Category: Skin Care

Here you will find blog posts covering topics related to skin care, including how compounding can be beneficial for skin care.

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Skin Care

10 Skin Care Tips to Manage Dry Skin in Winter

This time of year, your skin loses 25% of its ability to hold moisture. If you notice you have dry skin in winter, follow the tips below on skin care.

 

The American Skin Association defines dry skin as xerosis and states it is prevalent among people of all ages. They also report dry skin worsens in the wintertime because we turn up the heat indoors, which is a dry heat. When it is cold outdoors, and we lower temperatures and humidity indoors, our skin loses moisture.

During winter, your skin loses 25% of its ability to hold moisture.

If you notice your skin is extra dry this winter, follow the tips below on winter skin care.

1. Avoid Over Washing

This tip for managing dry skin may be more difficult this year than others since we are going through a pandemic that requires us to wash our hands often. No one wants to spread COVID19, but over-washing your hands can lead to damaged, dry skin.

Studies have shown washing your hands too much can lead to chronic dry, damaged skin and conditions such as eczema.

Also, the length of time you spend washing can make a difference. Those long, hot baths and showers can lead to dryer skin in the winter. It is recommended you take shorter, warm showers instead.

2. Use the Right Cleansers

Winter skin care needs to be different than skin care during other seasons. In winter, when the skin is dry, choose a cleanser that hydrates. Check the ingredients in your soap. Not all soaps add moisturizing ingredients.

Many cleaners include chemicals that can have a drying effect on your skin. Alcohol can be a common chemical found in cleansers because it is beneficial in cleaning the skin. However, in the winter, it can cause skin problems.

A better solution is to have products developed specifically to meet your dry skin needs. You can do this with the help of your pharmacist.

3. Use Compounded Cosmetics

The products you buy off the shelf at your local retail store are created with specific ingredients to meet the masses’ needs. Only, that goal is impossible. Not everyone struggles with the same skin conditions. And most people have more than one skin problem.

Over the counter products may help one issue but not the other, leading you to make multiple product purchases. This takes up more time each day and night applying the many different products.

Choose compounded cosmetics instead.

Compounded cosmetics or cosmeceuticals can be created by your pharmacist and include ingredients that meet your individual needs in one product. Your pharmacist can also increase or decrease the strength of the components and omit ingredients for which you may be allergic.

Examples of compounded dermatological products include topical creams, lotions, gels, ointments, and solutions.

4. Stay Hydrated

One way to manage dry skin in the winter months is to hydrate your skin from the inside out. It’s easy to get busy with life and forget to drink the water your body needs each day. On the run, you may pick up a coffee or soda to quench your thirst.

You may not realize that when you aren’t using water for hydration, your skin can become dry and show signs of aging. You may see dark circles around your eyes, flaky skin, and rashes.

5. Use a Humidifier

Humidifiers are an inexpensive way to add moisture back into the interior of your home. During the winter months, this is a great way to help manage dry skin. The interior of your home is already dehydrated due to running your heating system.

6. Take Beneficial Supplements

Vitamin D and fish oils are examples of beneficial supplements to manage dry skin in the winter. Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and ceramides are additional supplements that have been shown to improve health, including skin health.

Ask your pharmacist for details on the vitamins best for you and your lifestyle. Your pharmacist may even be able to include vitamins in the cream or lotion you have compounded.

7. Wear Protective Clothing

Winter can mean freezing temperatures, winds, snow, and sometimes ice. Your bare skin does not adjust well to these conditions. They are too harsh. So, when you plan to go outdoors, wear protective clothing for each part of your body.

Cover your ears with muffs, your hands with gloves, and use scarves to cover your neck and face. Wear soft, breathable clothing as a first layer against the skin. Then layer with pieces that further protect your skin and also holds in heat.

8. Adjust Your Indoor Temperature

The goal for most people in winter is to stay comfortably warm while inside your home. Comfortably warm can mean “hot” to some, like those who prefer to wear T-shirts and shorts while at home. If it is too hot inside your home, though, your skin will pay the price.

The hotter your interior temperature, the dryer the air, and the dryer your skin. Try to keep temperatures lower but wear more clothing to see if that makes a difference in managing your dry skin in winter.

9. Switch Up Your Diet

What you eat plays a significant role in the health of your skin. A winter skin care tip for managing dry skin is to eat foods that are nutritious and hydrating. There are many fruits and vegetables loaded with water that can help you retain moisture in your skin.

Fruits and vegetables are also great for boosting your immune system, protecting you from the dreaded winter cold or flu.

10. Consult the Pros

It is always best to consult with your physician and your pharmacist before implementing any plan to improve health, even skin health. Getting advice from an expert means you get to skip the guessing and trial and error process of finding which product is best for your symptoms.

Because dry skin can be a symptom of other medical problems, get the opinion of a professional who can guide you in finding a solution so that you can better manage your winter skin care. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for advice, either. You can visit your local Burt’s Rx pharmacist today for more winter skin care tips to manage your dry skin in winter.

 

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Skin Care

How To Keep Your Skin Healthy

There are many reasons your skin may be feeling itchy and dry, or may be cracked and painful. Luckily, there are ways how to keep your skin healthy, smooth, and moisturized.

Feeling that itchy, tight, achy, uncomfortable skin sensation? Maybe your hands are feeling a little lizard-like, especially if you’ve been washing up more often to help ward off COVID–19. Or, maybe you’re in the middle of an acne breakout you just can’t seem to control no matter what you do.

You aren’t alone!  Nearly everyone struggles with skin problems now and again. Age, hormones, and diet can be a factor, as can environmental influences. But in some cases, there’s really no identifiable cause and all you have is a few nagging symptoms you’d really prefer to be rid of.

Learning How to Keep Your Skin Healthy

While your first step should always be to consult your doctor or pharmacist when you have concerns about your skin, there’s a lot you can do right at home to keep your skin healthy. Here are a few of the most tried-and-true steps for healthy, smooth, and beautiful skin.

1. Don’t Stop Washing – But Wash Smarter

First and foremost, even if your hands are a little dry right now, you should still keep washing them often. This advice comes straight from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Handwashing is by far the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 germs on surfaces from entering your body.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t wash smarter, either. Make sure the water you wash with is warm to hot, but not so hot that it’s turning your skin red. Additionally, skip the harsh bar soaps and try washing with a good foaming antimicrobial cleanser instead. These are often gentler on the skin while still killing just as many germs.

2. Adjust How You Sanitize

Still using a sanitizer that contains alcohol? Unfortunately, this may actually be part of the problem. High alcohol content – which is necessary to kill the virus effectively in most cases – can strip moisture out of the skin. This might leave you parched, scaly, or even experiencing a little bit of dermatitis.

If you have a legitimate reason to use hand sanitizer, don’t stop without checking in with your pharmacist. But do try to wash whenever it’s an option for you instead so that you can save the sanitizer for when you need it most.

If you do find yourself needing to use your sanitizer while on the go, there’s an easy way to mitigate some of the impact: keep your skin healthy and smooth by using a moisturizer afterward. Just be sure to leave the product on solo for at least two minutes to ensure it has a chance to really kill off germs.

3. Moisturize

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize – it’s the “location, location, location” of the skincare world, which is to say it’s incredibly important to keep your skin healthy. When skin doesn’t have the right moisture balance, it can’t effectively slough off old dead cells or regenerate new ones. Debris, dirt, and excessive oils can start to build up, causing irritation, and you might even notice cracks developing across your palms.

