Coal tar on children?

I just found my children in a bath full of dog shampoo, which has a lot of coal tar in it. I really want to laugh about this, but just need to be reassured first that it's perfectly safe. The quick google search I just did didn't bring up anything to be concerned with, but I'd appreciate anyone who can verify!

Then I can (hopefully) have a hearty laugh over this. 

*UPDATE*
I just talked to the poison control center and got advice - so please disregard this post.

Oh well I'm curious, what was the poison control centers advice? 

Coal tar is used for humans -one of my kids had to use it for eczema - so it must be alright.

and I'm pretty sure there are dandruff shampoos that have coal tar in them.

and I'm pretty sure there are dandruff shampoos that have coal tar in them.

Yes-and man those things smelly nasty!  But the ex-bf used to use it for his excezma on his head and it worked great for him.... 

(Still interested in what the poison control center said...as I am a curious person!) 

Yes-and man those things smelly nasty! 

Both my MIL and I liked the smell.   It's right up there with permanent markers.

My dad had severe psoriasis over most of his body, and he was doctor-ordered to regularly bathe in a coal tar based bath-gel product that was prescribed by his doctor -- it's very healing to skin problems and recommended to bathe in, but boy it did smell icky to us kids.

I have psoriasis too, and have coal tar shampoo to use - but it doesn't work. I'm sort of undecided about the smell, though. I guess I kind of like it (in the magic marker way Mindy described), but I'm not sure I want to smell of it myself.

Can I be the first to ask how they got in a bath of coal tar??
Sounds like an interesting story...

I have psoriasis too, and have coal tar shampoo to use - but it doesn't work. I'm sort of undecided about the smell, though. I guess I kind of like it (in the magic marker way Mindy described), but I'm not sure I want to smell of it myself.

You know, you're right really -- it didn't actually do much to my dad's condition! I should ammend my statement to "It is supposed to be healing" --- but my poor dad still had horrendous psoriasis anyway! I guess it did no harm but yep, it didn't go a long way to helping much either. Do the baths at least soothe at all?

Do the baths at least soothe at all?

I only use the shampoo for my hair; I've never tried a bath. But I don't get the itching that's often associated with psoriasis, so soothing isn't really what I need. 

Oh well I'm curious, what was the poison control centers advice? 

She was most concerned that they had ingested it, which I was pretty sure they hadn't. She told me to wash them again in a lot of soap, because the concentration of coal tar and other ingredients could burn the skin. She then gave me warning signs to look for (drowsiness, blisters around the lips/mouth, etc.) that could be symptoms of a bigger problem.

And they're fine - no problems at all.

Yes-and man those things smelly nasty!  

OMG. It stinks! And to top it off, this product was 'pine scented' - so the bathroom felt like I was breathing in a menthol pine forest.

Can I be the first to ask how they got in a bath of coal tar??
Sounds like an interesting story...

  My boys are usually up to no good. This story is pretty straightforward, though.

They were in the bath and I was in the next room for a few minutes. My little imp got the (red) dog shampoo and poured it in the tub. My oldest imp shouted out, "Mommy! I'm swimming around in Jupiter's red spot!" which alerted me to the situation. 

My dad had severe psoriasis over most of his body, and he was doctor-ordered to regularly bathe in a coal tar based bath-gel product that was prescribed by his doctor -- it's very healing to skin problems and recommended to bathe in, but boy it did smell icky to us kids.

This was a common old-school treatment of psoriasis, but no, it doesn't work, and yes, it smells. BAD, IMO.  I don't think it really helps the itching, either. The only thing that helps the itching for me is to either put ice on it and try to forget it itches, or use the prescribed ointments and creams that Chary and I both use for it. Though my former dermatologist says that Benadryl helps the itching for some people, it never seemed to help me.

This was a common old-school treatment of psoriasis, but no, it doesn't work, and yes, it smells. BAD, IMO.  I don't think it really helps the itching, either. The only thing that helps the itching for me is to either put ice on it and try to forget it itches, or use the prescribed ointments and creams that Chary and I both use for it. Though my former dermatologist says that Benadryl helps the itching for some people, it never seemed to help me.

Yes, I remember my dad was also given ointment by the ton to slather on, and I got the impression that helped slightly more. I think he had not only itching but the wounds were painful/stung/smarted. He had the kind that produces large, raw lesions covering large areas of skin, that scab over into silver scabs. (Sorry this is so graphic!) While the lesions were still raw and red I think he felt a lot of pain.

Yes, I remember my dad was also given ointment by the ton to slather on, and I got the impression that helped slightly more. I think he had not only itching but the wounds were painful/stung/smarted. He had the kind that produces large, raw lesions covering large areas of skin, that scab over into silver scabs. (Sorry this is so graphic!) While the lesions were still raw and red I think he felt a lot of pain.

Yep, that type is definitely worse, and very painful. I have the regular plaque psoriasis on my joints, mostly. It just gets thick with skin cells and itches a lot sometimes. It can be painful if it gets bad enough to crack open when I walk or bend my arms, but fortunately it hasn't been that bad in the last 7 or 8 years thanks to regular meds.  In fact, I've been so diligent lately with my meds that it's not very noticable at the moment. (At least I don't think it is!) I'm hoping I can clear it up most of the way before we go to Greece this summer. I usually hate wearing swimsuits or shorts because of it, but hopefully it won't be too bad then.