Skip to content
Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Coal tar

Skin Shampoo and other preparations for scalp and hair conditions BNF 1309000C0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Coal tar was ranked 302nd of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 36,066 items, down 14.7% on a year earlier.

36,066items -14.7%

Dispensed in May 2026

455,386items

Rolling 12 months

£242,318

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Coal tar: national items dispensed by month

0 23k 46k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 36,066 Jan 2021: 43k Feb 2021: 41k Mar 2021: 46k Apr 2021: 44k May 2021: 41k Jun 2021: 44k Jul 2021: 43k Aug 2021: 41k Sep 2021: 44k Oct 2021: 41k Nov 2021: 43k Dec 2021: 43k Jan 2022: 43k Feb 2022: 39k Mar 2022: 44k Apr 2022: 43k May 2022: 44k Jun 2022: 43k Jul 2022: 42k Aug 2022: 42k Sep 2022: 42k Oct 2022: 41k Nov 2022: 42k Dec 2022: 39k Jan 2023: 41k Feb 2023: 39k Mar 2023: 44k Apr 2023: 39k May 2023: 43k Jun 2023: 44k Jul 2023: 43k Aug 2023: 42k Sep 2023: 42k Oct 2023: 43k Nov 2023: 43k Dec 2023: 40k Jan 2024: 43k Feb 2024: 41k Mar 2024: 41k Apr 2024: 44k May 2024: 44k Jun 2024: 42k Jul 2024: 45k Aug 2024: 42k Sep 2024: 42k Oct 2024: 43k Nov 2024: 40k Dec 2024: 40k Jan 2025: 44k Feb 2025: 39k Mar 2025: 42k Apr 2025: 41k May 2025: 42k Jun 2025: 40k Jul 2025: 41k Aug 2025: 36k Sep 2025: 39k Oct 2025: 40k Nov 2025: 37k Dec 2025: 38k Jan 2026: 39k Feb 2026: 35k Mar 2026: 38k Apr 2026: 37k May 2026: 36k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Download CSV
Embed this chart

At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Shampoo and other preparations for scalp and hair conditions
  • Presentations 7 shown
  • Average cost / item £6.72
  • Year on year Down 14.7% on a year earlier
What this is
Net ingredient cost is the list price before discounts and dispensing fees, not what the NHS finally pays.

Top presentations, May 2026

The individual products dispensed under Coal tar this month.

Presentations of Coal tar, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Capasal Therapeutic shampoo 1309000C0BLAAAQ 28,390 £177,617
Polytar Scalp shampoo 1309000C0BHADBC 5,854 £53,376
Psoriderm scalp lotion 1309000C0BDAAAE 1,061 £5,983
Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic shampoo 1309000C0BJAAAN 707 £4,806
Alphosyl 2 in 1 shampoo 1309000C0BGACAT 50 £503
Clinitar 2% shampoo 1309000C0BFAAAN 2 £23
Polytar liquid 1309000C0BHABAK 2 £10

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to May 2026 OGL v3.0

Where Coal tar is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Coal tar volumes.

Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.

Compare Coal tar with

Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.