...The front of the bottle is emblazoned with the words Polytar in white which runs down the side of the bottle.Adjacent to that is the word scalp treatment in a kind of diamond shape.
It is made my the wonderful people at Steifel.It tells me that the liquid is suitable for Itchy Flakey Scalps,Eczema,Seborrhoea(Excessive ... Read review
Polytar Liquid is indicated in the treatment of scalp disorders including psoriasis, ... more
dandruff, seborrhoea, eczema and pruritus The hair should be wetted and sufficient Polytar Liquid applied to produce an abundant lather. The scalp and adjacent areas ...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: refer to website
Advantages: A soothed,calm bonce.. Disadvantages: The smell of Bitumen...
...is emblazoned with the words Polytar in white which runs down the side of the bottle.Adjacent to that is the word scalp treatment in a kind of diamond shape.
It is made my the wonderful people at Steifel.It tells me that the liquid is suitable for Itchy Flakey Scalps,Eczema,Seborrhoea(Excessive Sebum Production) ,Psoriasis and problem dandruff.
As I turn over the bottle I am given the instructions for use.Basically stating ... .../>
Other products in the Polytar Range...
Polytar Plus..used for the same conditions..but also conatins peanut oil.This comes in just a 500ml bottle,priced at £7.99,from Boots .com.It also contains a special conditioning ingredient.
Polytar AF...a mixture of Tar blend and Zinc.Which is once again used for the same thing.And is a scalp treatment.However this one needs to be left on for two to three minutes then washed ... more
I am just unlucky when it comes to skin.I have suffered from Eczema since I was six months old and at the age of 23,there are no signs of it going away.The only way that I seem to cope is to control the flare ups that I do have,and be very kind to my skin in between. I use plenty of moisturiser to combat dryness and an ultra harsh steroid cream for when it gets unbearable.The most difficult eczema to treat is the big,horrible bits on my scalp.Having very long and fairly thick hair,it just isn't easy to treat.
I once again have a strong steroid mousse to put on the effected bits.But I swear one day that it will eventually burn a hole in my head and my skull will be visible to all and sundry. So I thought to myself,if I can stop the itching,then perhaps the reoccurring bits on my head will heal and bugger off for good.
I have just recently started suffering from ultra dry flakey bits on the back of my neck,the nape its called,that may begin with a k,I'm not too sure.I seem to leave a little trail of flakey bits wherever I go.Like a snake.I am not sure that a person is meant to produce the amount of skin I do,but having black hair and wearing mostly black,I needed something to get rid of the flakey shards hanging around my shoulders.
As I used to work as a dispenser in a Pharmacy,this was a medicinal shampoo that I used to recommend to people with various skin disorders of the barnet.There were many folk who would come back and tell me how good it was.So this is the reason why I thought that this would be my first port of call.
The Packaging
I am currently using the 150ml size bottle,at the bargain price of £2.72. So its around six inches in height,a bronze colour with a traditional white screw cap.The front of the bottle is emblazoned with the words Polytar in white which runs down the side of the bottle.Adjacent to that is the word scalp treatment in a kind of diamond shape.
It is made my the wonderful people at Steifel.It tells me that the liquid is suitable for Itchy Flakey Scalps,Eczema,Seborrhoea(Excessive Sebum Production) ,Psoriasis and problem dandruff.
As I turn over the bottle I am given the instructions for use.Basically stating to wash your hair and scalp with the liquid and then rinse and repeat once again.It is recommended to be used once or twice a week along with your usual shampoo.And if your problem persists,so see your Doctor.
In some cases Tar products can cause photosensitivity,rashes and skin irritation.You need to stop using it in these cases.We are told not to drink it..well dur...and not to let little kiddie winkies get hold of it.There is also the address for Steifel and the product License number underneath.
Around the neck of the bottle is the expiry date,my bottle expires on 06/08,so it has a very long shelf life.My only gripe with the bottle is that the screw cap would probably be better being replaced with a flip cap.Yes it is easy to unscrew,but when you are in the shower for instance,you have to unscrew,put the lid somewhere,then remember not to knock the bottle over and spill the contents onto your carpet..or bath..thus breaking your neck!
