A shortage of tar shampoo?!?! I don't get it!

[bif]

I use T-Gel tar shampoo for my scalp. Suddenly, you can't find it anywhere? I've looked everywhere locally and on line. Nada! It just seems so weird! What the heck is going on?

[MLAA]

1. My husband used it as well. I googled around and found out that Neutrogena stopped making it.

[bif]

2. I did some more digging and found a product by DHS

That's supposed to be quite good. It's available from Amazon (ugh!).

[MLAA]

3. I will check it out, thanks!

[bif]

12. Just ordered some from the OTC Superstore

Pretty much the same price as Amazon. But...not Amazon! Never heard of the OTC Superstore. Hopefully it's legit.

[MLAA]

27. I haven't heard of them either, but will check them out 🙂

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Neutrogena Makes One

It sells under the tradename T-Gel.
I was actually in the plant once when they were making& bottling it.
Testing in our applications lab showed it to be as effective, or moreso, than most any other brand for eczema& psoriasis.

[bif]

7. That's the one I used to use

And now can't find it.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Hmmm

Maybe they're having issues with getting the bottles.
I know for sure the surfactant industry is maintaining normal supply times. (Did a lot of stuff in that industry. I know tons of people in those companies.)

[MLAA]

28. I believe Neutrogena stopped making it.

At least that is what I read when I was searching for some for husband after not finding it at CVS, Walgreens, Target et al.

Makes me curious as to why they stopped. Lack of demand or some other reason.

[ProfessorGAC]

32. They Still Show 4 Variants On Their Website

https://www.neutrogena.com/search?q=T+gel&lang=default
And, 2 Target & 4 Walgreen's near us show it in-stock.
I don't think it's discontinued. The Ionil T was discontinued late in '21. But, that was I believe, the prescription version. Generic options made it unprofitable. The others still show up on the website.
It would take that web people 10 seconds to delete that page if they made the call to discontinue the line.
That's why I'm leaning toward supply issues around the bottles.
On Edit: I found this on their website.

Hi there! Great news! This product is not discontinued. It is currently out of stock due to distribution issues. We expect to have this product back on the ...

[MLAA]

35. Thank you!

[USALiberal]

5. First world problems! :-)

[bif]

8. I know. However if your scalp itched as much as mine

It's a universal problem!

[marybourg]

31. People in the third world don't have scalp psoriasis?

[eppur_se_muova]

6. For a minute there, I thought this might be the new Ivermectin ...

relieved to hear it's something else.

Almost *anything* else.

[liberalguilt57]

10. Neutrogena T-Gel is still listed at CVS

Neutrogena T-Gel is still listed at being for sale at my local CVS in southeastern Pennsylvania.
I buy the generic version of coal tar shampoo, also sold at CVS, or the generic sold at the chain grocery store where I shop. Good luck. It is a godsend during dry scalp season!

[bif]

11. Completely sold out here in the Detroit area

I've looked everywhere.

[tavernier]

13. Amazon has it

Several different types are advertised for delivery tomorrow Or this coming week

[bif]

14. I try to avoid Amazon

Found a similar product at almost the same price at the OTC Superstore.

[tavernier]

17. Oh, sorry

I live on an island with very few shopping opportunities so I order almost daily.

[moonscape]

29. 8 oz for $20 vs 16 oz I got

in Nov for 8.50. Gouging everywhere!

[Sympthsical]

15. Have you tried ketoconazole?

The 1% solution over-the-counter versions are a little pricey, but if you have a prescription plan, you can get the 2% solution from your doctor.

My partner's a pharmacist and turned me on to it. I use to have really itchy scalp no matter what I did. H&S worked decently, but I had to use it every single day. If I missed a day, itch itch.

T-Gel . . . the smell . . .

So, I got the 2% ketoconazole solution. Not only does it smell pleasant, but you only need a very small amount every three days to keep everything under control. Plus my hair is crazy soft these days. When I first started using it, it was very, "Where has this been all my life?!"

With my prescription plan, I pay about $5 a month for it.

[martalcd]

16. I contacted Nutragena back in September 2021...

and they said they hoped to have it back in stock by December.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

18. A scarcity of tar caused by tar and feathering of Rethugs by Jan. 6 Committee.

That's gotta be it........

Seriously Bif, I though T-Gel was by prescription only (AndroGel).

Oh wait, we're speaking of two completely different classes of product.......