The best way to ameliorate this is to make moisturizing a regular part of your day. Try to determine what kind of shape your skin is in now – dry, excessively oily, cracked, or just really rough – and choose a moisturizer specifically designed for that state. Keep it with you as you go about your day. Apply at least three times and/or after washing and sanitizing, but feel free to use it more often if you find it helps.

Skin feeling greasy or oily after you moisturize? This may be a sign that you’re using a formula that’s too rich for your skin. Back off a little bit and try a gel moisturizer instead. Conversely, if you aren’t seeing results, amp it up to a rich cream containing skin-soothing vitamin E or avocado oil instead.

4. Give Gloves Some Love

Gloves are a great way to protect your hands and an even better way to cut down on how often you need to use sanitizer. Wear them when you’re out and about, when you’re doing anything impactful (such as washing dishes in hot soapy water), and whenever you need protection from the elements. Change them out often especially if you’re touching surfaces outside of your home.

As for which gloves you should wear, latex or nitrile medical gloves typically work best. But you can also wear a second thicker, heat-resistant pair on top for washing dishes and handling household chemicals. Still, only latex and nitrile truly have the ability to block out germs – so keep that in mind.

5. Try a Soothing Balm

Hands feeling over-the-top cracked, irritated, and just plain intolerable? Try taking a little advice from eczema and dermatitis sufferers: try a skin balm instead. This includes products such as Vaseline as well as higher-end formulas like CeraVe’s Healing Ointment skin salve. They work because they’re thick and help to restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier, blocking out further harm.

If your hands are REALLY bad, you can also try a little spa session with your favorite skin balm. Coat the front and back of your hands fully, then slip your hands into a pair of soft cloth gloves. Sleep in them to give the product extra time to soak in. By morning, you should see a noticeable difference in how your skin looks and feels.

Final Thought

If you’re still struggling with ways to keep your skin healthy, it may be time to reach out for help. Give your pharmacist a call and explain your symptoms – they may be able to recommend a compounded skincare formula with more advanced prescription ingredients instead.

 

 

Read More:

The Benefits of Customized Skin Care Products
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Skin Care

Probiotics for Acne: Do They Help?

85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience acne, but acne does not always vanish after the age of 24. There are many ways to help combat it, including the use of probiotics for acne treatment.

If you suffer from chronic acne, you already know how frustrating it can be to deal with those all-too-common breakouts as they happen. You’ve probably also struggled to find a solution that really works. This is especially true if you suffer from adult acne or cystic acne, both of which are more severe than your standard, run-of-the-mill zit.

The right washing regimen can sometimes help. So can prescription products like Accutane. But they aren’t without side effects, and they aren’t necessarily right for every patient, either. Some patients even find that what works one week slowly stops working over time> This then forces them to find a new fix.

Over the last few years, research has highlighted a relatively safe third option for treating it: probiotics for acne relief. It turns out these tiny little “good bacteria” might be just as beneficial for your skin as they are for your gut.

Here’s what you need to know.

The Role of Bacteria in the Human Body

The human body is filled with millions of tiny bacteria at any given time. These colonies exist in a delicate balance referred to as the microbiota.

Nearly all of the bacteria colonizing your body plays either an essential or tertiary role in the everyday body processes that support life. Bacteria in the gut, for example, is responsible for helping you digest food. Bacteria within the vaginal canal have the desired effect of keeping yeast colonies in check, preventing infection.

Sometimes, the microbiota becomes imbalanced. This may be a result of dietary changes, illness, or even certain medications, such as proton pump inhibitors. Bad bacteria overcolonize, while good bacteria levels begin to drop.

This is called dysbiosis, and it’s the reason researchers believe probiotics might be helpful for patients with certain forms of acne.

How Does Dysbiosis Affect Skin?

Mild dysbiosis usually only causes symptoms in the gut – you might begin to experience diarrhea, nausea, or stomach pain. But over time, those effects begin to affect nearly every part of your body, including your immune system and skin.

Exactly how or why this occurs is an ongoing source of investigation. We do know, for example, that taking antibiotics can interfere with bacteria balance in the gut. We also know that nutrition is extremely important for maintaining a healthy microbiota.

Researchers have also been able to prove that the gut and skin are deeply connected in multiple ways. Specifically, the gut communicates directly with both the skin and your immune system. It helps both elements understand when to attack, heal, repair, regenerate, and even adjust oil production. If the gut microbiome is unbalanced, all of these functions can begin to suffer as a result.

This is probably a two-fold effect.

  • An impaired microbiome prevents you from absorbing nutrients efficiently; this forces your whole body to work at a constant deficit.
  • But an imbalanced microbiota also interrupts the gut’s ability to communicate with your skin. This might mean your immune system doesn’t detect or attack harmful bacteria – and that could result in breakouts or skin infections.

What Exactly Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are substances that encourage and support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. This effect may be direct, such as when you eat yogurt, which contains live bacteria cultures, or indirect, such as when you take a supplement containing an ingredient that feeds the bacteria already present in your intestines.

In either case, one thing is always true: probiotics help to support healthy bacteria which has the desired side effect of keeping bad bacteria in check.

Some of the foods we eat contain natural probiotics that are beneficial for the gut, and thus, the skin. But special supplements from a lab may also be helpful in patients who seem to struggle with an impaired microbiota continuously over time.

Do Probiotics Really Help?

Although it might seem surprising, science does support the role of using probiotics for acne. This systematic review from 2015, for example, shows that certain probiotics – many of which are found in yogurt – seem to help inhibit P. acnes. This is the number one bacteria associated with chronic acne breakouts at every age.

The same study also shows that taking a specific probiotic (Lactococcus) inhibited more harmful skin bacteria. This bacteria includes Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. These are not only associated with acne, but can also lead to severe skin infections in sensitive or immunocompromised patients.

Additional Research

Another older study from 2007 confirmed an 89 percent reduction in acne papules in patients who applied a combination of probiotics and ceramide sphingolipids to the skin. However, it wasn’t completely clear which element of this approach was responsible for the beneficial effect.

Yet another research project looked at the effects of applying a substance extracted from the probiotic Streptococcus thermophilus to the skin. Results were extremely promising; study leaders concluded that the cream produced a “significant and relevant increase” in ceramides (specific skin oils) that helped inhibit acne.

But the most evidence we have for probiotics in treating acne isn’t direct – it’s due to the way healthy bacteria supports digestion instead. Dr. Whitney Bowe, who wrote a book on the subject titled, “The Beauty of Dirty Skin,” explained this process in very simple terms during a 2018 interview with Fox News.

“They assist with digestion and the absorption of nutrients: you can’t nourish yourself effectively without them.”

So what does this mean, in layman’s terms? Essentially, there is plenty of evidence to support that it can be useful to utilize probiotics for acne treatment. You just need to find which probiotic helps you restore microbiome balance.

How to Use Probiotics for Acne

With all of this evidence supporting the use of probiotics in fighting acne, should you start using them at home? Maybe – but you should speak with your pharmacist before you start. Some people may be sensitive to probiotics, and it’s important to take the right live cultures and substances if you want to specifically target your skin. Your pharmacist can also help you with creating a customized compounded skin care routine to fit all of your needs.

You can also try adjusting your diet at home. Yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha all contain live cultures shown to benefit the gut and skin. You should also avoid anything that has the potential to destroy the gut’s microbiota, including alcohol and heavily processed foods.

