Pine Tar Soap: Benefits, Uses, and What It Actually Does for Your Skin

Pine tar soap has been around longer than most skincare trends you've ever heard of. It was used in the 1800s. Dermatologists were recommending it before dermatology was even a real specialty. And it's still here — because it actually works.

If you've been searching for something to help with eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, or itchy skin that won't quit, here's what you need to know about pine tar soap: what it is, what it does, and why the bar you buy matters more than you think.

What Is Pine Tar, Exactly?

Pine tar is a dark, sticky substance produced by burning pine wood at high heat in a low-oxygen environment — a process called destructive distillation. It's been used medicinally for centuries, originally as a wood preservative and antiseptic. At some point, people realized it was doing good things for skin conditions too, and it stuck around.

It's important to know that pine tar and coal tar are completely different things, even though they're often confused. Coal tar is a byproduct of burning coal — it's harsher, more chemically complex, and has a more controversial safety profile. Pine tar comes from wood. It's considered much gentler and has a long history of safe use in skincare. If you see a soap labeled "tar soap," check which kind of tar they're using. It matters.

Pine Tar Soap Benefits for Skin

Pine tar has a handful of properties that make it genuinely useful for problem skin — not just in a vague "natural is better" way, but in specific, documented ways.

Anti-inflammatory. Pine tar helps calm the inflammatory response in the skin. This is the main reason it's so commonly associated with eczema and psoriasis — both are inflammatory skin conditions, and pine tar works directly on that mechanism.

Antipruritic (anti-itch). Translation: it reduces itching. For people dealing with chronic skin conditions, this alone is significant. Scratching damages the skin barrier and makes conditions worse. Anything that breaks that cycle is valuable.

Antifungal. Yes, pine tar has antifungal properties. It's not a substitute for prescription antifungal treatment in serious cases, but for general skin hygiene it does offer some protection against fungal growth on the skin's surface.

Antibacterial. Pine tar also has mild antibacterial activity, which is why it was historically used as an antiseptic and wound treatment long before modern medicine had better options.

Keratolytic. This one's a little more technical — keratolytic means it helps soften and loosen thickened or scaly skin. That's exactly what you want with conditions like psoriasis, where skin builds up faster than it sheds.

Is Pine Tar Soap Good for Eczema?

This is probably the most common question people ask about pine tar soap, and the short answer is: yes, for many people it helps significantly.

Eczema is a condition where the skin barrier is compromised, leading to dryness, inflammation, and intense itching. Most commercial soaps make it worse — they strip the skin's natural oils, disrupt the pH balance, and often contain synthetic fragrances that act as direct irritants.

Pine tar soap works on eczema in two ways: it addresses the inflammation directly, and it replaces the harsh detergent chemistry of commercial bars with a gentler cleansing action. The key is finding a pine tar soap made with real cold process saponification — not one that's just got a little pine tar extract added to an otherwise synthetic base.

Wild Timber's Pine Tar bar is cold process soap, cured for a minimum of six weeks, made with saponified oils of olive, coconut, and avocado. No synthetic fragrances. No "fragrance" catch-all on the label. The pine tar content is high enough to actually do something — not just enough to justify the name.

Is Pine Tar Soap Good for Psoriasis?

Pine tar has been used for psoriasis management for well over a hundred years, and it's one of the few traditional remedies that modern dermatology still acknowledges. The FDA has actually recognized coal tar (and by extension, pine tar) as an over-the-counter treatment for psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff.

For psoriasis specifically, the keratolytic and anti-inflammatory properties work together — pine tar helps soften the scale buildup while also calming the underlying inflammation driving that buildup in the first place. It's not a cure, and it won't replace medical treatment for severe cases, but as a daily soap for someone managing psoriasis, it's one of the more logical choices.

Pine Tar vs. Coal Tar: What's the Difference?

Both are used in dermatology for similar conditions, but they're not the same thing and they're not interchangeable.

Coal tar is derived from coal and contains a complex mixture of compounds — some of which raise concerns over long-term use. It's effective, but it comes with trade-offs. Pine tar is derived from pine wood, is generally considered gentler, and has a cleaner safety profile for everyday use. If you're looking for a soap you can use daily, pine tar is the more sensible choice. Coal tar products tend to be reserved for more targeted therapeutic use.

What to Look for in a Pine Tar Soap

Not all pine tar soaps are worth your money. Here's how to tell a real bar from one that's just trading on the name:

Look at the ingredient list. You want to see saponified oils listed by name — olive, coconut, palm, avocado, whatever the maker uses. If you see "sodium lauryl sulfate" or "sodium laureth sulfate" near the top, that's a synthetic detergent base, not real soap.

Check the fragrance disclosure. "Fragrance" on a soap label is a legal catch-all that can hide hundreds of synthetic chemicals. A soap made for sensitive skin shouldn't have mystery ingredients. Wild Timber uses essential oils only — it's on the label, no guessing required.

Find out the cure time. Cold process soap needs to cure — typically four to six weeks minimum. That cure time drives off excess water, hardens the bar, and develops the final lather. A soap that's been rushed through doesn't perform the same way. Wild Timber bars cure for a minimum of six weeks.

If you want to try the real thing, Wild Timber Pine Tar soap is available directly from our site. It's $8 for a 5oz bar — same price range as the big brands, none of the corporate supply chain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pine tar soap antifungal?

Yes. Pine tar has documented antifungal properties and has been used historically as both an antifungal and antibacterial agent. While it's not a substitute for medical antifungal treatment in serious infections, it does provide meaningful protection as part of a regular skincare routine.

Can you use pine tar soap on your face?

Many people do, especially for skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or acne. Because pine tar soap is made with real saponified oils rather than synthetic detergents, it's gentler than most commercial face washes. If you have sensitive skin, patch test first and see how your skin responds.

How often should you use pine tar soap?

For general use, daily is fine. For active flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis, daily use is typically recommended, though you should follow whatever protocol your dermatologist has you on. Pine tar soap is gentle enough for regular use when it's made with quality ingredients.

Is pine tar soap safe for sensitive skin?

It depends on the bar. Pine tar soap made from natural oils with no synthetic fragrances or additives is generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin — it's actually a common recommendation for exactly that reason. The version to avoid is any pine tar soap that also contains "fragrance" on the label, which could include synthetic irritants that counteract the benefits of the pine tar itself.