Good luck on finding a reliable supply for your shampoo.

Target on-line has both Neutrogena and Medicasp Coal Tar Gel Dandruff Shampoo in stock and available by shipping only. Local stores here in Derby City are almost completely sold out. I use Target on-line often and love it.

Maybe this is the latest right-wing COVID cure...... .....

KY

[bif]

23. Here's what's weird...

I tried ordering it from Target yesterday. I got this odd message that said it couldn't ship it to my zip code. So I decided to look for alternatives (see above). I just checked a few minutes ago and it said I could not have it shipped. Weirdness!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

40. Have you considered trying the bar version of this product...

but if nothing else, just as a backup? I'm seeing lots of that available from Walmart, Target and Amazon. WallyWorld sells the Soap Works version for $3/bar in dozen lots, for example. Just put "Coal Tar Bar Soap" in the product search window.

What you said about Target and some other recent stretched delivery statements makes me wonder if companies are nervous about big troubles with the truckers, as in a bunch of wildcat actions.

KY

[MLAA]

30. Good one! I wish!

[kimbutgar]

19. My husband uses that shampoo also and we had trouble finding it for him

Finally we found some and brought 2 bottles for him.

[tanyev]

20. We've noticed the same thing.

Hubby went to CVS to get more and they were out. Kroger and Target are still showing it on their websites, so I added it to my cart for grocery pickup orders, but it was out of stock every time. Out of stock on Amazon. Hubby is trying MG217 brand now and it’s definitely more, uh, pungent than Neutrogena.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. See My Post #32

Supply chain issues. When resolved, they'll start shipping.
I was thinking bottles in short supply, but they say "distribution" issues.
Negotiating a new deal with warehousing & logistics companies?

[tanyev]

38. Hey, thanks!

Neither one of us thought to look at Neutrogena's website. D'oh!

[ProfessorGAC]

39. As I Said In Another Post...

...I've visited their plant a couple times. I was helping them on a phase stability issue with another product.
Really slick & well run operation.
That's why, as soon as I saw the products on the website, I knew something was up.
There's no way that outfit would discontinue a product line & forget to delete it from their website.
In fact, as they depleted existing inventory, there'd be a flag in SAP to alert IT to do so when the last cases shipped.
It's a very well run company.

[ratchiweenie]

21. So weird. My husband had the same experience a couple of months ago. He got the last large bottle

that he found at CVS and hasn't seen any since. I checked Amazon, they were out. We wondered what was going on. Hopefully just a backlog and not that they won't stop making it. He can't be without it. Maybe silly thing to worry about but not to him. He relies on it for his scalp condition.

[Liberal In Texas]

22. Yep, noticed same thing. On Amazon VERY expensive (Like $50 or so)

from 3rd parties, which usually happens when supplies disappear. Haven't been able to find it at the usual CVS, Walgreeens or grocery stores locally.

I use it in rotation with other things which my dermatologist recommended.

[bif]

24. When I checked Amazon earlier today

It was $41. But that was for 3 bottles. I found an alternative.(See above).

[Liberal In Texas]

26. That DHS might be an acceptable substitute.

I'm not in dire need so I think I'll wait and see if the supply issues resolves. I'm alternating with MG217 when I use this kind of shampoo (which is every 3 days.) So I'm going to wait a bit.

[sarcasmo]

25. When that happens usually the product has been discontinued.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. See My Edited Post #32

It's not discontinued. Supply chain issues.

[Hortensis]

34. Likely Sarcasmo's is the major reason, happening over several

years as new products came in, factories supplying ingredients switched to other products, etc. A genreal shifting away might help explain why no one could find out why products were disappearing.

Here are two old articles.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2572425/Coal-tar-shampoo-standby-psoriasis-eczema-So-HAS-trusted-skin-treatment-disappeared.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3369580/Why-don-t-chemists-stock-favourite-medicine-Headache-pills-coal-tar-cream-charcoal-tablets-discontinued.html

Not quite as exciting as some years ago now when I wondered why limes had disappeared and learned that some of "my" lime growers were in the middle of gun battles with crime cartels trying to take control of their orchards. Old news now, criminals largely control the industry in Mexico, much the same for avocados, which are now being called by some "green gold" and others "blood avocados."

But when ingredients can come from various parts of the planet, all kinds of things might be going on.

[beaglelover]

36. We used to use that shampoo to wash our Sharpei!