If your acne is severe, it might be better to speak with a dermatologist before you start making any changes. There are cosmeceutical probiotics available in the form of topicals that may be even more effective than diet changes alone. These are often available from your local compounding pharmacy, but some may require a prescription.

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Skin Care

6 Reasons Why Your Winter Skin Care Routine Isn’t Working

Skin Care Management - Burt's Pharmacy and Compounding Lab

As the cold weather approaches, your winter skin care routine is more important than ever – but sometimes it just isn’t helping your skin. Here’s why.

Virtually everyone experiences some level of skin care woes every single winter. The blustery, windy weather, combined with cooler temperatures, can strip away moisture, cause inflammation, and even exacerbate some of the most common conditions.

During the winter, these temperatures can cause dryness, itchiness, cracking, and chapping.

Your Winter Skin Care Routine Matters

While it may be impossible to avoid all of these issues entirely, how you care for your skin can make a big difference. Your daily routine is where it all starts; it’s also where most people make the most mistakes.

Avoid these mistakes to set yourself up for clear sailing and clear skin.

1. You’re Using the Wrong Moisturizer

Regular daily lotions and creams might not be enough for the dry, flaky winter skin some people experience in cooler temperatures. If it seems like you’ve been slathering it on to no avail, it may be time to step things up a notch.

The thicker and creamier the moisturizer is, the greater the moisturizing effect. For example, a night cream containing jojoba or argan oil will moisturize much more deeply than a light gel or water-based lotion. Remember this as you shop for new formulas, or ask your pharmacist for advice if you aren’t sure.

Try switching out your usual formula for one of these and see if it makes a difference, but keep a close eye on how your skin reacts to this part of your winter skin care routine. It is just as possible to over-moisturize!

2. Your Moisturizer is Missing These Key Ingredients

Some products, like CeraVe Healing Ointment, are designed with emollients and ceramides that help heal cracked skin and create a barrier against environmental harms. These are especially useful if you have conditions like:

  • Eczema
  • Psoriasis
  • Rosacea
  • Deep cracks with areas that bleed

Others, like Skinfix Eczema Extra Strength Body Cream, contain ingredients like Vitamin E, shea butter and triple oat complex. This not only soothes dryness, but also provides a hypoallergenic burst of support for constantly healing skin.

3. You Aren’t Moisturizing In the Shower

Yes – you read that right. Skin that’s warm and damp absorbs the moisturizing content in most formulas much more readily. If you slather it on immediately after you pat dry, but before you leave the bathroom (or maybe even the shower), you’re missing out on a lot of beneficial effects.

In-shower lotions like OGX Lavender Essential Oil Wet Skin Lotion are really helpful when it comes to your winter skin care routine. Just massage it in after your shower or bath is complete before you dry off, and the product will melt and absorb right in. You’re left feeling soft without any greasy films or excess product left behind.

4. You’re Still Washing With Old-School Soaps

Many of us grew up with our parents washing solely with old-school lye soap – the hard, flaky bars that often smelled of lemon. Others still use the same products they’ve been using for decades – some of which may not perform well at all.

The truth about those old products is that most were designed to clear away dirt, debris, and grease. They did that particularly well – a little too well, in fact, and that’s the problem.

Harsh soaps don’t discriminate against the natural oils your skin produces and any other form of grease. So, when you wash with them, the result is that you inadvertently wash the natural moisture barrier that locks hydration in away at the same time. The result is a tight, itchy, dry feeling that might not go away.

Next time you’re at the pharmacy, take a look at the cleansers or ask your pharmacist to recommend a gentler option. It’s possible to get every bit as clean while maintaining moisture, too, if you have the right one – no skin sacrifices involved.

5. You Aren’t Addressing Inflammation Correctly

You may not be aware, but dry skin doesn’t necessarily always become red, itchy, or swollen. Instead, that redness and inflammation is actually an immune response to the irritation associated with skin that isn’t properly moisturized. And sometimes, just slapping on a layer of lotion isn’t enough to address inflammation, especially if you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, too.

Step number one is to speak with your doctor or pharmacist if your skin shows any signs of:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Itching
  • Pain

It’s important to make sure the cause really is dry skin and not another condition, like fungal or bacterial infections.

If another diagnosis or treatment isn’t suggested, your care team might recommend using cortisone cream for a short period of time. Usually 0.5% is sufficient, but you can step it up to 1% if you don’t respond. They work by suppressing that local immune response, which reduces inflammation in turn. The only catch is that, in most cases, they should only be used for a  week or two without a doctor’s orders.

6. You Aren’t Trying Cosmeceuticals

Just as soaps have come a long way over the last 50 years, so, too, has skincare science. With the exception of a few extremely rare conditions, it’s more possible than ever to treat skin woes with medicated formulas that improve appearance and resolve symptoms, all at the same time.

How?

Cosmeceuticals – dual-purpose custom compounded cosmeceutical formulas that effortlessly blend beauty and health needs into one easy-to-use package. These are skin care solutions built from the ground up only after a special one-on-one consultation. They contain only the ingredients you need without any of the substances you don’t.

Because these products are custom compounded, they are more suitable for the individual rather than the average person. This makes them more effective and less likely to cause undesirable side effects, all at the same time.

Best of all?

Through compounding, it’s even possible to find solutions to multiple skin care woes at the same time. Psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea sufferers, for example, can have their topical medications combined right into the products they’re already using. This cuts down on the amount of time it takes to get through your routine.

Final Thoughts

Your winter skin care routine is important, and the more you understand about your particular skin, the more customized your routine can be.

Fight itchiness, dryness, cracks, inflammation and irritation – just by creating a personalized winter skin care routine! Not sure where to start? Contact us today!

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Skin Care

7 Simple Ways to Calm Pediatric Psoriasis

August is National Psoriasis Awareness Month, and we want to do our part in helping people raise awareness of this complex, immune-mediated disorder by exploring ways to calm and treat pediatric psoriasis.

Some people first develop signs of psoriasis in infancy shortly after birth, while others don’t experience symptoms until well into adulthood. This year, we’re focusing on pediatric psoriasis and to help parents help their kids feel more comfortable and confident – even during the very worst flares.

 

What is Psoriasis?

First, let’s talk about what psoriasis is – and what it isn’t.

At its most basic definition, psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to regenerate at a faster rate. While this might sound ideal, the old, dead skin cells pile up, creating silvery scales and plaques. This leads to itching, inflammation, cracks in the skin, and rarely, even secondary infection or systemic inflammation and illness.

Psoriasis falls into a few different categories depending on how the disease manifests:

1. Plaque Psoriasis

This is the most common form of psoriasis, especially in children. It produces the classic plaques and silvery scales most people associate with the disease. Flares may be mild and almost unnoticeable, or they may be severe, covering most of the body.

2. Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis (sometimes referred to as eruptive psoriasis) is another manifestation of the disease. It produces small lesions that generally remain on the trunk and upper torso. However, they may manifest on the legs and arms, too. It is far more common in teens than other forms.

3. Inverse Psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis (sometimes referred to as intertriginous psoriasis) is similar to plaque psoriasis. However, it only manifests in skin folds and darker, damp areas of the body, such as the groin, armpit or under the breasts. Lesions can be bright red, very painful, and very inflamed.

4. Pustular Psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis is rare and often mistaken for other conditions, such as acne. It manifests as tiny, whitehead-like, pus-filled bumps that burst under pressure, releasing white blood cells and lymph fluid. These bumps generally appear on the hands, feet, and arms rather than the face, torso, or trunk.

