The effect of topical crude coal tar treatment on unstimulated hairless hamster skin

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Abstract
Topical treatment of hairless hamster skin with crude coal tar induced epidermal thickening; increased labeling index in the basal cell layer; elevated NADP-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity throughout the epidermis; increased squame count, comedo formation and atrophy of the sebaceous glands. UV light fluorescence microscopy of sections of treated skin suggests that the hair follicle is an important route for skin penetration by coal tar. [Coal tar has been used empirically in the treatment of skin disease for nearly 2000 yr and is currently in widespread use for the treatment of psoriasis.].