A new coal tar preparation, “designed to be more cosmetically acceptable than traditional formulations,” was found to be just as effective as 1% hydrocortisone acetate cream in the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD).
However, since this was only a very small study (4 weeks), and 5 out of 30 patients still reported itching and soreness, a recommendation cannot be made yet for the use of coal tar topical agents in treating AD.
Learn more about other topical agents for atopic dermatitis at the American Academy of Dermatology.