5. Erythrodermic Psoriasis

The erythrodermic version of psoriasis is fairly rare; however, it is also much more dangerous. During flares, patients may develop large, peeling rashes across nearly all of the body. Because so much of the surface of the skin is affected, it can be intensely painful and itchy. Infection risk is also very high, which is why patients are sometimes hospitalized temporarily during especially bad flares.

6. Psoriatic Arthritis

Although researchers don’t yet fully understand why this happens, psoriasis does sometimes seem to affect other areas of the body rather than just the skin. Up to 30 percent of all patients diagnosed with at least one other type of psoriasis will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis. Joints (especially around the spine, neck, knees, and hips) become red and inflamed, which leads to swelling and joint destruction over time.

Most patients who suffer from psoriasis experience only very mild symptoms; in fact, many children never even realize they’ve had a flare at all! For those who do suffer from pediatric psoriasis with one or more of the symptoms on this list, the right treatment can make a world of difference. Early treatment can help slow progression.

We’ll tell you about a few of the best options for pediatric patients in the next few sections.

 

 

How to Calm Pediatric Psoriasis

If you believe your child is suffering from psoriasis, the first step is to seek a diagnosis. It’s important to be certain because the symptoms associated with pediatric psoriasis can, and often do, overlap with symptoms from eczema, allergic dermatitis, and a few other milder conditions.

Once you have a diagnosis, you have a broad range of treatment options available to help your child recover.

 

2. Home Remedies

Because some of the available treatments for pediatric psoriasis come with the potential for side effects, you may wish to try home remedies first. This is an appropriate response only when symptoms are mild and tolerable. Always check that there are no signs of worsening over a short period of time.

Try:

  • Oatmeal baths: to help soothe inflamed skin and restore natural moisture balance. Just add a cup or two of colloidal oatmeal (available at most pharmacies) to a warm tub full of water. Allow it to disperse and bathe your child as normal. Colloidal oatmeal works because it contains anti-inflammatory compounds. This is also a great option for other skin conditions, such as sunburn or dermatitis, too!
  • Aloe vera: may help to soothe itching and moisturize the skin, preventing cracks, in very mild cases. However, it should be tested with care in very young children as the risk for allergies is always present. If your child tolerates it, this can be a great option for maintenance even in the presence of other treatments containing medication.
  • Epsom salts: in the bath may help to draw out inflammation and reduce redness. However, they should be avoided in children under the age of six due to the risk that swallowed bath water may induce mild diarrhea. You can also soak a washcloth in warm water saturated with epsom salts and gently compress it over a small area of the skin.
  • Apple cider vinegar: does seem to relieve symptoms and redness in some people, especially for plaque psoriasis. However, there is a small risk that it may cause stinging or burning when used topically. Test it on your child if you want to explore this option, and stop immediately if they experience irritation.

Other options sometimes suggested for adults, such as tea tree oil or coal tar soap, should be used with extreme caution in pediatric psoriasis patients. Many of these substances are too harsh for a child’s sensitive skin, leading to further issues or pain.

 

2. Medicated and Advanced Treatments

If home remedies don’t work, or symptoms are too severe, you have the option to try more advanced therapies – including medication. These treatments can be categorized into three specific subsections:

  • UVA/UVB light therapy
  • Topical creams and salves
  • Oral or injected medications

As a general rule of thumb, oral and injected medications typically consist of biologics or steroids. They are typically given only as a last resort for severe cases. For the purposes of this article, we won’t discuss these in-depth; instead, we’ll focus more on light therapy and topical medications.

Light Therapy

Light therapy may help children who are experiencing mild to moderate psoriasis. It works by stimulating Vitamin D production in the body which slows cellular turnover rates. Your doctor may suggest brief exposure to the sun, or they may suggest using a light wand over specific areas of the body, such as the scalp or hands.

This option should be used with caution, as too much exposure can actually worsen psoriasis over time.

Topical Therapy

Topical therapies for psoriasis include salicylic acid, coal tar, vitamin D analogues that slow cellular turnover, salves that moisturize and soothe the skin, and topical steroids. All of these options are useful for different manifestations of the disease. For example, salicylic acid works well for scalp psoriasis, but isn’t necessarily the best option for psoriasis plaques on the face.

While topicals are considered “first line,” they can be messy, difficult to apply, and hard to “get right.” Children also often need reduced doses (especially for topical steroids) to reduce the risk of side effects, and convincing a four year old to let you apply multiple topicals every single day can become a significant source of stress for everyone involved.

Pediatric compounding pharmacies can help you customize your child’s medication, either by combining medications or removing certain ingredients, to better target your child’s symptoms while also lowering the risk for side effects. If you must use medicated topicals, this is by far the best way to do so.

 

Conclusion

As a parent, you have a major role to play in your child’s attitude towards psoriasis, especially when it comes to confidence and feeling secure. Do your best to avoid negative reactions and treat the disorder as no different than a scratch or cut – it needs attention and care, but isn’t “gross” or “yucky!”

If you still have questions about pediatric psoriasis, contact your local pharmacy today!

 

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Skin Care

6 Benefits of Transdermal Therapy for Pain

Pain is one of America’s greatest challenges; but there are many types of medication available to help reduce pain – including transdermal therapy.

Some 50 million people suffer from chronic pain in our country on a regular basis; many are either partially or even fully disabled by their symptoms.

Doctors work hard to help patients like these reduce their pain to gain a better quality of life, but it isn’t always easy to find the right option.

  • Surgery is invasive and often kept as a last resort.
  • Oral medications come with significant side effects, some of which can be life-threatening in the right conditions (like addiction and gastrointestinal bleeding).
  • And lifestyle changes can certainly be beneficial, as can physio and massage, but what about when they aren’t enough?

Enter transdermal therapy for pain.

By delivering medication directly to the area affected by chronic pain, via the skin, some patients are able to achieve significantly more relief.

From topical steroids to advanced compounded neuropathy drugs, we’ll tell you about them in today’s post.

 

First: What is a Transdermal Therapy?

The term “transdermal” comes from the latin root words “trans” (meaning across or through) and “derma” (meaning skin).

In the scope of medicine, any substance formulated to cross the natural skin barrier is, in effect, a transdermal medication.

  • Some of these formulas may be designed to treat the skin itself, the tissues directly underneath the skin, or the muscles and joints.
  • Others simply use the skin as a transfer point, entering the bloodstream after they absorb.

Transdermal therapy delivery is available in a variety of formats, including:

  • Creams
  • Gels
  • Solutions
  • Patches

However, the “gold standard” definition is that true transdermal therapy is more than just topical; it’s almost always formulated in a patch for better absorbency.

 

The Benefits of Transdermal Delivery Systems

Transdermal medications have a number of benefits over traditional oral medications.

First, they aren’t swallowed, so there’s no need to worry about trying to give medications to someone who refuses to take them, cannot swallow, or even just plain doesn’t like to swallow pills.

But that’s really just the beginning.

 

1. Fewer Gastrointestinal Problems

Many transdermals also bypass the gastrointestinal tract entirely, lessening the chance for stomach and bowel side effects.

This includes:

For patients who are prone to ulcers, this can be the difference between being able to medicate safely and being unable to medicate at all.

 

 

2. Less Stress on Liver and Kidneys

Then, there is also the issue of how much stress oral medications can place on the liver and kidneys.

Many oral drugs must be metabolized by the liver in order to become effective in the body (especially opioids). This places stress on the liver.

