Compounded Solutions for Acne

May 2, 2019

As the largest organ in your body, your skin plays ‘the protector’ to your health in more ways than you know. Not only does it obviously protect your inside organs, but it also reflects their health as well. For instance, if the lining of your stomach is inflamed because of poor food choices, your skin will most likely reflect that by breaking out! Or, if you are unwell, then your skin will probably look pale. And, on the same note, if you are not getting adequate or proper nourishment and hydration, or making poor diet choices, you could struggle with frequent acne breakouts. Think of it as a visible detox alarm for your body. And, it is true that food is the medicine of every day — what we put into our bodies will reflect on our overall health. 

 

 Although skin breakouts and imbalances can, in most cases, be attributed back to poor diet choices and lack of proper hydration, or lack of adequate protection against sun damage, or lack of keeping a good skin cleanse regimen, but sometimes acne breakouts are caused by hormonal changes. That is, especially, true during puberty for teenagers, and for women 30+ years old. In the case of teenage years, the increase of androgen levels cause oil glands to get larger and make more sebum, causing acne. Women going through pregnancy or starting/stopping birth control can experience acne for the same reason as well. On the other hand, women going through pre-menopause and menopause may experience acne due to hormonal imbalances. In fact, around the time most women turn 28-30 years old, their skin starts displaying signs of deep cystic acne around the chin and jawline due to hormonal changes in their bodies. It has, also, been reported that 26.3% of women in their 40s and 15.3% of women aged 50 or older experienced acne as well. And, in these cases BHRT compounds and Hormone Balancing compounds can definitely transform the person’s skin!

 

When going the traditional route to treat acne, with the endless options of over-the-counter cosmetic products and commercially-produced medications, which may have ingredients that might not agree with your skin, or have too much or too little of the ingredients that would benefit you; the costs can be quite ridiculous when they add up! And, in the end you are either left with a temporary fix, or no fix at all. That is when compounding comes into place to save your skin! Your compounding pharmacist can control the ingredients that go into your medication and their percentages, making your compound specifically-tailored to clear your very own case of acne. Not only that, it has been proven time and time again that choosing a compound can save you money as there are no exaggerated costs of brandname drug.

 

One of our favorite bases to work with to clear up acne is our Clarifying Base. It is a non-comedogenic cream base ideal for patients suffering from skin issues such as acne or rosacea. Formulated with a unique avocado extract, Clarifying Base may improve red, blotchy areas and decrease oil formations in the skin. Additionally, it can be used in anti-aging formulations, is stable when compounded with benzoyl peroxide, and may help promote faster and more effective delivery of common APIs.

 

In the case of teenage acne, a patient could greatly benefit from a formula combining our Clarifying Base with Benzoyl Peroxide, Niacinamide, and Biotin. Benzoyl Peroxide is antimicrobial which means it decreases the amount of acne-causing bacteria on the skin, and it also helps keep the pores clear from blockages. Niacinamide may be helpful for severe acne, especially inflammatory forms like papules and pustules. Over time, you may see fewer lesions and improved skin texture. And, last but not least, Biotin is excellent to incorporate for healthy skin, hair, and nails! And, in this case it would help improve the appearance of a patient’s skin tremendously.

 

Clarifying Base could also be used in a formula that will have acne-fighting and anti-aging properties when combined with Niacinamide, Tretinoin, and Hyaluronic Acid. Tretinoin is a retinoid, meaning it’s a form of vitamin A. Retinoids stimulate cell turnover on your skin. Dead skin cells are cleared off your skin more quickly as new skin cells rise to the surface. Quicker cell turnover opens your pores, releasing trapped bacteria or irritants that are causing your acne. Retinoids like tretinoin also help your skin to regulate its sebum production, which can prevent future breakouts. It has been studied extensively for its impact on the visible signs of aging. Tretinoin cream has demonstrated both short-term and long-term effects on the appearances of wrinkles! As for Hyaluronic Acid, it naturally occurs in your skin, and in varying amounts, in your joints, bones, and eyes too! It has amazing anti-aging and healing properties, reducing wrinkles, dryness, and scarring!

 

 The two formulas mentioned above are just two of countless options your compounding pharmacist can custom-create to help your specific case of acne. The same goes for anti-aging skin solutions, and other dermatological compounds! Give your pharmacist a call today at 262-429-9429, or reach out to him here with any questions you may have.