What Is Occupational Acne?
Environmental and occupational acne is a skin condition associated with industrial exposure. The etiology of occupational or industrial acne is various physical, chemical, and environmental agents such as coal tar and products, petrol, polyhalogenated hydrocarbons, and others. People working in the mechanical, chemical, and electrical industries are at high risk of developing occupational acne. Various types of environmental or occupational acne include coal tar acne, oil acne, and chloracne.
The most common form of acne that is seen is comedones. They appear as pustules, papules, and cystic lesions. These lesions, under microscopic examination, show epidermal hyperplasia, whereas follicular and sebaceous glands are replaced by keratinized epidermal cells. Oral retinoic acids and topical or oral antibiotics can be used in treatment. Preventive measures, improving working conditions, and educating workers can eliminate occupational acne.
What Is Coal Tar?
Coal tar is produced from the coke and coal gas from coal, which is a dark, thick liquid. It is a type of creosote used in the medical field and industries. It can be applied as a topical medication to the skin to treat psoriasis and dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis). It can also be combined with ultraviolet light therapy. Coal tar is used in the form of creams, gels, cleansing bars, lotions, ointments, shampoos, topical solutions, and suspensions.
It is industrially used in the surfacing of roads and as a railroad tie preservative. Coal tar is the main ingredient in synthetic dyes. Coal tar has a wide range of utilities in industry and consumer products. It is used as fuel in furnaces in the steel industry, in open-hearth furnaces, as a modifying agent of epoxy-resin surface coatings, and as a filling material for surface coating formulations.
Occupational exposure to coal tar is more common than its therapeutic use or environmental contamination. Coal tar acne generally occurs in workers working in iron-steel foundries, coal tar refineries, aluminum production, roof insulation, pavement seal coat, road paving, and wood surface painting. Pitch and creosote are the causes of acne in canal and road construction workers. Coal tar can be used as a generic medication as well.
What Are the Uses of Coal Tar?
Coal tar has been historically used in medicinal ointments, creams, and shampoos for treating various skin conditions, particularly psoriasis. Its anti-inflammatory and antipruritic (anti-itch) properties decrease the symptoms like itching, redness, and scaling. Coal tar-based preparations are applied topically to affected areas to help slow down excessive skin cell growth, reduce inflammation, and alleviate the discomfort associated with psoriasis plaques. It is known to help in the reduction of scales, thickness, and redness of psoriatic skin lesions, aiding in the management of this chronic skin condition.
Coal tar formulations come in various concentrations, allowing for tailored treatment options based on the severity and location of psoriasis patches. Its use in treating psoriasis dates back decades, and while newer treatments have emerged, coal tar remains a viable option for many patients due to its efficacy and affordability. Often used alongside other treatments, coal tar offers a complementary approach to managing psoriasis, relieving symptoms, and improving the appearance of affected skin areas.
The Various Uses of Coal Tar Include:
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As an ingredient in medicated shampoo.
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Coal tar can be a topical treatment for psoriasis and dandruff. It is also used to kill and repel head lice.
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As an ingredient in soap and ointment.
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It has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti-itch, and antiparasitic properties.
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Coal tar is used in combination with ultraviolet light therapy.
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Coal tar can be used as a coal tar solution, crude coal tar, or liquor carbonic detergent (LCD).
What Are the Symptoms of Tar Acne Being Overdosed?
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It can cause redness, itching, and burning sensations on the skin, particularly in individuals with sensitive skin or allergies to coal tar.
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Coal tar preparations can stain the skin, hair, and clothing, which may be difficult to remove. Certain coal tar formulations can increase skin sensitivity to sunlight, increasing the likelihood of sunburn occurring sooner than usual.
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The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coal tar has raised questions regarding its possible carcinogenic qualities.
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Long-term use or exposure to high concentrations of coal tar may theoretically increase the risk of skin cancer, although the evidence supporting this is not entirely clear-cut.
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Inhalation of coal tar fumes or Particularly in poorly ventilated environments, dust can irritate the respiratory system and induce coughing or breathing issues in sensitive people.
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Excessive absorption of coal tar through the skin might lead to systemic effects such as nausea, headache, dizziness, or even systemic toxicity in severe cases.
What Are the Causes of Tar Acne?
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Exposure of the skin to coal tar causes coal tar acne. Coal tar acne results from an obstruction in sebaceous glands caused by combining keratin products with coal tar.
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Comedone formation occurs due to the obstruction of sebaceous glands following the accumulation of fatty fluid and keratin production. They present as blackheads around the eyes.
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Though it usually goes away fast, coal-tar acne can sometimes linger for a long time following exposure.
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Burning feelings, skin discoloration, and skin flushing may be experienced by those with coal-tar acne when exposed to light.
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If coal-tar skin lesions are left untreated, they may develop into skin cancer. Skin discoloration, sun sensitivity, allergic reactions, and skin irritation are some of the side effects of coal tar products.
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Long-term exposure to coal tar increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. It also causes cancer.
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While coal tar consistently causes cancer in workers with chronic occupational exposure, mechanistic and animal models.
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Long-term skin exposure to compounds present in coal tar can result in tar warts that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. It also contains a keratolytic agent found to lessen the skin cell growth rate and soften the skin keratin.
What Are the Clinical Features of Tar Acne?
Tar acne appears as widened follicular openings with keratin plugs without inflammatory infiltrates. Clinically, they appear on the malar regions of the face. Coal-tar acne can be distinguished from oil acne and chloracne due to the absence of inflammatory papules, pustules, and big yellow cysts. They are generally found on the external surfaces of the arm and thigh. The appearance of coal tar acne and periorbital comedone formation is high in people exposed to coal tar. In various experimental conditions, crude coal tar was reported to show lower inflammatory activity in dark-skinned individuals when compared to white-skinned.
How to Treat and Prevent Tar Acne?
Coal tar workers should receive training on how to keep their outfits clean with frequent changing, avoid hazardous doses of exposure, wear protective work clothes, use cleansers at workplaces, work in industries that are well equipped, and have facilities for showers, ventilation, and health check-ups. The response to therapy is reported to be higher than in chloracne.
Exposure to coal tar generally occurs in the workplace through respiration, skin contact, or eye contact. At 80 milligram per cubic meter, coal tar exposure higher than normal is immediately dangerous to life and health. Patients can also visit the telemedicine platform to obtain prescription medicines for acne, allowing individuals to obtain the necessary treatment through online consultations conveniently.
Conclusion
Coal tar is a dark brown-black, fatty fluid heavier than water. It has a naphthalene-like odor and a burning taste. It is a by-product of the distillation of hazardous parts of coal. Exposure to coal tar occurs through the respiratory, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. Prevention from coal tar can be done by avoiding high doses of exposure, wearing protective work clothes, training workers to keep their work outfits clean by changing them frequently, using cleansers at the workplace, working in industries that are well equipped and have facilities for showers and ventilation, and having health check-ups
