You probably think of your local pharmacy as a place to stop and buy various medications and pharmaceuticals. And indeed, this is the key role that most pharmacies play. However, many pharmacies have a lot more to offer. Here are some additional, helpful services to check for at your local pharmacy.
Medication Compounding Some pharmacies offer compounded medications. This means that they custom-mix medications to suit customers’ needs. They may take a medication that is usually provided in pill form and formulate it in a liquid. Or, they may compound a medication with a specific dose to suit your unique needs. If you’re allergic to inactive ingredients in a certain medication, a compounding pharmacy may be able to formulate a product that’s free from your allergen. Compounding can be a good option for patients who need personalized hormone balancing medications. Sports injuries often specially compounded pain medicine to help reduce pain, inflammation, muscle spasms and other conditions. Some pharmacies will even compound medications for pets with a valid veterinary prescription. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Visit your pharmacy to learn what supplement brands they carry. There are advantages to buying vitamin and mineral supplements through your local pharmacy, rather than from online vendors. You can read various labels in person and ask the pharmacist for recommendations. Some pharmacies will even schedule a personalized consultation with a certified specialist, so you can get supplements recommended for you according to your needs. Mobile Prescription Refills Gone are the days when refilling a prescription meant driving to the pharmacy, waiting for them to look up your records, and then waiting even longer while they filled the prescription. Now, many pharmacies offer mobile prescription refill services. You can submit your request via an app on your smartphone, and your medication will be ready and waiting when you arrive. Events and Workshops Check your local pharmacy’s schedule to see what events and workshops they are offering. They may have a workshop on monitoring blood pressure or one on designing a healthy meal plan. Some of these events are hosted by their own pharmacists, but they may also invite other healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, and dietitians to speak on common health concerns like COVID-19, seasonal allergies, menopause, and use of sunscreens, for example. This is a great way to ensure you’re getting health information from a reliable source. Your local pharmacy is an excellent resource for the products, services, and information you need to remain healthy. Stop by and talk to the pharmacist or staff members to get a better idea of what’s available to you. So many Americans are affected by skin allergies, so much so that skin allergy remedies are a lucrative industry. Different factors can make skin allergies worse like weather, pollen and common airborne allergens. Here are some tips for those dealing with skin allergies Check With Your Local PharmacySkin allergies are sometimes tricky to treat since they vary so much from person to person. Check with a compounding pharmacy about medications specifically for your individual needs. Compounded medications for skin will be specially formulated for you by type and dosage, so you'll get the quickest most reliable results. Be Aware of What Fabrics Irritate Your SkinYou may be unaware that some of the clothing you wear regularly is irritating your sensitive skin. It could be the fabric itself, or the detergent you've been using to wash them. Always look for "free and clear" detergents that don't contain any dyes or perfumes. Additionally, look for a local green dry cleaner nearby that tailors to those with sensitive skin. Ask for no fragrances and hypoallergenic products. Check With Your DoctorSometimes skin allergies could be pointing to a more serious health problem. If your skin suddenly becomes dry or irritated, its best to have it checked out by your doctor or dermatologist. Raised rashes, odd-shaped markings or irritation paired with fevers should always be checked by a medical professional right away. Moisturize FrequentlyDry weather or heat can bring on skin allergies, especially if you're already prone to dry skin. To avoid this, I always keep my skin moisturized with a natural, perfume-free lotion or oil. I like to buy lotions and creams specifically formulated for sensitive skin at a local drugstore near me, which also can fill prescriptions from my dermatologist. Older people also tend to have dry skin, so family caregivers or professional home health aides should also take care to keep their loved one or client's skin moisturized.