To add insult to injury, the kidneys eventually need to filter the drug out and excrete unneeded metabolites created by the liver during uptake.

Thus, the kidneys are also under stress, too.

 

3. Fewer Long-Term Use Risks

The amount of stress placed on the liver and kidneys with either oral drugs or transdermals really depends on the dose, the oral drug used, and the person.

However, studies do show that because most transdermals treat pain locally or enter the bloodstream directly, they don’t put as much strain on internal organs.

  • This can help to limit damage over time when ongoing pain control is a must.
  • In the case of steroid drugs, transdermal therapy may also lessen other side effects, such as hormone imbalance due to chronic use.

When used as directed, topical steroids reach a much lower systemic level, even with regular use, especially when compared to oral steroid drugs like Prednisone.

Thus, the risk of associated side effects is much, much less.

 

4. Better Resolution of Skin Symptoms

Sometimes, transdermal medications are used to treat skin symptoms specifically.

This is often the case in conditions like:

In these conditions, treatment works best applied directly to the affected area because the drug can absorb and provide benefit on the spot.

For patients who experience pain with skin conditions like these, transdermal therapy may also be compounded with numbing or nerve-deadening agents that lessen pain.

The patient can then use the solution, cream, or patch on an “as-needed” basis.

This very often provides much better pain control coverage than using pills alone.

 

5. Better Pain Control Coverage

Transdermals like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxers can also give patients “another option” when combined with traditional oral medications.

Even if the patient is taking a painkiller orally to relieve their symptoms, they can often use topicals as a “backup” for localized breakthrough pain.

The result is that the patient is much more comfortable and better in control of their symptoms as they happen – without needing to worry about addiction.

 

 

6. Combine Medications Into a Single Solution

Some drugs work synergistically when combined into the same product (for example, steroids and antibiotics).

Similarly, some patients achieve better pain control by combining several different medications into a single treatment plan.

With transdermal therapy, compounding pharmacies work with base ingredients, allowing them to combine multiple drugs or treatments into just one or two formulas.

This significantly increases patient compliance and improves treatment outcomes.

Let’s say after joint surgery, you normally need to apply a:

  • Topical muscle relaxer
  • Painkiller
  • Numbing cream
  • Antibiotic

Using all of these separately will take you a significant amount of time.

Using them in a single solution solves the need for treatment in one step – and just might give you the best coverage, too.

 

Which Medications Are Available in Compounded Transdermal Formulas?

There’s no easy answer to this question; the list of potential drugs that can be compounded into transdermal versions is exhaustive and long.

However, we can help you better understand which transdermals are most likely to benefit you when you are experiencing acute or chronic pain:

  • NSAIDs: like ketoprofen and diclofenac
  • Muscle relaxants: like cyclobenzaprine or baclofen
  • Anesthetics: like lidocaine or benzocaine
  • Nerve blockers: like ketamine and amantadine
  • Nerve agents: like amitriptyline and Lyrica
  • Icy-Hot solutions: like menthol and capsaicin

If you have chronic pain, and are interested in reducing side effects or improving your pain control, talk to your pharmacist about transdermal therapy medications.

Whether compounded or not, there are options to help you achieve your goals.

Categories
Skin Care

5 Causes of Your Dog’s Skin Allergies (and How to Treat It)

During spring and summer time, your dog’s skin allergies are extremely common and can cause itchines, dryness, redness, and flakiness. Here are 5 common reasons your dog is suffering from skin problems, and what you can do about it. 

Do you have an itchy dog?

Although fleas are the most common cause, there are some incredibly annoying skin allergies in dogs that manifest with:

  • Itchiness
  • Dryness
  • Flaky skin
  • Inflamed skin

This can be a real pain for everyone involved, and it isn’t always easy to find the trigger or fix the problem.

 

What Causes Your Dog’s Skin Allergies?

While every canine health exam or treatment should start with a visit to the vet, self-education can also be extremely helpful.

In this post, we’ll help you understand what causes those awful skin reactions and how you can help your dog get back to being his joyful, silly, and happy self.

 

1. Fleas

We already mentioned that fleas are the number one cause of “the itchies” and other skin allergies in dogs.

They bite, they annoy, they frustrate, and they can even make your dog anemic if she’s small enough.

But that isn’t the only issue fleas cause; they’re also the number one trigger allergic dermatitis, too.

For some reason (maybe genetics) some dogs seem to react more severely to bites than others.

Rather than just being a bit itchy at the bite site, they develop large welts and widespread “hives” or hot spots, which they then scratch, causing microabrasions and even hotspots.

The Solution

So what’s the fix for flea dermatitis?

Well, sensibly, you should eliminate the fleas first with a good spot-on or pill-based treatment like Capstar or Revolution.

Spot-ons should be given on a schedule to prevent future infestations.

If flea dermatitis becomes severe enough, it can even cause secondary infections including:

These are best treated with topical or oral antibiotics and antifungals.

See your vet or pharmacist for more information.

 

 

2. Ringworm

Ringworm has a sort of misleading name; it’s not a worm at all. Instead, it’s a fungal infection that develops into strange bulls-eye patterns.

It is not only extremely contagious, but also transmissible to humans – meaning you or your little ones could contract it if you aren’t aware your dog has it.

Dogs who spend time around livestock and other outdoor animals have a much higher risk for contracting ringworm.

That’s because the fungus loves an environment containing:

  • Moisture
  • Mud
  • Wooded
  • Dead or decaying plant matter in the soil

In fact, ringworm often lives in the soil until your dog digs in it, transferring the fungus to his own skin.

The Solution

Treating ringworm (in humans or pets) is surprisingly easy – all you need is a good compounded topical antifungal medication.

Often, vets will prescribe the same cream for humans and dogs; both contain the identical medication.

But that doesn’t mean you should use your dog’s medicine (or vice versa) if you get it.

The doses are often quite different, and it is possible to use too much or too little.

Ask your pharmacist to help find the right treatment for your dog’s skin allergies.

 

3. Mange

Ever hear the term “mangy dog” in popular culture? What this really refers to is a skin condition called mange.

Mange is a skin disease technically caused by tiny microscopic mites.

As they burrow in and bite, they damage hair follicles, causing hair shafts to fall out. This is why the condition is also associated with:

  • Hair loss
  • Sores
  • Bald spots

Like flea infestations, mange can also trigger extreme allergy reactions.

But the lesions and inflammation associated with mange presents very closely to dermatitis, although there are some minor differences.

The Solution

First, know that mange is very rare in domestic dogs who live most of their lives indoors. I

t’s far more common in outdoor dogs, strays, and dogs who spend a lot of time in communal spaces (yes, this includes the dog park).

Mange is HIGHLY contagious upon contact.

Treating it isn’t easy, either. Your dog will need long-term medicated therapy to restore his skin to a healthy status.

Like fungal infections such as ringworm, treatment often needs to be given for months to fully eradicate the mites.

 

 

4. Food Allergies

Outside of direct skin infections and conditions (like flea dermatitis), food allergies in dogs are the number one cause of allergic reactions affecting the skin.

Dogs are incredibly sensitive creatures and nearly all react to at least one commercially-available kibble or canned food in their lifetime.

It isn’t entirely clear why this happens.

It may be a result of the fact that dogs aren’t designed to eat kibble naturally, or it may be due to failures to maintain quality in the dog food industry.

What we do know is that certain ingredients are much more likely to trigger your dog’s skin allergies than others.

Check out this list of triggers sourced from the BMC Veterinary Research Center.

