Our access to various bases, chemicals, and drugs, allows us to maintain one of the largest inventories of active drugs for skin conditions. Dermatologists, skin specialists, aestheticians, and Med Spas rely on our expertise to provide a wide range of dermatology compounding options.
Drugs can only work if they reach the cells and tissues that need them.
When it comes to treating types of skin conditions through the use of dermatological drugs, delivery is everything. Choosing the right dermatological medications can be the difference between a successful treatment for a skin condition and an unsuccessful outcome.
Pharmaceutical compounders use a number of bases to deliver various drugs into the skin.
These bases include:
Topical Creams
Ointments
Gels
Solutions
Lotions
- A medication’s base plays an important role in the effectiveness of the drug. Certain steroids using an ointment base may be more potent than those using a cream base, for example. The difference in potency depends on a number of factors. These factors include how well it is absorbed into the skin and its ability to prevent water from evaporating out of the skin.
- Because each type of base provides unique characteristics to the preparation, choosing the right base can be complex.
- Working with your practitioner, Gateway Compounding Pharmacy can help each patient choose the best preparation for his or her condition.
About Dermatology Compounding
- Dermatology compounding requires the use of proper equipment and advanced techniques. The Gateway Compounding Pharmacy lab is equipped with the sophisticated tools needed to compound a pharmaceutically elegant product. These tools include an electronic mortar and pestle and an ointment mill that reduces particle sizes to create a smooth product.
Commonly Requested Dermatological Preparations
The most commonly requested dermatological preparations include:
- Trihydroret, a mixture of hydroquinone, tretinoin, and triamcinolone or hydrocortisone
- Azelaic acid
- DMAE
- Clindamycin
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Fluocinolone
- Monobenzone Fluconazole
- Acyclovir
- Cantharidin
- Squaric Acid
- DNCB
- Ketoconazole
- Erythromycin
- Doxepin
- 5-flurouracil
- Minoxidil
- Menthol
- Camphor
- Phenol
- Methoxsalen
- Brimonidine
- Hydroquinone
- Salicylic acid
- Metronidazole
- Lidocaine
- Benzocaine
- Tetracaine
- Prilocaine
- DMSO pharmaceutical grade
- Hydrocortisone
- Fluticasone
- Neomycin
Common Uses of Dermatology Compounding
Bleaching Creams
Bleaching creams are skin-lightening products that treat age spots, acne scars, discoloration related to hormones and other skin discolorations. Bleaching creams, also known as Tri-Hydro-Ret, usually contain triamcinolone, hydroquinone and retinoic acid, along with hydrocortisone or other steroids.
Hydroquinone is the active skin-lightening component of bleaching creams. Retinoic acid helps fade hyper-pigmentation of skin, stimulates collagen to keep skin elastic, and helps skin stay hydrated. Triamcinolone reduces redness and relieves skin irritation, itching, and dryness.
Gateway Compounding Pharmacy has hundreds of variations of this popular skin whitener. Percentages of hydroquinone in our skin whitening products range from 2% up to over 12%. We can also include kojic acid, green tea, and other skin lighteners in compounded preparations, depending on your doctor’s requirements.
Dr. Isaac Willis’ formulation of Tri-Hydro-Ret was a widely popular bleaching cream prior to his death. Both dermatologists and his patients mourn his loss and acknowledge the important contributions Dr. Willis made to dermatology. Fortunately, our pharmacists obtained the formulas several years ago and have been making this formulation ever since.
We also offer another product, Tri-Luma®, which has the exact active ingredients as the popular bleaching agent,
Acne Preparations
A large number of acne preparations are available. The most common acne preparations are compounds that use retinoic acid, benzoyl peroxide, steroids, clindamycin, erythromycin, azelaic acid, dapsone, and clotrimazole. Compounding pharmacies can custom blend these preparations to address each patient’s specific type of acne.
Gateway Compounding Pharmacy works closely with dermatologists to formulate each patient’s preparation for optimal results. Compounding pharmacists can even include multiple drugs in one compound for patients who have acne in addition to other skin conditions. Compounded acne treatments can also address the inflammation that often accompanies acne.
In many cases, the cost of our compound is far below the cost of commercial acne preparations available on the market. Call us today to find out if it’s possible to include multiple drugs in a single compound.
Non-Antibiotic Acne Treatments
Doctors who want to provide non-antibiotic acne treatments often look for formulas that use a niacinamide/lipoic acid cream or gel. Niacinamide helps preserve microscopic structures in the skin and acts as an antioxidant that fights free radicals. Lipoic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid or ALA, has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces visible redness and blotchiness.
Clinicians also look for formulas containing ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, for the treatment of acne. Ascorbic acid is an anti-inflammatory, and it promotes wound healing and prevents hyper-pigmentation that often follows inflammation.
Compounds that contain 4% niacinamide combined with ascorbic acid provide prompt acne relief. Compounded acne therapies that contain beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, are also highly effective. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, displace the bacteria that can cause acne.
Custom Acne Formulations
Our experts can help doctors and patients choose the right formulation based on their needs. This can reduce the appearance of acne, decrease skin inflammation, and help prevent discoloration resulting from acne. Call Gateway Compounding Pharmacy for a FREE acne consultation and recommendation.
Eczema or Psoriasis
Eczema and psoriasis are common skin conditions that cause red, itchy rashes. Doctors often recommend corticosteroid creams to treat eczema and psoriasis. This is because they contain man-made versions of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands.
Corticosteroids
Compounding pharmacies create corticosteroid creams in various percentages and potencies of the manmade hormone. Compounding allows patients and doctors to control the number of steroids in the treatment.
This helps improve the effectiveness of the treatment by adding other active ingredients into the cream. This is particularly important for those with severe eczema or psoriasis who need stronger treatments. It is also effective for children and others who want to avoid the use of steroids.
Vitamin B12 with Evening Primrose Oil
Many patients with eczema or psoriasis, especially pediatric patients, benefit from treatment with vitamin B12 combined with evening primrose oil. Research shows that both vitamin B12 and evening primrose oil decrease the symptoms of eczema in adults and in children. Gateway Compounding Pharmacy offers personalized compounds for anyone with eczema or psoriasis who wants to avoid products containing steroids.