Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Coal Tar? Is Coal Tar safe for nursing mother and child? Does Coal Tar extracts into breast milk? Does Coal Tar has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Coal Tar influence milk supply or can Coal Tar decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Coal Tar lactation summary

Coal Tar is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Coal Tar is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Coal Tar is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Coal Tar does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Coal Tar safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Coal Tar usage in lactation

Avoid using it on the breast or cleanse thoroughly before nursing.

Answer by DrLact: About Coal Tar usage in lactation

Coal tar applied topically to maternal skin can result in pyrene absorption by the infant, probably by skin-to-skin or skin-to-mouth contact with the mother. Because of the potential toxicity of coal tar to the breastfed infant, alternate drugs are preferred.[1] If a coal tar product is used, it would be prudent to treat the smallest area of skin possible. It is particularly important to ensure that the infant's skin does not come into direct contact with the areas of skin that have been treated.
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.