The Science of Anti-Aging: How Compounded Medications Can Help
When it comes to your skin, most dermatologists recommend a combination of healthy lifestyle practices, good skin hygiene, and targeted medications to regulate skin health. Compounded medications can be particularly helpful for difficult skin concerns, particularly melasma, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, dryness, and dullness associated with aging.
The benefit of a compounded medication is the ability to customize your prescription to meet your specific skincare needs. While some patients may respond to a single potent ingredient, others may need a carefully balanced combination of ingredients to trigger optimal changes in the appearance of the skin. Compounded medications ensure your topical medication is crafted for your specific concerns.
Key Skincare Ingredients and Prescriptions
There are several ingredients and time-honored prescriptions that are used to address age-related concerns. For hyperpigmentation, ingredients such as hydroquinone, vitamin D, and ascorbic acid can gently buff away pigmented skin cells to reduce age-related dark spots and melasma. For moisturization and firmness, ingredients like hyaluronic acid, estriol, and DMAE can improve elasticity.
For many people, fine lines and wrinkles are the most challenging aspects of maturing skin. Ingredients such as tretinoin and CoQ10 are known for encouraging higher collagen production deep within the skin, which can gradually reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles over time. These ingredients are often compounded together in a topical cream to moisturize, brighten, and tighten the skin.
When Should You Use Your Compounded Medication?
Since many of the ingredients used to reduce visible signs of aging can cause sensitivity to UV rays, most dermatologists will recommend using your anti-aging prescription at bedtime. This is particularly true for ingredients such as tretinoin, estriol, and hydroquinone. You should always ask your dermatologist about the best time to use your topical treatment for optimal results or ask your pharmacy for advice.
Where Does Your Topical Medication Go In Your Skincare Routine?
To get the best results, it’s important to apply your topical medication correctly. After cleansing and thoroughly drying your skin, you can apply a light moisturizer or a hydrating serum to prepare your skin for the topical treatment. Then, you can apply a pea-sized amount of your medication in a thin, even layer over your skin. You should avoid sensitive areas, such as the upper lip, nose corners, and eyelids, and follow with a moisturizer.
How Often Should You Refill Your Anti-Aging Prescription From Your Compounding Pharmacy?
In general, you should always follow your dermatologist’s dosage recommendation when you are using a topical prescription for your anti-aging concerns. If you have a prescription containing a topical retinoid, such as tretinoin, you may be advised to use this medication only a few times a week until your skin builds up a tolerance to the medication.
Since you might not be using your topical treatment daily right from the start, you may not be refilling your prescription every month. As your skin tolerates and adapts to your medication, and you can comfortably use it each day, your refills will be more frequent. Your dermatologist may write a single prescription with several refills so you can have more flexibility for your at-home skincare regimen.
A compounded medication formulated for your specific skin concerns can be the key to reducing your age-related skin concerns Get in touch with Wells Pharmacy Network to learn more about filling your compounded medication prescription.
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