It lists ingredients in order of likelihood to cause skin allergies in dogs, listing the number of dogs likely to be affected by the trigger to the right.

  • Beef (34%)
  • Dairy Products (17%)
  • Chicken (15%)
  • Wheat (13%)
  • Soy (6%)
  • Lamb (5%)
  • Corn (4%)
  • Egg (4%)
  • Pork (2%)
  • Fish (2%)
  • Rice (2%)

That means nearly 34% of all dogs suffer from beef allergies affecting their skin. This is remarkably high!

It’s no wonder so many dogs experience the “itchies!”

The Solution

It would be super if we could tell you that a simple pill or topical could fix food allergies for dogs…but it would also be untrue.

Truthfully, treating your dog’s skin allergies that are triggered by food ingredients can be time-consuming, expensive, and difficult.

If you can afford it, allergy testing is a good logical first step. There, your vet can test your dog to see which ingredients he or she reacts to. If nothing else, it’s a good place to start.

If allergy testing doesn’t pan out, or if you need another option, most vets will recommend a combination of:

  • Antihistamines
  • Topical soothing creams
  • An elimination diet

Topicals soothe, orals reduce the reaction, and the diet focuses on finding and eliminating the issue.

Elimination diets place the dog on a highly restrictive, single-protein food temporarily (usually around 3 weeks) to “reset” the immune system.

You then add in an ingredient at a time.

When the skin problems crop back up, you know you’ve found at least one trigger.

 

 

5. Environmental Allergies

By now, you’re probably thinking that dogs are just full of allergic responses.

This is true!

In fact, it’s also possible for your dog to be allergic to environmental influences, too – including:

  • Grass
  • Hay
  • Pollen
  • Trees

Some dogs are even allergic to other dogs, laundry soaps, perfumes, other pets, or dust and mildew in the air.

It can be heart-wrenching to watch your dog suffer just from running on the very grass he loves to play in so much.

But the good news here is that environmental issues are relatively easy to treat.

The Solution

The easiest way to eliminate environmental allergy triggers that bother your dog’s skin is to eliminate the trigger.

That’s easy if it happens to be a laundry soap or perfume…but you can’t exactly eliminate the great outdoors.

And just not walking your dog because he’s allergic to grass? Not really an option, either.

In cases like these, the better option is often to medicate with oral antihistamines.

Given once a day in a non-drowsy form, they can curb your dog’s skin allergies to the point where they can once again be their normal, happy selves (including frustrating you by digging a hole across the world in the backyard grass).

Compounded veterinarian topicals can help you address and soothe any direct hotspots or lesions while also preventing nasty secondary infections.

Your pharmacist and vet are your best guide!

 

Conclusion

Your dog is your best friend and number one companion and you want to treat your dog’s skin allergies.

Your veterinary pharmacist, on the other hand, is one of the best partners you can have in helping your dog feel better (aside from your vet, of course) when allergies strike.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for recommendations when you need help!

Burt’s Pharmacy and Compounding Lab is a veterinary pharmacy that can help you with your pet’s prescriptions, whether they are compounded or not. If your pet needs medication, contact us today.

Categories
Skin Care

Eczema vs Psoriasis: What Are Their Differences?



Eczema vs psoriasis: they are two common skin conditions that may seem similar, but in fact they have many differences, and different treatment needs.

Dry, itchy, and scaly skin can be immensely frustrating, especially when it feels nearly impossible to track down the cause.

Often, people go months or even years without a diagnosis only to discover what they really have is a condition like eczema or psoriasis.

Both eczema and psoriasis affect the skin, yet they aren’t really the same in origin or in treatment.

That’s why it’s so important to understand the differences between eczema vs psoriasis and seek an accurate diagnosis.

In this post, we’ll break down those differences and help you better understand them from the ground up.

 

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that causes rough, scaly, or dry patches to develop on the skin.

It affects approximately 31 percent of Americans at any given time, and is sometimes referred to as atopic dermatitis.

Researchers don’t yet fully understand why some people seem to develop eczema, yet others don’t.

What we do know is that there seems to be a correlation with:

However, it isn’t clear whether eczema is a true autoimmune disorder or just a reaction to allergens like dairy and hay or grass.

Certainly, some patients seem to experience a higher degree of symptoms during hay fever season and when they spend time around allergy triggers.

Eczema is not contagious, nor is it a product of poor hygiene, but proper care of broken or scaly skin is a must, especially during flares.

Without proper hygiene, it is possible for bacteria and yeast to build up, causing moderate to severe skin infections that lead to scarring.

 

Types of Eczema

Although atopic eczema is the most common form of the disorder, other forms do exist.

These forms include:

  • Contact dermatitis: A skin condition caused by coming into physical contact with an irritant or allergen (like grass or pets).
  • Dyshidrotic eczema: A condition that largely affects the feet and hands. It causes itchy blisters and occurs after physical contact with allergens.
  • Nummular eczema: Sometimes referred to as “discoid eczema,” this condition is also directly tied to allergens. However, instead of blisters or scales, it causes round lesions to form that eventually leak clear or yellowish fluid.
  • Seborrheic dermatitis: This form of eczema causes white or yellow flaky patches to develop on the skin that can look surprisingly similar to psoriasis patches. However, the patches that form in seborrheic eczema are caused by issues with localized sebaceous and sweat glands.
  • Stasis dermatitis: Mostly caused by issues with circulation (and far more common in the elderly or Diabetic patients), this type of eczema causes swelling and leaking of surface-level veins. It may also result in edema (swelling) of surrounding tissue, inflammation, and redness.
  • Hand eczema: Like atopic dermatitis in presentation, but generally only affects the hands. Can be severe enough to cause cracking, bleeding, and fairly extreme secondary infections if left untreated.

Some eczema patients also go on to develop a condition called lichen simplex chronicus with one or all of these forms of eczema.

Unlike the other types, LSC isn’t a distinct form; rather, it’s a term used to describe extreme symptoms like thick, scaly patches or large-scale breakouts that don’t abate with time.

 

 

What is Psoriasis?

When discussing eczema vs psoriasis, they are both skin conditions that causes rough, scaly, red patches to develop on the skin.

Often, these patches occur in “flare ups” lasting several weeks or months. They, too, may be caused or influenced by autoimmune issues, but the modality of psoriasis is much different.

Researchers believe that most cases of psoriasis are caused by elevated skin renewal cycles.

Normally, skin cells are created, live for a while, die, and then are sloughed off to reveal newer, healthier skin cells.

This process keeps your skin:

  • Strong
  • Flexible
  • Elastic

It ensures your skin can effectively serve as a barrier against the outside world.

In patients who have psoriasis, the skin renewal process occurs at a much faster rate.

In fact, it becomes so rapid, that old, dead skin cells build up, creating scaly or even oily patches that cause irritation and even sometimes infection.

 

Types of Psoriasis

The most common form of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis.

It affects some 7 million Americans at any given time.

The term “plaque,” here, refers to the red, silvery patches of skin that develop during a flare.

