Exorex Coal Tar Lotion.

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Posted Tue 20 Aug 2019 20.16 by Sarah

So yet again a different lotion to try for my awful psoriasis. I’m covered from head to toe in a really bad flare up! So has anyone used this product? I’ve used it tonight for the 1st time and it smells abit but goes on well. Hope to hear from anyone....

Posted Wed 21 Aug 2019 05.12 by OhNo_NotAgain? (edited Wed 21 Aug 2019 13.38 by OhNo_NotAgain?)

I used it on an outbreak of guttate psoriasis last year. it helped me a lot. I did experience 20-30 seconds of a cross between stigning and itching each time I applied it, but nothing too bad. It definitle seemed to help reduce the psoriasis. One word of caution to people, make sure you have the coal tar lotion which is in a bottle with green writing etc. The Exorex in a bottle with blue colour scheme is simply a mild shower gel/ wash (although some websites sell it as a "treatment" for psoriasis).

Posted Wed 21 Aug 2019 11.53 by Dmort

Hi Sarah I found this lotion worked fairly well and quickly too. Good luck.

Posted Wed 21 Aug 2019 15.45 by Sarah

Hi,thanks for replies.. Yes it’s the bottle with green writing on it. I’m finding it drying my back out badly though. My skin is so itchy and sore,any other ideas to help? I’ve still got a bottle of Estilar foam left so I don’t know if I should start that again. It’s so hard what to do for the best.x

Posted Wed 21 Aug 2019 21.38 by OhNo_NotAgain? (edited Fri 23 Aug 2019 08.00 by OhNo_NotAgain?)

I also used Doublebase Dayleve gel - it is basically a moisturiser and I found helped reduce itching massively. It leaves a barrier on the skin, or you can try Doublebase gel - which rubs in completely. I also used Oilatum Plus in my bath water. Helped a lot.

Posted Wed 25 Sep 2019 06.38 by UmBongo

I have used that product before with no positive effect. I have suffered from mild (up to 10%) plaque psoriasis for over twenty years. During this time I’ve tried many topical treatments and seen several dermatological consultants, whose attitude varied from slightly interested to unhelpful. This year, in mild desperation, I asked my GP to refer me to a consultant once more. He prescribed Enstilar and after using this for around two months, I am extremely happy with the results. My plaques have changed from itchy, red and scaly horrors, to a shadow (literally) of their former selves. Please ask your GP for Enstilar, which is a spray on foam, and I hope it helps you in the same way!

Posted Sat 16 May 2020 18.23 by Vic Roo

Hi everyone. I’m 37 years old and developed chronic psoriasis when I was 19. Since this time I have tried absolutely everything , from the old school aqueous Cream, phototherapy (twice over the last 4 years which worker greets for 6 months each time ) to Enstilar after my last course of light treatment . Very recently however My GP said I have to not use it anymore because I’m not suppose to (despite my consultant having no issue with me doing so instead of taking tablets when I last saw her a year ago ) my GP has since now given me Exorex coal tar and Epaderm. I just feel like it’s making my skin more dryer than usual and irritable with more chance of pustular spots arising. I’ve used it for around two months now - does anyone else have this same problem ? Due to the current situation with COVID I am unable to speak to my consultant properly . Any help and ideas would be truly welcome . Thanks guys - stay safe 🙏🏾

Posted Sun 31 May 2020 13.46 by Anna.magus

Hiya, sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your skin. It’s worth contacting your doctor again if you’re finding the treatments aren’t helping. Enstilar has a potent steroid so shouldn’t be used for more than 8 weeks in most cases. That’s probably why you were told to stop using it. Exorex isn’t moisturising so you need to follow it with an emollient. I find I have to moisturise at least twice a day (and preferably 3/4 times when I’m at home) and although I’m happy to use ointment like epaderm at night, it’s just too greasy for the day. I prefer to use a cream like cetraben which you can buy but it’s quite pricey. (Aqueous cream isn’t rich enough to help much in my experience.) good luck with your treatment and hope you feel better soon 🤗

Posted Sun 31 May 2020 14.08 by Vic Roo

Thanks for taking the time to reply to me Anna ! Yes the problem is , and this is mean with no disrespect to GPs , it’s easy to recommend something they have knowledge of or have heard about it recently etc, whereas specialists such as my consultant know what has worked and what hasn’t with me before etc . The issue I have is I can’t make an appointment with my consultant at minute either due to the current circumstances. However i have been advised her secretary is available to speak to tomorrow so I will be dialling at 8:30am sharpish ! Also I have of my own accord stopped using exorex and used Certaben for the past week on its own funnily enough , and it has calmed down . Probably the reduced stress recently has also helped somewhat. I don’t think I can bare going back to exorex , sleepless nights due to the stinging is not ideal ! Gna again for taking the time to reply , hopefully my consultant can help further tomorrow! 🙃

Posted Sun 31 May 2020 14.45 by Anna.magus

Hi Vic, fingers crossed for you! Consultants are often so much better - I’m licky that I’ve managed to wangle it so my GP also works part time in dermatology alongside my consultant! And they are both really willing to treat me as a partner in my treatment rather than just a patient. They realise that after 32 years I know quite a bit about my condition too - although of course I also acknowledge they’re the specialists! Hope they can come up with something that works for you. Glad the cetraben has made you more comfortable for now. If you get a chance let me know how it goes - always interested to know about new treatments and what works! Take care x

Posted Sun 31 May 2020 15.08 by Vic Roo

Hi Anna. Very lucky indeed ! Yes I guess the longer you have it the more knowledge you gain . I’m still clinging on to the hope that mine will suddenly disappear when I reach 40, as it did with my father , although I know it’s not likely . Thanks again for your support , I will certainly let you know how it goes ! I’d be game for UV treatment again of course , but with the current circumstances to say it will be difficult would be an understatement!

