How to Make Pine Tar Soap

Pine tar soap is helpful for topically treating skin conditions such as psoriasis and extreme eczema. Psoriasis, characterized by the appearance of itchy, silvery scales on the scalp, neck, arms and legs, can spread and scales can become thick and cover large areas if left untreated. Pine tar soap helps reduce the thickness of the scales, and can soften and prevent psoriasis from spreading. Many stores sell pine tar soap, but commercial pine tar soap can contain harsh chemicals and preservatives. However, pine tar soap can be created right in your own kitchen, making it a natural yet effective treatment for psoriasis.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. coconut oil
• 3 lbs. olive oil
• 13 oz. pine tar
• 9 oz. lye
• 2 cups water
• Large stock pot
• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Glass measuring cup
• 2 glass candy thermometers
• Soap molds

Instructions

1. 

   Combine lye and water in a glass measuring cup in a ventilated area or outdoors. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves to prevent the lye fumes from getting into your eyes or on your skin. Don't breathe in the lye fumes. Place a glass candy thermometer into the measuring cup. There will be a chemical reaction that will cause the lye to heat up. Let the lye reach 110 degrees F.

2. 

   Pour the olive oil, coconut oil and pine tar into a large stock pot, and heat it over medium heat, stirring constantly. Place another candy thermometer into the stock pot. Once the temperature reaches 110 degrees F, remove it from the heat.

3. 

   Carefully pour the lye into the oils, and stir it constantly until the mixture becomes thick. It should resemble a thick pudding in consistency. This is called "tracing" and will indicate that the mixture is ready to pour into the soap molds.

4. 

   Carefully pour the mixture into soap molds. Let the soaps stay in the molds for at least a week. After that time, pop the soaps out of the molds and place them in a cool, dark room for 6 weeks to cure.

5. 

   Use the pine tar soaps 3 times per week on the areas of your skin that have active psoriasis lesions. Continue to use the pine tar soap until the psoriasis goes into remission and you no longer see thick scales on the skin's surface.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep lye and hot oils away from children. Do not breathe lye fumes. Keep lye off the skin. Don't get lye fumes in your eyes.

Resources

• Homemade Pine Tar Soap
• Pine Tar
• Coconut Oil