The Ingredients
It is basically a Tar Blend,which consists of Coal Tar,Pine Tar and Cade Oil.However it does contain Peanut Oil..so won't be suitable for nut allergy folk.
Tell me more Doctor Fluff.....
Coal tar is obviously the main ingredient in this treatment.It reduces itching and acts as a mild antiseptic,soothing any sore bits that you have scratched like madness.It also acts as a Keratolytic agent (say what!).Keratin ia a protein found in the skin which causes thickening of the skin when you produce too much of it. The coal tar breaks down the Keratin,which stops the thickening of the skin,hence stopping your scalp problem.
It may not be suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.I say maybe as I have tried to find a definitive answer on the Steifel website,and their isnt one.So it's best to check with your Doctor first.
MY Wig Washing...
So I am in the shower with soaking wet hair and am ready to use my new head flake shampoo.I carefully unscrew the cap and take a sniff. I'm sorry..but my eyes are watering..has a very stinky workman entered the shower with me??Who has been doing up the M11 all day??With his tar roller??
No I kid you not.The smell really is that bad.It smells like Tar..road tar.Melted Bitumen on a hot Sunny day..Okay I could go on.But I feel a tangent going on..so I wont. I pour some onto the palm of my hand..whooaaa..you have to be careful as it is the consistency of gravy.And pretty much the colour.
I start to massage it on my head..complaining every twp seconds about the smell.To my surprise it foams really well indeed.Don't forget to apply it to the affected areas of your scalp,so take a bit of time to massage it in.
I then rinse and repeat the process.It feels so much better the next time..the lather gets thicker on the second application,so make sure you do it twice or it will not work as well.Make sure you rinse well,and I follow with a strong smelling conditioner to get rid of the tar smell.
I usually let my hair dry naturally,and oddly enough,my hair is soft and shiny.Not heavy or greasy feeling and not stripped to straw like lengths.The best feeling of all is my scalp is calmed,and at least 70% of my flakey skin has gone completely. I have no urge to scratch at it which is just fantastic.
With using the 150ml bottle on a twice a week basis,it usually lasts me three months.And the best thing is that as it is just a treatment you can use a normal shampoo inbetween washing it with the Polytar.
Other products in the Polytar Range...
Polytar Plus..used for the same conditions..but also conatins peanut oil.This comes in just a 500ml bottle,priced at £7.99,from Boots .com.It also contains a special conditioning ingredient.
Polytar AF...a mixture of Tar blend and Zinc.Which is once again used for the same thing.And is a scalp treatment.However this one needs to be left on for two to three minutes then washed out.150ml..£7.76. Expresschemist.co.uk
Polytar liquid ,the one I used,is available in a 250ml size for £3.93 from Expresschemist.co.uk.
They are also available on presription,so if you dont pay for your script,then visit the doctor.
My Final Verdict
Apart from the rotten smell..which knocks a star off my rating..it works really well..and is a staple item in the bathroom of Fluff.I also find washing my hands in it gets rid of dry skin fabulously.As the odour is strong I would proceed with caution if you are asthmatic.I myself have asthma and have had no probs whatsoever.I dont tend to hang over the bottle too long though!
I purchased my bottle from Tesco Pharmacy.But Boots stock it,as well as expresschemist.co.uk,and Pharmacy2u.co.uk.Steifel also have a website,but it is pretty rubbish.They don't tell you a lot about their products,which is typical really.
Advantages: Relieves and soothes itchy scalps Disadvantages: Doesn't smell very nice
Basics:
Polytar is a scalp treatment shampoo, which helps clear and soothe problem dandruff, seborrhoea and psoriasis. Can be bought in two sizes, 150ml & 250ml from all pharmacies. Prices vary so they range from £2.99 - £5.49.
According to Stifel laboratories, Polytar is the most widely used scalp treatment in the UK. Polytar has a unique formulation containing: natural tars to clear scales, relieve itching and inflammation, and slow the rate ... ...to the sun and Polytar. Polytar is a strange smelling shampoo, dark brown in colour, very watery in consistency. I use it once a week, when I have, my scalp feels very tingly and refreshed, similar to the feeling when you use a tea tree shampoo. One thing I have noticed with this shampoo is if I continually use it, it begins to have no effect. So I usually take a break from it every couple of months. I haven’t noticed any damaging effect on ...
cmgraves 16.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Polytar Liquid Shampoo
Advantages: Works great on dandruff! Disadvantages: It stinks!
