Editing Coal tar (section)

== Mechanism of action ==
The exact mechanism of action is unknown.<ref name="Mai2011" /> Coal tar is a complex mixture of [[phenols]], [[polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon]]s (PAHs), and [[heterocyclic compound]]s.<ref name="CDC2002" />

It is a [[keratolytic]] agent, which reduces the growth rate of skin cells and softens the skin's [[keratin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2918e/26.2.html#Jh2918e.26.2|title=WHO Model Prescribing Information: Drugs Used in Skin Diseases: Keratoplastic and keratolytic agents: Coal tar|website=apps.who.int|access-date=2017-06-10|quote=keratolytic agent that inhibits excessive proliferation of epidermal cells by reducing DNA synthesis and mitotic activity to normal levels|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420161122/http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2918e/26.2.html#Jh2918e.26.2|archive-date=2017-04-20}}</ref><ref name=":1" />