The need for individualized and patient-specific dosing of medications continues to grow and evolve. From hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and topical pain medications to specialized dosage forms like suppositories or troches, compounding pharmacies enable prescribers to customize medications for specific patient needs.
Dermatological preparations exemplify the diverse options available to patients and dermatologists through compounding pharmacies. Patients may be in need of sunburn or wart treatments that are not commercially available. Salicylic acid can be compounded for topical application to slowly resolve the wart with less pain than cryotherapy.
Jill Weinstein, RPh
Approximately 90% of visible skin aging can be attributed to sun damage and patients who experience more than five sunburns at any age double their risk for acquiring melanoma. More than 50% of Americans report experiencing at least one sunburn per year. Therefore, preventing sun damage is critical to both appearance and overall health. When sunburn has already occurred it is necessary to treat the affected area to slow the damage, allow the tissue to heal, and relieve pain. Sunburn lotions can be compounded with topical anti-inflammatory agents to slow tissue damage, lidocaine to numb the area, and aloe vera, moisturizers, or vitamin A to speed and enhance the healing process.
Anti-aging creams are frequently compounded to increase tolerability of the preparation or to include ingredients in combinations that are not otherwise available. Many ingredients, such as estriol, kinetin, and retinoids, exhibit anti-aging properties. Estriol has been shown to increase skin firmness and elasticity as well as skin moisture resulting in markedly reduced wrinkle depth. Systemic hormonal adverse effects of these topical preparations are rare since only low hormonal doses are necessary. Kinetin, a botanical growth hormone, is believed to exert its anti-aging effects by promoting cell division and acting as an antioxidant. Free radicals are known to increase oxidation of skin proteins and breakdown collagen resulting in wrinkles. Antioxidants can significantly reduce free radical generation by binding and inactivating them before they cause tissue damage. Retinoids, derived from vitamin A, increase the skin’s collagen content and ability to retain water resulting in decreased fine lines and wrinkles. Retinoids are also commonly used to treat acne and photoaging of the skin. Bisabolol, a primary constituent of the essential chamomile oil, wields anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties that may improve tolerability of topical products while also increasing skin penetration of other ingredients. Other compounds have also demonstrated an ability to reduce wrinkles such as vitamin D, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid.
These chemical compounds can be incorporated into anti-aging creams specifically to fit a patient’s particular needs or preferences and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With the countless anti-wrinkle creams currently available on the market it is easy for patients to become confused. Compounding pharmacies can offer a product with effective ingredients in combinations not available over-the-counter. While there are a multitude of benefits to growing older, wrinkles are not one of them, but they can be treated and prevented with compounding pharmacies.
Why not cater to the needs of your patient with an individually formulated dermatologic compound created especially for them? Call Pharmacy Specialists today at (407) 260-7002 or visit us online at www.makerx.com to see how we can help you!
Article by Joel Peterson, PharmD Candidate and Jill WeinStein, RPh
Joel peterson, PharmD Candidate, University of Florida, is currently on rotation at Pharmacy Specialists. Jill Weinstein, RPh, graduated from University of Florida and is the clinical pharmacist who does hormone, nutrition and weight loss consultations at Pharmacy Specialists. Pharmacy Specialists is proud to be the only pharmacy in all of Central Florida and one of only 129 pharmacies in the country that are accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB). We meet or exceed ALL standards for sterile as well as non-sterile compounding and we are the only USP 797 and USP 795 validated compliant pharmacy in all of central Florida. Currently, Sam Pratt, RPh at Pharmacy Specialists is the only Full Fellow of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists in the Central Florida area. Call Pharmacy Specialists to check with a clinical pharmacist for suggestions and recommendations. For additional information please call (407)260-7002, FAX (407) 260-7044, Phone (800) 224-7711, FAX (800) 224-0665
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