WHAT IS POLYTAR?
Polytar is a shampoo for the following: itchy flaking scalps, eczema, seborrhoea, psoriasis and dandruff. I have suffered on and off for the past few years with mild dandruff which has always annoyed me as I have dark hair and it can be noticeable if left untreated. The fact that my scalp is dry makes it itchy which leads to even more flaking when I itch it. My review is going to be on how well the shampoo worked with dandruff and ... ...Polytar is a watery liquid which isn’t very much like normal shampoo which turns into a lather in the hair. It is brown/golden in colour and has a very strong smell, which doesn’t in my opinion smell nice! The shampoo is used as a substitute for any current shampoos that you may be using, so you are not meant to mix them both together. WHAT’S IN IT?
(The Following Has Been Taken Off the Bottle of the Polytar)
The tar blend contains coal tar, pine ...
x_dani_x 29.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Polytar Liquid Shampoo
...write about and I found Polytar shampoo, I have used this so thought I would give my opinion about it.
So why did I use it? A while ago I had a really itchy scalp, no it was not nits the itchiness was driving me crazy. I was in boots and asked the chemist if they could recommend anything and she gave me (well I had to buy it) a bottle of polytar. This bottle contains 250 mls and cost £3.99 in boots at todays price.
Polytar is a Stieffel of High ... ...This shampoo is a medicated treatment for itchy scalps eczema, seborrhoea, psoriasis and problem dandruff
The ingredients are:Oleyl alcohol; coconut diethamolamide; hexylene glycol; Volpo N10; polysorbate 80; Triton X100; fragrance 5412; Polypeptide SF; imidurea; triethanolamine lauryl sulphate; citric acid; purified water. The tars are: Pine tar, cade oil, coal tar solution, arachis oil extract of coal tar.
Always read the information on the bottle ...
mumsymary 21.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Polytar Liquid Shampoo
Advantages: very effective Disadvantages: smelly, slightly expensive
...that works.
The description of polytar doesn’t sound very appealing, it’s brown and doesn’t smell too good from the bottle, but once it has been on you hair for a while it starts to get better.
Unlike most shampoos, you are not likely to use it every time you wash your hair unless you have severe dandruff, psoriasis or eczema. If you are not likely to use it all the time it does have a use-by date as with all medicines I would recommend you follow ...
nikki1979uk 07.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Polytar Liquid Shampoo
Advantages: Effective treatment Disadvantages: Not really easy to find and is extremely pungent
Polytar and Selsun are well known to me (I suffer from mild psoriasis and my reviews on here centre around my experiences with various skin/scalp products). There are not loads of selling points, but in my humble opinion, it is one of the most effective products against flakiness and irritation. I started using it, on and off, in 2002 and have been using it infrequently even since. Amongst the eczema/psoriasis community, it is widely used and generally ... ...stop the skin becoming accustomed to one particular treatment and this system seems to work for me. Onto Polytar, it STINKS. Very strong stuff, contains tar and you can smell it a mile off. When you pour it out it is not too thick, but is dark brown and not that appealing (fortunately, you don't eat it!!). I would recommend leaving it on for 5 minutes or so, standing up, if you sit down you'll stain your chair or sofa or bed! I rinse off in warm, ...
LottieLove 23.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Polytar Liquid Shampoo
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Advantages: My hair was less fine and dry Disadvantages: For best results you are recommended to use matching shampoo
conditioner.
It has a fresh - almost apple-like fragrance. The odour was slightly stronger than I expected, but I didn't experience tightening in my chest as I have on other occasions with shampoos or conditioners.
I washed my hair as per usual using polytarLiquid. I hadn't bought the "matching" shampoo because it was not on the reduced shelf, and because I am really supposed to use either the polytar or an antifungal shampoo prescribed for the psoriasis.
I put a towel around the head to absorb excess moisture. I twisted it round and then removed it.
I then squeezed an inch-sized ball of conditioner into my palm. I rubbed the two palms together and then applied the conditioner to my scalp - starting at the back underneath and working my way though the entire scalp - massaging the conditioner gently to the ends of the hair.
I then ...