Skin allergies are a pain, but they don't have to be. Take care of your skin and take care of each other. Everyday household tasks can become a source of anxiety in these times. Do you start worrying about how to get the basics done while keeping yourself and loved ones safe and healthy? Simple hygiene measures can help. Personal HygieneA piece of advice that is repeatedly stated by the authorities as a top precaution is to wash our hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Make sure the soap or sanitizer fully covers your hands, then rub hands together for 20-30 seconds. For hand sanitizers, use those that contain at least 60 per cent alcohol. Having trouble finding hand sanitizers in the grocery store? Try your community pharmacy. If they have the ability to provide compounded medications, they may be able to produce sanitizers themselves. Remember to avoid touching your face because the virus is spread through droplets that may cling to surfaces that you touched. Cleaning ClothesThere’s no research as yet on how long the COVID-19 virus can survive on clothes or other fabrics, but it’s still a good idea to change and wash your clothes regularly — especially if you’ve just come home from the grocery store (or the office if you aren’t working from home). If you are doing the laundry at home, wash your clothes using the warmest appropriate water setting in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you dry the items completely. Consider using a laundry delivery service instead of making trips to the laundromat to avoid too much people contact and save time for other chores. Dry cleaning can help to disinfect clothing and other household items like towels and bedding because it uses high heat. Some Boston dry cleaners provide germ-free laundry services, too. When handling dirty laundry from a person who has symptoms, wear disposable gloves. If you are using a drycleaning pickup service, you should tell the dry cleaner that the laundry may be infected. HousecleaningIt is also important to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces or objects including tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, desks, phones, keyboards, sinks, and faucets at least daily. Clean dirty surfaces with a regular household detergent first, then disinfect with any EPA-registered household disinfectant.
Let’s all stay safe and healthy during these unusual times! Photo by Irina Ba on Unsplash Acne is a troublesome skin issue that can affect people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Pimples certainly don’t discriminate. And when it comes to treating acne, some look to prescription drugs when over the counter creams and washes fail to work. Some even go further and get compounded medications for skin conditions from certified compounding pharmacies. Let’s take a closer look at the prescription medications commonly prescribed by dermatologists. AntibioticsBefore a doctor prescribes a strong medication, they usually like to start with antibiotics. When someone suffers from chronic acne, there’s a lot of inflammation under the skin. Unfortunately, antibiotics tend to only treat this symptom and not the underlying cause. Also, being on antibiotics long term can mess with your immune system, so keep that in mind before getting that prescription refill. Retin-AThis medicine, only available at a prescription pharmacy, has been shown to have virtually no side effects when used topically. However, if you’re using it to treat acne, it can be clogging to the pores, and even make your acne worse. AccutaneAccutane is an extremely strong prescription drug prescribed for severe cases of acne. The side effects are certainly serious enough to make you second guess that prescription delivery. Accutane has been linked to depression, Chron’s Disease, and even birth defects. Acne Treatment Without Prescription DrugsBefore you run out to the local pharmacy to pick up that acne prescription refill, consider the underlying cause of your breakouts. The actual cause of acne is retention hyperkeratosis, which is when your pores tend to shed skin cells more quickly than usual. So if you get breakouts regularly, it’s essential to keep your pores clear from excessive buildups. Finding the right products to do this can be tricky, but a good rule of thumb is the fewer ingredients in your products, the better. You don’t want to contribute to the buildup in your pores by adding more pore-clogging products to your skin. Keep It SimpleLook for products with clean, simple ingredients. A simple cleanser and light moisturizer is really all you need, so don’t be tricked into multiple products that are marketed towards acne sufferers. Adding more junk to your pores is not going to clear your breakouts.
So before you run out to your local pharmacy for a prescription refill, consider the real cause of your acne and try a simpler approach. Essential oils have become very popular in the last few years. These aromatic oils are used to freshen the air in homes, rubbed on the skin to brighten moods and boost the immune system, and even used in diffusers at night to help bring on a restful night’s sleep. So, are essential oils safe? And if so, what are the best ways to use them? Essential Oils are Safe if Used With CautionEssential oils like lemon, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint are all safe to use topically and diffused in the air. Studies have shown that the scents of these oils, and many others, can be soothing to the brain and can help with anxiety and depression. However, it is NEVER safe to ingest essential oils. Many oils are not regulated by the FDA, and you never know what else may be in that bottle, so save your oils for home use only. Keep Away from PetsAnimals are very sensitive to essential oils. Since oils are in a concentrated form, they can be extremely potent to cats and dogs. Most of the time the smell alone will keep your pets away, but always make sure they’re kept out of reach and never put them in your pet’s food or water. You wouldn’t want your pet to get sick and have to see a veterinary doctor and take medications. Be Careful With FabricsIf you plan to use essential oils topically, like rubbed on the wrists, for example, be aware that they can stain clothing. While some oils will easily wash out in the laundry, some may cause stains if allowed to dry and set. But not to worry, it’s nothing that can’t be solved with a trip to the local dry cleaner. Use a Steam DiffuserSteam diffusers are a great way to safely enjoy the benefits of essential oils. Diffusers are generally inexpensive and use water and heat to spread your favorite scents into the air. You only need a few drops of oil to enjoy the effects for hours.
So remember, essential oils are safe when used with caution. Enjoy! |
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March 2023
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