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Neutrogena T/Gel Coal Tar Shampoo.

About this product

A medicated shampoo containing coal tar and salicylic acid, formulated to exfoliate the scalp, reduce inflammation, and help manage dandruff and scalp buildup.

More from Neutrogena 66 products · Guru Score 91% →

Guru Score

84%

Yay

9 experts · Strong agreement

What they liked

  • Calms scalp inflammation and itch
  • Removes flakes and product buildup
  • Fragrance-free, no common irritant preservatives

What they flagged

  • Strong tar smell lingers in bathroom

What the gurus are saying

Coal tar makes this shampoo powerfully anti-inflammatory for scalp itch and flaking, though the smell is genuinely offensive and it can stain clothes. Dermatologists consistently recommend it for dandruff, psoriasis, and product buildup, often rotating it with other medicated shampoos for best results. The 3% salicylic acid concentration is among the strongest available over-the-counter, and it's fragrance-free, making it especially useful for those sensitive to common preservatives. Availability has become frustratingly difficult, with several experts noting it has been discontinued or is hard to find, which limits how widely they can recommend it.
Synthesized from 9 expert reviews · most recent take November 2025

Type

HaircareGel

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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✓Yay
"With psoriasis, coal tar can help topically a lot. So can salicylic acid. Neutrogena had two shampoos, a coal tar shampoo and a salicylic acid shampoo that can also work great for the scalp."
All 3 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss
Scalp Psoriasis: Top Tips & Derm-Approved Treatments for Dry, Flaky Scalp! | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"Sadly, Neutrogena T/Gel, which in my opinion was one of the most available options on the market, is no longer. I don't know why they discontinued it, but they did."
Hair & Scalp Solutions for Oily/Dry Hair, Dandruff, Psoriasis, & Hair Loss | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"Neutrogena also has a tea gel shampoo and that has coal tar. It smells like road pavement on a day where they are putting down the road pavement because of the coal, but it has anti-inflammatory actions which will calm down the inflammation on your scalp and help your scalp heal itself better."
Can Healing Your Gut Really Transform Your Skin? Dermatologist Explains Gut Health | Dr. Idriss
"With psoriasis, coal tar can help topically a lot. So can salicylic acid. Neutrogena had two shampoos, a coal tar shampoo and a salicylic acid shampoo that can also work great for the scalp."
✓Yay
"Classically Neutrogena T/Gel, but I hear that's really hard to find or they've discontinued it, which is really sad. I've been recommending that from when I was a first year resident at Harvard."
All 2 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
Fine Lines, Clogged Pores & Dandruff: What Dermatologists Really Recommend
"Classically Neutrogena T/Gel, but I hear that's really hard to find or they've discontinued it, which is really sad. I've been recommending that from when I was a first year resident at Harvard."
Dermatologist Explains: How to Manage an Itchy and Flaky Scalp
"Neutrogena T/Gel has always been my go-to for my patients if they have flaky scalp. [...] The colar extract form of T/Gel by Neutrogena is a good anti-inflammatory soothing shampoo. It smells terribly and sometimes can stain your clothes, you have to wash it out well, but it's a great option to supplement your topical prescription medications from your dermatologist. I've had patients from over 10 years ago who have benefited from that shampoo."
✓Yay
"I use T/Gel personally. I know it does not smell good, it smells like tar, it's a tar based shampoo and it stinks the whole bathroom, your wife's going to yell at you. But it does help me, it helps my itch, especially any inflammation going on in the scalp. That tar based shampoo is very anti-inflammatory on the skin and really does a great job of breaking up scale. It's becoming harder to find unfortunately, but it's a good option."
✓Yay
"If you actually can find their T/Gel which has tar and coal, which is also great anti-inflammatory, that really helps to cut down itching. I will often have them even rotate between the two. The benefit here is again salicylic acid really helps to kind of dissolve that buildup of the white mucous scale, remove that thickened scale, help to reduce inflammation. And this T/Gel one has 3% salicylic acid which is really great concentration."
✓Yay
"Neutrogena tea gel"
✓Yay
"It is not as effective as an anti-fungal shampoo in my experience, but it works wonderfully in addition to your other dandruff shampoos. What I like to recommend is alternating this salicylic acid shampoo with your anti-fungal shampoo. Neutrogena has a shampoo called T/Gel that I've recommended for years because it has the strongest concentration of salicylic acid in it compared to its competitors. It is fragrance free, has three percent salicylic acid in it, and it's just under ten dollars."
Top Pick: salicylic acid dandruff shampoo
✓Yay
"One of my final over-the-counter recommendations is Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo. This is like an oldie but a goodie. It utilizes the beneficial properties of coal tar which is really an anti-inflammatory for the scalp and can help with both flaking and with itch. This is also a shampoo that I often recommend to my patients who struggle with scalp psoriasis."
✓Yay
"It's the Neutrogena T/Gel. This has been around for a long time. Fingers crossed they never discontinue it. It is a salicylic acid fragrance-free shampoo that is excellent for gently exfoliating the scalp, calming down scalp inflammation, reducing the formation of flakes and helping to remove product buildup. So, it's a great option if you have dandruff or if you use a lot of styling products and you've gotten some scalp buildup that is irritating and contributing to itch."
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All 4 takes from Dr Dray
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"It's the Neutrogena T/Gel. This has been around for a long time. Fingers crossed they never discontinue it. It is a salicylic acid fragrance-free shampoo that is excellent for gently exfoliating the scalp, calming down scalp inflammation, reducing the formation of flakes and helping to remove product buildup. So, it's a great option if you have dandruff or if you use a lot of styling products and you've gotten some scalp buildup that is irritating and contributing to itch."
Amazon Spring Deals On Skincare NOT TO MISS | 2025
"It's been around a long time so it's just one that I've been recommending for years. It's free of fragrance, no methyl isothiazolinone, a preservative that a lot of people are allergic to, and it can be challenging to find a dandruff shampoo without that ingredient."
Distinguishing Dandruff From Dry Scalp: Expert Tips For Clearing Up Flakes
"Neutrogena te-cell shampoo with salicylic acid"
GOODBYE NEUTROGENA DISCONTINUED PRODUCTS & WHAT TO USE INSTEAD| Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
"I actually used this as a child off and on. [...] Coal tar is anti-inflammatory and can really help with scalp itch. It is a great ingredient for psoriasis and for helping with buildup from the scalp that leads to scalp itch."
✓Yay
"If you have psoriasis, a good over-the-counter regimen is to actually rotate the T/Sal and the T/Gel. One has salicylic acid, the other one has coal tar. You're going to be treating by two different mechanisms, but both are going to have efficacy together."
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Frequently asked.

What is Neutrogena T/Gel Coal Tar Shampoo?

A medicated shampoo containing coal tar and salicylic acid, formulated to exfoliate the scalp, reduce inflammation, and help manage dandruff and scalp buildup.

Is Neutrogena T/Gel Coal Tar Shampoo worth it?

Yes. All 9 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

What is Neutrogena T/Gel Coal Tar Shampoo's Guru Score?

Neutrogena T/Gel Coal Tar Shampoo holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

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