First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Cool hot tar with large amounts of cold running water.
- If tar gets in your eyes, flush with cool, clean, low-pressure water or saline.
- Don't scrub or pick at the tar.
- Call a doctor for removal, or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 with product questions.
Tar on skin is greasy and sticky, and when it's hot it can burn. Cooling it right away is the step that matters most, so get cold running water on it before anything else. Once it has cooled, leave it alone rather than picking or scrubbing, because picking at it only raises the risk of more irritation.
If the tar sits on your fingers or hands, don't let a scrub turn into a bigger problem, because scrubbing is the mistake to dodge. Beach tar, bitumen paint and tar stains on fingers all tempt people to rub harder. If the skin is blistered, red or stinging, see a doctor rather than trying harder with a solvent on broken skin.
Before you start
What skin & hands can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care4
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Hot water
3 items
What you'll need
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- Cold running waterCools hot tar and stops the burning.
- Lukewarm waterThe only water for washing the area after the tar is removed.
- Cool, clean water or salineFor rinsing the eyes if tar gets in them.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Cool hot tar right away
If the tar is hot, run large amounts of cold running water over the area right away. The cooling stops the burning and keeps the burn from going deeper. Keep the water running until the area feels cooler.
Careful. Hot water is not safe on skin. Use lukewarm or warm water, not hot.
Step 2 of 5
Flush the eyes if tar gets in
If tar gets in your eyes, flush them with cool, clean, low-pressure water or saline. Then have a doctor check the eye as soon as possible.
Step 3 of 5
Leave the cooled tar alone
Once the area is cool, leave the tar in place. Don't pick, peel or wipe at it, and don't reach for solvents or oils. Removing tar is not a medical emergency, so there's no need to rush.
Careful. Scrubbing spreads the tar and leaves skin red and irritated.
Step 4 of 5
Have a doctor remove the tar
Only a medical professional should remove tar from skin, since that is the safest route. If you can't get it removed, see a doctor. For a serious burn, call 911 right away.
Step 5 of 5
Wash gently after removal
Once a doctor has removed the tar, wash the area gently with lukewarm water. Pat it dry rather than rubbing.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
You'll know the cooling step is working when the skin feels cooler and the tar stops moving or spreading. If the skin gets worse or the pain grows, don't wait; call a doctor.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your skin & hands
Beach tar
Cold beach tar stuck to unburned skin follows the same plan: leave it in place and have a doctor remove it. Don't try a home removal on it, since the safest route is medical removal for any tar on skin.
If the tar is hot or has burned the skin, cool it with cold running water first, then follow the same steps.
Tar on fingers
Fingers follow the same plan: cool hot tar with cold running water, then leave it alone. Don't dig at it with a tool or a fingernail, since that can break the skin.
What changes is the waiting. Keep your hands out of solvents and oils, and see a doctor if the skin stays irritated.
Bitumen paint
Bitumen paint on skin gets the same approach as tar: cool any hot paint with cold running water, then leave it in place. Don't reach for paint thinner, gasoline or other solvents to strip it, since those are not a safe way to treat it on skin.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before you try anything else, and let a doctor do any removal.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old tar that has been sitting on the skin is still a job for a doctor, not a home treatment. Don't add solvents, oils or scrubbing to try to loosen it.
Dried tar that has hardened is handled the same way: leave it in place and have a doctor remove it. Don't work at the hardened patch with anything rough.
After washing, if the skin stays irritated or dry, see a board-certified dermatologist. If tar is still there after a doctor's visit, don't try a stronger home treatment, because there's no safe one for skin.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on tar on skin & hands?
Most remedies you'll find online are made for fabric, so don't try them on tar stuck to skin. So none of them is in the steps, and the steps stick to cooling, leaving the tar alone and medical removal.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use gasoline or lighter fluid
Gasoline and lighter fluid are fuels, not spot removers, so keep them off your skin. If you use any solvent at all, do it in a well-ventilated room away from flames and sparks.
Don't leave rubbing alcohol on skin
Rubbing alcohol left on skin can cause an irritant rash. If any gets on you, rinse it off with cool water.
Don't count on the tar peeling off
Tar sometimes peels off after a few days, but don't count on that happening. If it isn't clearing or the skin is getting worse, see a doctor rather than waiting.
When to call a professional
Tar that stays on the skin after cooling is a job for a medical professional, not a home kit. If the burn looks serious or the skin is getting worse, get medical help right away.
Questions
How to remove tar paint from hands without paint thinner?
Skip the paint thinner, and don't use a solvent or oil in its place. Cool hot tar with cold running water, then leave the rest for a doctor to remove.
Can I use cooking oil on tar?
No. Cooking fats or oils that aren't completely removed age and form yellow stains. Leave the tar in place and let a doctor handle the removal.
Is tar on skin an emergency?
Hot tar is a burn, so cool it right away. Once it's cool, removing it is not a medical emergency, so there's no need to rush.
What if the skin stays irritated after the tar is gone?
See a board-certified dermatologist if the reaction is severe or persists, or if dry skin doesn't improve. Don't keep applying anything to the area while you wait.
Who do I call with a question about a product on my skin?
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for any question about a product on skin. They can tell you whether it's safe to use before you try it.
Can tar stain my clothes too?
Yes, and the same rule applies to clothing: keep tar-stained items out of the dryer until the stain is gone. Use the clothing guide if the stain is on something you wear.
Tar on other materials
Other stains on skin & hands
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.