焦油 – 你嘅濕疹救星！ Tar can Save You from Eczema!
天氣開始逐漸乾燥，又係濕疹發作嘅熱門季節。每逢乾燥季節，都有唔少客人到藥房購買含焦油（Tar）成份嘅沐浴油或番梘，但究竟焦油係乜野呢？對濕疹又有咩作用？
As the weather is becoming dry gradually, eczema may become troubling again. During the dry season, many customers will come to pharmacy for tar-containing bath oil or soap. But what is tar and its effect for eczema?
外用產品中嘅焦油多數由松木提煉出嚟，稱為松焦油。市面上嘅焦油產品有唔同嘅劑型，包括沐浴油、凝膏及肥皂等。濕疹係由於遺傳性免疫系統嘅過敏反應，引致皮膚痕癢發炎。而焦油本身可以舒緩痕癢及減少炎症，所以有唔少醫生建議焦油配合其他藥用產品使用。雖然焦油唔係對所有濕疹皮膚有效，而且用過焦油產品嘅人都應該知道，焦油有一種獨特嘅氣味，唔係所有人接受，但係成份天然，亦無特別副作用，所以可以一試。
Tars in external products are extracted from pine wood and therefore is called pine tar. Products of tar present with different dosage form, including bath oil, gel and soap. Eczema is caused by allergic response of the immune systems to allergens, leading to inflammation. As tar can reduce inflammation and therefore soothe the itchiness, it is sometimes recommended by doctors to use with other medicinal products. Tar has a unique smell that not everyone can accept it. Nevertheless, tar is natural without any specific side effect. It is worth a try.
焦油除咗可以幫助濕疹，其實亦有用於其他皮膚毛病，例如牛皮癬同脂溢性皮炎。雖然焦油舒緩牛皮癬嘅藥理並未清晰，但焦油可以減少鱗屑以及達到消炎止癢嘅功效。頭部嘅脂溢性皮炎徵狀包括頭皮較多、發炎及痕癢，含焦油嘅洗頭水有助控制頭皮發炎，用法與一般洗頭水無異，但要留意最好稍作按摩，等頭皮吸收約五分鐘後先用水沖洗，亦要避免觸及眼睛。
Apart from eczema, tar can also be used in other skin problems, such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Though the mechanism of tar in psoriasis is unknown, it can reduce inflammation, itching and scaling. Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis on scalp includes dandruff, itching and reddened skin, that can be controlled by tar shampoo. The usage of tar shampoo is the same as normal shampoo except that gentle massage is needed, and soap should be left on scalp for 5 minutes before washing off.
屈臣氏藥劑師團隊
Watsons Pharmacy Team