However, psoriasis also occurs in several other forms:

  • Guttate: Guttate psoriasis appears as small, drop-shaped red spots on the skin and may be mistaken for other rashes. It affects approximately 10 percent of sufferers.
  • Inverse: Inverse psoriasis only affects patients in and around skin folds (such as under the breasts or around the groin). It can be very painful.
  • Pustular: This form of psoriasis is also one of the most severe. In addition to scaly patches, patients develop clusters of weeping pustules that may break open or become infected. Other symptoms, like fever, headaches, and chills, are common.
  • Erythrodermic: This form of psoriasis is also severe – sometimes, so much so that it becomes a medical emergency. The patient develops widespread red patches of broken and cracked skin that look very similar to burns. Often, most or even all of the skin is affected during a flare. The risk for infection is extremely high.
  • Psoriatic Arthritis: In a small number of patients, psoriasis begins to affect other parts of the body, such as the gastrointestinal tract or joints. This is called “psoriatic arthritis” because the symptoms manifest very much like other forms of rheumatic or autoimmune arthritis. Swelling, joint damage, and serious illness are possible.

 

 

How Are These Conditions Similar?

In both cases of eczema vs psoriasis, they cause scaly patches, but that’s really where the similarities end.

Most scientists agree that both are influenced by autoimmune issues, but psoriasis is caused by excess skin cell renewal rates specifically.

This is probably tied to genetics or a flaw in certain genes.

Eczema, on the other hand, is more reactionary to allergens and/or irritants in the patient’s immediate environment.

 

Treating Eczema vs Psoriasis

For patients with either disorder, it can be difficult to find the right solution. In fact, treatment often comes down to trial and error with various medications.

Even then, some patients may become resistant to treatment over time, needing newer or stronger medications to manage their symptoms.

1. Eczema

A common treatment to eczema is managing allergen influences and limiting access to certain foods, like dairy or wheat.

However, results can vary significantly because no two patients have the same triggers.

Patients with eczema may also benefit from the use of barrier pain creams containing compounded drugs or medications to re-hydrate, seal out infection, and heal the skin.

There is no evidence that Vitamin D works in eczema cases.

2. Psoriasis

Psoriasis, on the other hand, is less likely to be caused by foods. However, it can be exacerbated by stress – so lifestyle changes may help to reduce flares.

Both systemic and topical steroids can help patients with these conditions.

Due to the risk of becoming immunocompromised, their use is generally only availabe for severe cases or acute flares.

Research shows that patients with psoriasis may benefit from topical vitamin D analogues.

These substances are sourced from vitamin D and signal localized skin cells to slow renewal, limiting the potential for flares.

 

Conclusion

Eczema vs psoriasis can be a difficult and painful process to manage. Luckily, if you suffer from either of these conditions – you have options.

Speak with your pharmacist to begin your path to wellness once again.

You CAN love the skin you’re in – even if it isn’t always perfect!

Categories
Skin Care

Does Taking Vitamins for Psoriasis Help?

Psoriasis can cause many problems with your body, and there are many ways to treat the symptoms; but does taking vitamins for psoriasis help?

Psoriasis is a very common, chronic skin disorder. The condition is caused when the immune system becomes overactive, leading to a buildup of skin cells that causes dry, itchy, scaly patches.

These patches are not only uncomfortable, but can cause self-consciousness and esteem issues because of their visibility.

 

What is Psoriasis?

Let’s start by taking a closer look at psoriasis and what it really does to the body. While children can develop some forms of psoriasis, it is usually diagnosed in young adulthood.

This condition can be genetic, but it isn’t always, and sometimes it skips generations.

People with psoriasis, as noted, have overactive immune systems. This leads to the rapid multiplication of skin cells, sometimes up to ten times faster than a person with healthy immune function.

The build-up causes large red patches of skin, often covered with white scales. Psoriasis patches are most commonly found on the back, scalp, knees, and elbows, but they can form on any part of the body.

Types of Psoriasis

While psoriasis usually manifests as plaque psoriasis (producing red, scaly patches), the condition can occur in other forms.

These include:

Approximately 10 to 30 percent of psoriasis patients have a condition known as psoriatic arthritis.

This is a form of arthritis that causes severe inflammation, attacking the joints in a manner similar to rheumatoid arthritis.

 

 

Common Treatments for Psoriasis

The good news is that psoriasis is very treatable!

Some formulas alleviate discomfort while others slow the growth of skin cells.

You and your doctor will work together to determine what combination of treatments is best for your specific set of symptoms.

Some of your options include:

  • Light therapy: uses a special type of ultraviolet (UV) light combined with medication to decrease the rate of skin cell growth.
  • Enzyme inhibitors: are a newer treatment. These medications block enzymes responsible for causing inflammation.
  • Biologics: help to regulate the immune system. The end result is a reduction in inflammation.
  • Retinoid: drugs suppress the immune system. Retinoids are only used in serious cases because they have the most potential for side effects, including blood pressure and kidney issues.
  • Methotrexate: is only used in severe cases as well. While it is an effective treatment for psoriasis, methotrexate is not without risk; it can cause lung, liver, and bone marrow diseases.

 

Do Vitamins for Psoriasis Help Treat Symptoms?

Considering the side effects and potential complications associated with traditional treatments, it’s not surprising to find that a lot of psoriasis patients often look to treat their conditions with vitamins.

While there isn’t enough research to support the single use of vitamins for psoriasis, some doctors do believe they can be used along with other treatment options to help control the symptoms while at the same time reducing the risk of related diseases impacting the heart and other organs.

The most commonly explored vitamins for psoriasis include:

  • Vitamin A – The body uses vitamin A to create healthy skin cells. It particularly uses retinoids. Retinoids derived from vitamin A tend to absorb better when applied topically, reducing inflammation while creating fewer side effects.
  • Vitamin C – This water-soluble vitamin is a great source of antioxidants, which helps to combat some of the toxins released by the body when it is imbalanced by disease.
  • Vitamin D – Also referred to as vitamin sunshine, vitamin D has a huge impact on the body’s metabolism. While light therapy helps, vitamin D creams combined with steroids are especially effective at alleviating psoriasis symptoms.
  • Vitamin E – This and selenium are both considered antioxidants. While vitamin E doesn’t contain selenium, some studies support the idea that certain vitamins can help boost selenium levels, as they tend to be low in people struggling to combat psoriasis.

Other Vitamin Options

You may also consider supplements containing:

  • Glucosamine and Chondroitin – You can find these supplements individually or combined in the same product. The combination is often used by joint pain patients because of their impact on cartilage, but psoriasis patients may find them helpful for inflammation.
  • Methylsulfonylmethane – MSM contains sulfur, which is important for connective tissue. Some people believe it has anti-inflammatory properties, but there isn’t a lot of research to support it.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Known for their oily consistency and for being found in fish, Omega-3 fatty acids support skin health and have anti-inflammatory properties.

 

 

Talk to a Compounding Pharmacist

While you won’t necessarily be able to replace your traditional psoriasis treatments with vitamins and supplements, taking certain combinations may enhance your overall experience and success.

One of your best options is to talk to your doctor about compounding a combination of treatments, be they drugs or supplements, for enhanced effect. If he or she decides this is the right path for you, your compounding pharmacist can help create a custom product.

Benefits of Compounding Psoriasis Medication

For example, vitamin D’s effects may be greater when it is combined with steroids. Steroids are also known for reducing inflammation.

Combining the two into the same topical ointment can provide relief during a flare-up while at the same time slowing excess skin cell production. You get the benefit of two components while only having to spend time applying one treatment.

Your doctor and compounding pharmacist can work with you to determine exactly what treatments are best for your conditions.

While not all substances are compounding compatible, many are. In some cases, compounding may even be recommended to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Your pharmacist can mix and match the components that work best together to find your personal ideal blend. It will ultimately save you both time and money – not to mention providing more robust relief.

