Options for skincare medications are diverse, and those recommended can vary depending on the condition being treated and the skin type of the patient. Compounded medicine for skin care obtained through a specialty compounding pharmacy may offer unique benefits over pre-packaged, “one size fits all” solutions. Learn more about how compounding medications for skin can help clear your skin.
How Compounded Dermatology Medication Improves Skin
Dermatology is a specialized field of medicine concerned with diagnosing, treating, and curing disorders and diseases that affect the skin.
Common skin disorders include:
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Psoriasis
- Vitiligo
- Ringworm
Dermatological medications are used to treat various skin conditions. The mechanics of how these medications work depend on the medication and the specific condition being treated. Because there is such a wide variety of skin-related conditions, dermatological medications can be formulated to have a range of effects on the skin.
Some of the most common types of dermatological medicines include:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are well known for their use in treating bacterial infections throughout the body, including the skin. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria and/or inhibiting bacterial growth.
Topical Steroids
Steroids are often taken in oral form to treat a variety of conditions, but they can also be added to a cream or topical ointment. In this form, steroids can be used to treat inflammation and itching associated with various skin conditions. Steroids work by suppressing the body’s immune response to reduce skin inflammation.
Antifungals
Antifungal medications are used to treat fungal infections. Feet and toenails are common sites for fungal issues, but they can also occur elsewhere on your skin, especially where moisture collects. Antifungals work by killing or inhibiting the growth of fungi.
Retinoids
Retinoids are used to treat acne and other skin conditions. Retinol is derived from vitamin A, and its ability to make skin appear more “youthful” is a hot topic in health and beauty spaces right now. Retinoids work by regulating skin cell growth and managing inflammation.
Moisturizers
Moisturizers, as the name implies, are used to hydrate dry or irritated skin. This hydration can soothe the skin and relieve pain and chafing. Most moisturizers use a combination of oils and other ingredients and seal water in the skin by either restoring or mimicking the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Immunomodulators
Immunomodulators are specialized medicines used to treat serious inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. They work by modulating the immune response to reduce inflammation. This, in turn, can clear irritation on the skin’s surface.
Dermatological medications come from a variety of medicinal categories and aim to address specific skin conditions by targeting the underlying causes of those conditions, such as bacteria, fungi, inflammation, or immune response. The application potential of these medications is broad in scope. For example, a dermatological medication may be prescribed to simply help you maintain a clear complexion, or it may be needed to address rapidly spreading fungal infections.
Compounding medications can improve upon the mechanisms of typical dermatological medications by reformulating medicines for a unique patient’s specific symptoms. Compounding medications can also mix medicines with additional ingredients to increase therapeutic potential.
Benefits of Compounding Skincare Medications
While dermatological medications have therapeutic benefits on their own, compounding these medications can hold additional benefits for dermatology patients. Here are the most significant.
Customized Medications
Compounding pharmacies can create custom ointments, gels, and oral suspensions tailored to a patient’s unique needs. For example, a compounding pharmacy might change the type of oil or cream used in a skin medication to avoid triggering a patient’s allergies, dilute a medication so the dosage is weaker than the standard form, or add specific ingredients at the request of a healthcare professional. Patients with specific health concerns, allergies, or sensitivities will benefit from a compounding pharmacy’s ability to customize medications that meet their unique needs.
Compounding pharmacies can also create medications in alternative forms that are easier for patients to take, which increases the likelihood of adherence to the prescribed schedule for using the medication and improves health outcomes.
Access to Discontinued Medications
Compounding pharmacies can sometimes recreate or mimic medications that have been discontinued by manufacturers. The same is true for medications that have been made unavailable by supply chain issues. This provides patients with options for accessing important treatments that might not be available otherwise.
Collaborative and Hands-On Approach to Care
Compounding pharmacies work closely with physicians and healthcare providers to provide highly personalized care that addresses specific needs or concerns patients may have. The hands-on nature of compounding pharmacy operations also ensures that quality control standards are extremely high. Compounding pharmacies are subject to strict regulations and oversight, which ensures that they are staffed by well-trained experts and that the medications they produce are of high quality and consistent with standards and laws.
