Exorex

What is Exorex?

Exorex is a topical lotion that uses a coal tar solution to treat symptoms of mild to moderate psoriasis, and help stop them coming back in the future. You don’t need an Exorex prescription to use it – Exorex is available over the counter.

Coal-tar treatments like Exorex can help soften your skin, reduce plaques of dead skin caused by psoriasis, and help relieve itching and inflammation.^[1] Coal tar has been used in medicine to treat psoriasis for over 100 years, but patents for the preparation of it go back to the 17th century; it’s a tried and tested treatment for skin conditions.

How does Exorex work?

We don’t know exactly how coal tar solutions like Exorex treat psoriasis – but we have some ideas that are supported by scientific evidence. Psoriasis occurs when your skin cells replace themselves too quickly, thought to be caused by a dysfunctional immune response. This causes plaques of crusty, flaky skin, which can result in itching and inflammation.

Exorex has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling and redness. Psoriasis and the inflammation it causes are thought to be caused by your body’s immune system, and coal tar solutions can target the receptors involved in this immune response, treating psoriasis at its source.^[1]

Another way Exorex can help treat the underlying cause of psoriasis is by slowing down how quickly your skin cells grow. By suppressing DNA synthesis and slowing down cell division, coal tar treatments like Exorex can bring the rate that you produce new skin cells back down. This should reduce the plaques and symptoms associated with psoriasis.<^[1]

How to use Exorex for Psoriasis

You can use Exorex to treat scalp psoriasis, or plaque psoriasis elsewhere on your body – but you should speak to a clinician before using it on any sensitive areas (like your genitals or face). To use Exorex lotion, follow these instructions:

• Thoroughly shake up the bottle before you use it.
• Make sure the areas of skin affected by psoriasis are clean.
• Apply a thin layer of Exorex to your psoriasis two or three times a day.
• Massage the lotion into your skin gently, and then leave it to dry on its own.

For children under the age of 12, or the elderly: you can dilute Exorex by mixing it with a few drops of boiled and cooled water in the palm of your hand.

Are there different doses of Exorex?

There’s only one Exorex dosage – 5% weight per volume, meaning 5% of the weight of the lotion is the active ingredient – coal tar. It’s only available as a lotion; there used to be an Exorex shampoo, but it’s been discontinued by the manufacturer.