 

Conclusion

Psoriasis is a difficult condition to manage, but it is possible to manage it with time and the right treatments.

Vitamins for psoriasis can help with treating your symptoms if used in conjunction with your prescribed medications.

Don’t be afraid to challenge your doctor if you are concerned about the side effects associated with some of today’s traditional treatments, especially Retinoid drugs and Methotrexate.

Discuss starting with safer options, like light therapy, and trying alternative treatments before moving on to harsher chemicals.

You must treat psoriasis long-term, so finding the right choice is important. Your body will thank you for doing whatever possible to avoid permanent, harsh side effects.

Categories
Skin Care

Treating Melasma & Skin Problems With Compounded Medicine

Treating skin conditions can be a difficult task, especially when it comes to treating melasma. 

Your skin is your largest and most protective organ with the most exposure to the outside world. Its job is simple, yet critical: protect you from environmental toxins, everyday pollutants, and microbes.

Of course, it also keeps everything internal where it belongs, too; anyone who has been on the receiving end of a paper cut knows the importance of skin first-hand!

 

The Relationship Between Hormones and Skin Conditions

Unfortunately, your skin isn’t as resistant to hormonal fluctuations.

As you age, the level of certain hormones (like estrogen and testosterone) in your body changes. These changes sometimes lead to conditions like melasma.

In this post, we’ll reveal how these conditions develop, which risk factors make you more likely to be sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, and how you can combat them with compounded medicines.

 

What is Melasma?

Melasma is a common skin condition that causes brown to gray-brown patches of discoloration on or around certain areas of the body.

Often referred to as “age spots” or “liver spots,” these patches often appear on the face, neck, and hands, but are also commonly identified on the trunk or forearms.

Up to 90 percent of melasma cases involve women; in contrast, only 10 percent of men are affected.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone can develop melasma, but the condition is more common in individuals who have darker skin tones.

Research shows that people who have a familial history of melasma may also be more likely to experience spots.

Sun damage can sometimes cause melasma; however, hormones are by far the most major trigger.

Women are more likely to experience spots as a result of hormone fluctuations, especially in pregnancy or when nursing. In fact, melasma is so common in pregnancy, some doctors refer to it as the “mask of pregnancy.”

Rarely, melasma may be caused by certain medications or skin care products, especially if they repeatedly irritate your skin. Over time, the constant irritation causes melanin to build up.

This form of melasma may be permanent or transient.

 

Other Hormone Issues Impacting the Skin

Pregnancy hormones aren’t the only ones wreaking havoc on the skin. Every hormone in your body works in harmony.

When hormone levels become maladjusted, it can cause a chain reaction that causes a myriad of difficult symptoms.

 

  • Teens entering puberty may experience varying levels of acne.
  • Adults with high stress levels may experience cortisol-related breakouts
  • Women over the age of 40 with low estrogen may experience dry skin
  • People with too much testosterone may struggle with oily skin
  • Individuals with hyperthyroidism often have oily skin
  • People with hypothyroidism often have dry skin

 

It isn’t always easy to detect a hormone-driven skin issue versus a condition caused by some other influence.

The only way to be sure is to run bloodwork to verify hormone levels. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can sometimes correct skin issues caused by conditions like these.

 

 

Treating Melasma: What Are the Options?

How quickly melasma clears up or lightens often depends on its cause.

Women who are taking hormonal birth control and/or who are pregnant often find melasma dissipates after they stop treatment or give birth.

Some women prefer treating melasma rather than choosing to stop taking birth control, while others may prefer to switch to another form of birth control instead.

Still others struggle with the condition permanently due to sun damage; this form of melasma usually won‘t dissipate without treatment.

Some of the most common medicines used for treating melasma include:

 

  • Hydroquinone: Comes in a gel or cream. It is sometimes available without a prescription at low doses. Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments are occasionally enough for mild cases of melasma, but aren‘t robust enough for severe darkening. You may need to ask your dermatologist to prescribe something stronger.
  • Corticosteroids: Decrease inflammation. These drugs may be useful for irritation-caused melasma and particularly tough cases, although they are not without side effects.
  • Tretinoin: A derivative of Vitamin A. This drug actively lightens skin, lessening the appearance of melasma. It should be used cautiously in people with darker skin due to the risk of over-lightening.
  • Azelaic acid: Brightens skin tone. This ingredient is also commonly used in the treatment of rosacea, teen acne, and adult acne.
  • Kojic acid: Chelation agent sourced from various fungi (particularly Aspergillus oryzae). It is an extremely effective skin-lightening agent when paired with the right ingredients.
  • Retinoic acid: Promotes faster cell turnover. Often referred to as “Retin-A, “it removes melasma cells and encourages proper pigmentation in newly-generated cells”.
  • Arbutin: Similar to hydroquinone. The main difference between the two is that Arbutin is naturally-sourced. It is also far less irritating to sensitive skin.

When it comes to this skin condition, it’s often best to use multiple options for treating melasma.

Who Can Help With Melasma Treatment Options?

Your dermatologist will prescribe you a cream containing a combination of ingredients designed to work together to eliminate spots.

Alternatively, they may refer you to a compounding pharmacist. Compounding pharmacies can effectively create treatments specifically tailored to your melasma and general skin type.

Lifestyle Changes

Treating melasma isn’t always easy, but it is possible to significantly lighten or even eliminate it over time.

No matter what compounded treatment you choose, you should also make simple lifestyle changes to avoid worsening the condition.

When you spend time outside in the sun, wear sun protection including:

  • Sunscreen
  • Hats
  • Sunglasses
  • Other protective items

Most patients need maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of melasma.

Ongoing treatments may include high-SPF sunscreen or even a weaker topical formula; the goal is to keep your skin tone bright and even.

 

 

Treating Hormonal Skin Conditions

No two hormonal skin conditions are exactly alike; each may need a slightly different treatment plan.

  • Teenage girls, for example, may find relief from severe acne if they take birth control pills to balance their estrogen levels.
  • Sometimes, acne progresses so far that teens benefit from antibiotic creams and/or oral medication. Doctors reserve these more extreme treatments for serious cases that do not resolve with traditional cleansing protocols and creams.
  • Women struggling with menopause or other hormonal shifts may find estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone creams helpful for controlling their symptoms. In fact, hormone creams are often the first line of defense in treating menopause, even before oral hormones are given.

In the case of treating melasma specifically, treatment may come down to trial and error.

Side effects include mild irritation as your skin adapts to the new ingredients in your medication, but these symptoms generally lessen after the first few uses.

Call your doctor right away if your skin becomes severely irritated or darkens during the course of your treatment. You may need to try a gentler formulation.

It’s important to remember that every patient is unique.

What works for one person may not work as well for you; that’s why compounded medicines are so effective in this application.

Your compounding pharmacy can create a custom-fitted formula that specifically targets your unique complaints with as few side effects as possible.

 

Other Skin Treatments

Topical medications are just one method for treating hormone-mediated skin conditions; other treatments are available.

Some cosmetic procedures (often performed by dermatologists and aestheticians), like dermabrasion, laser or light therapies, may be helpful, too. These treatments must be tailored to your skin type to avoid further irritation.

Hormonal fluctuations are no joke. The last thing anyone wants is to wake up with huge patches of discoloration or a bout of adult acne.

These conditions may be a fact of life, but they don’t have to be your entire life, either, especially with the right treatments.

Work with your dermatologist as your skin changes to stay on top of symptoms; the earlier you begin treating melasma, the easier it is to eliminate.

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