Can Dermatological Medication Clear My Skin?
Here’s how it works:
- Target bacteria, fungi, and viruses – Certain dermatological medications such as antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals are used to target the bacteria, fungi, and viruses that cause skin infections and, in turn, discolor, dehydrate, or otherwise disrupt your skin. By killing or inhibiting the growth of these microorganisms, these medications can help clear up skin infections and the blemishes that come along with them.
- Reduce inflammation – Many common skin conditions, such as acne and psoriasis, are characterized by inflammation. Topical steroids and immunomodulators are examples of medications that can work to reduce inflammation in the skin, thereby improving the appearance of the affected area.
- Regulate skin cell growth – Retinoids are advanced medications that are used to regulate skin cell growth and can be used very effectively to treat acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. Through the regulation of skin cell growth rates, retinoids can help to prevent the formation of new lesions while also improving the overall texture and appearance of the skin.
- Restore the natural skin barrier – Moisturizers and emollients are medications designed to restore or replicate the skin’s natural moisture barrier, locking moisture in where it’s needed most. By hydrating and soothing dry and irritated skin, these medications can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, redness, and other signs of aging and dryness.
Compounding pharmacies can create customized dermatology medications tailored to the specific needs of individual patients or to the exact orders of a healthcare professional. This can include customized doses, alternative forms of medication, and unique ingredient combinations.
When it comes to dermatological medications, compounding pharmacies can create topical creams, ointments, gels, and solutions that are completely customized to the unique needs of each case. This can be particularly useful for patients with allergies, sensitivities, or specific health concerns that limit their ability to use standard formulations of dermatological medications.
Compounding Pharmacy Dermatology Use Examples
Consider the example of a patient suffering from serious skin itchiness who requires a higher dosage of a particular medication than is available in standard formulations. In addition, because of their condition, the patient has sensitivities to many common ingredients in mass-produced lotions and ointments. A compounding pharmacy can create a customized dosage that is appropriate for that patient’s needs. Additionally, the compounding pharmacy can create a medication without the ingredients the patient’s skin is sensitive to, ensuring that the patient can receive the treatment they need without accidentally exacerbating their condition or triggering additional adverse reactions.
Compounding pharmacies can also be useful in situations where a patient requires a dermatological medication that is not widely commercially available. This can occur when a particular medication has been discontinued by the manufacturer, is no longer available in a particular formulation, or cannot currently be obtained due to supply chain disruptions. In these cases, a compounding pharmacy can create a customized medication that meets the patient’s needs.
In general, compounding pharmacies can be a crucial resource for patients with dermatological conditions. By providing customized medications tailored to the specific needs of each patient, compounding pharmacies can help to improve treatment outcomes and ensure that patients receive the care they need to manage their skin conditions effectively. It’s important for patients to work closely with their dermatologist and pharmacist to determine the most appropriate medication and formulation for their individual needs.
Compounding Pharmacy of America: Custom Dermatological Solutions
Because the skin is the human body’s largest and arguably one of the most important organs, dermatological medications are crucial to overall health and well-being. This can mean several different things depending on what sort of condition or conditions are being treated.
Compounding Pharmacy of America can work with you and your healthcare provider to provide compounded dermatological medications that meet your diverse skincare needs without aggravating your symptoms. Your custom medication will then be shipped to you efficiently with some of the industry’s best turnaround times.
References:
Chief Operating Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America
Matthew Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated with Honors from Lee University with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. After his undergraduate training, he completed the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 2004. Dr. Poteet has spent much of his pharmacy career on staff at two of the most prestigious academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast; Emory University in Atlanta and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At these institutions he received extensive experience and training in sterile products compounding.
He returned home to East Tennessee in 2010, where he has held the position of Pharmacy Director at two sterile products pharmacies in Knoxville. Matthew lives in Knoxville with his wife, Chris. Dr. Poteet is Tennessee’s first Board Certified Anti-Aging Pharmacist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
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