleared his chest .

Jannipans Tue 23-Jul-24 17:00:58

We're using a French one made with olive oil which we bought in Marseilles. This is what it says about it
Why is Marseille soap so good?
That percentage of oil has many benefits, such as its mildness, which unlike industrial soaps does not irritate the skin. Moreover, it is recommended by dermatologists for certain skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis. Finally, it can be used as a disinfectant for small wounds.
You don't have to go to Marseille to get it though, they sell it on Amazon!

NannyMags Tue 23-Jul-24 17:08:19

Since being diagnosed with a skin condition a few years ago I have been told to not use soap at all. I used to love the smell of a nice soap in the shower. I cannot use anything with soap in it. I miss it so much.

pascal30 Tue 23-Jul-24 17:23:19

Jannipans

We're using a French one made with olive oil which we bought in Marseilles. This is what it says about it
Why is Marseille soap so good?
That percentage of oil has many benefits, such as its mildness, which unlike industrial soaps does not irritate the skin. Moreover, it is recommended by dermatologists for certain skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis. Finally, it can be used as a disinfectant for small wounds.
You don't have to go to Marseille to get it though, they sell it on Amazon!

also www.frenchsoaps.co.uk

They have a lovely range

poppysmum Tue 23-Jul-24 18:55:14

oh the memories the smell always takes me right back. many years ago I had sore hands I was only 6 mum got some stuff to go on my hands it was gloopy like brown sticky glue that stuff you used to get in see through containers with a rubbery top that you have to put a slit in. anyway this cream had to be put on thick then put bandages on top. it had a coal tar sort of smell. the rash came back a few years ago when I lost my mum no idea why but was told may be a nervous rash wish I could have got a pot of that stuff then but it was made up by the chemist as they used to in those days; any problem you would get something made up for you

Glenfinnan Tue 23-Jul-24 19:14:40

Love it!!!

Chas77 Tue 23-Jul-24 20:15:53

Is the wrights coal tar soap sold now the same as those in the 1950s and sold on line? The smell would bring back many pleasant memories for me.

Nannan2 Tue 23-Jul-24 21:16:41

Whats it called now then?Wrights tar soap?😂

Nannan2 Tue 23-Jul-24 21:21:53

I got a great big bar of carbolic soap for £7.50 at Beamish in the old fashioned chemist shop.Its about a foot long, maybe more.Still useful these days, and more natural.

Nannan2 Tue 23-Jul-24 21:35:29

Had a look on Boots app for Coal tar soap- Its called Wrights cleansing bar 80p.Not bad for Boots prices!

MissAdventure Tue 23-Jul-24 22:57:10

I've found a whole lot of information about coal tar being used for hair loss... hmmmm... wonder how my bald patches would take to a good old soap up with it.

Lizzsalsa Wed 24-Jul-24 00:01:30

What’s BiL? Please

Aldom Wed 24-Jul-24 06:34:55

Lizzsalsa Bil = Brother in law. smile