Posted Sat 18 Jul 2020 22.31 by Sheikh1914

Hi can any one guide me that can we use exorex lotion on genital parts ?? On leaflet it is mentioned don’t used On genital part while my consultant asked me to use it. Can we use on face as well??

Posted Sat 18 Jul 2020 22.37 by Vic Roo

Sheikh . Please do not even attempt it if you are not sure ! This could end disastrous, & that would be an understatement. Dependant on the level of dryness and scales and I would just use Aveeno lotion and get it under control.

Posted Sat 18 Jul 2020 22.40 by Sheikh1914

Hmmm I don’t know why my consultant asked me to use. She asked me to use dithranol on scalp and body and exorex on genital parts. Don’t know will contact doctor again

Posted Mon 20 Jul 2020 19.37 by nexus63

i have been using exorex lotion for sometime, but my psoriasis is so widespread they want to try pills, one of the easiest ways to apply this lotion is using a sponge, i use a baby sponge as it was gently on my skin without the soreness of rubbing it in

Posted Mon 20 Jul 2020 19.44 by Vic Roo

To be honest sheikh I would always be more minded to listen to the consultant as they know your personal needs , could be completely different for one person and another .

Posted Tue 21 Jul 2020 12.16 by OhNo_NotAgain?

Sheikh1914: many treatments say not to use on sensitive skin eg on the face, near the eyes or genitals. This is a general warning to stop people doing it without medical advice or supervision. Sometimes a consultant will advise to use something on the understanding that they will be monitoring what you are doing and checking the effects. They can also make a specific judgement based on exactly where your psoriasis plaques are. I would ask to discuss this aspect specifically, but generally I would trust your consultant. I have used steroid treatment on my eyelid and on my face - but by putting the faintest smear on my finger and only applying it once every 5 days or so, not slathering my face with loads of the stuff and letting it soak-in. My consultant and GP were happy for me to do that and it worked well.

Posted Wed 16 Jun 2021 16.41 by Jen777 (edited Wed 16 Jun 2021 16.44 by Jen777)

I’ve been using this product for 23 years and it has always worked for me. Initially it took about six to eight weeks to see a difference but when I did it hasn’t stopped working. I purchased it originally to use on my eight year old daughter who’s back was covered and she would wake up crying. After six weeks her back cleared and I began using it and never stopped! The only place I don’t see it working is my face where I’ve used different cream and ointments I also use an approved moisturizer after the Exorex I’m using Bioderma right now. It’s recognized by the national psoriasis association

Posted Wed 16 Jun 2021 16.52 by Vic Roo (edited Wed 16 Jun 2021 16.54 by Vic Roo)

Hey everyone ! So Anna , I said I would keep you updated and one year later I thought I would live up to this promise . In short my consultant agreed with everything I said . I now have Enstillar and a moisturiser of my choice (ultrabase) on a repeat prescription. My legs are literally just different in colour where the plaques usually come . I have no dry skin whatsoever now and as the old saying goes, my wish has come true . I use Enstillar every few days to keep it under control but ensuring i moisturise in between as often as possible to limit the use of it when I can . I guess I have been lucky with my consultant who has faith in me only using it when required to keep it under control . Ok, it’s a steroid and yes it will thin my skin . But after 19 years of enduring the issue I have , it’s either that or I constantly battle with dry , itchy , scaly , cracked bleeding skin . Enstillar in my case is the cure ! If your consultant agrees it is for you , ask to trial it . It’s literally cured me and I have not needed light treatment again ! Don’t forget , drink plenty of water , eat right , and exercise . These are also Key to making sure the enstillar does what it’s meant to. I wish all of you the best with it - take care and stay safe everyone x

Posted Thu 17 Jun 2021 08.30 by OhNo_NotAgain?

Vic Roo: thanks a lot for the update, it is helpful I think when people do come back with their updated experiences. Regarding the skin-thinning concerns with topical steroids, I think your approach is spot on. When my psoriasis first appeared ( 17 January 1980, one day after my birthday which is why I remember it) and after a couple of weeks my GP sent me to a dermatiologist as it was clearly not chicken-pox, I was given a couple of 500g tubs of a coal-tar ointment and a small tube of betnovate. The betnovate was for my scalp, but I was warned NOT to use it on my face because of the skin-thinning, and the advice was not to use it on parts of the body that already had thinner skin than other parts. There was already a recognised "condition" nick-named "betnovate-face", where people had ignored the advice and used betnovate extensively on their face and over time the skin had thinned more. The effect/appearance was similar to rosacea. In later years I used Dovobet, but carefully applied it to the plaques only and not the good skin (by this time my psoriasis had receded a lot). But 3 years ago after a hip replacement I came out in guttate ps all over my trunk. I declined to use dovobet or other steroid, as the lesions were so small and numerous it was not practical to apply steroid ointment to each one individually, and I did niot want to slather steroid all over my body, on good skin and lesions. I made do with exorex and extensive mosturising, and affter 6-8 months the psoriasis had receded as predicted by my Doctor. No non-steroid has ever been as effective for me as the coal-tar concoction I was first given in 1980 at the hospital. No shampoo has ever been as effective as Selsun (yellow) that I used in 1980. But Selsun has been reformulated in recent years and when I tried it a few years ago it had no effect whatsoever. In 1980 I started using Wrights Coal-Tar soap for showering, and it helped a lot. But 10 years or so ago, the coal-tar was removed from it and now it is only "coal-tar fragranced" and does nothing for my psoriasis.
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