Products that Are Not Commercially Available Dermatologists are frequent prescribers of compounded creams. There are many combinations of ingredients that can be made by a compounding pharmacy that are not commercially available. Higher-strength ingredients can be used including in hydroquinone creams and chemical peels. A compounding pharmacy makes medications that have been discontinued, are experiencing shortages, or are not available in the United States. Combination drug products are available to…

Hydroquinone for Melasma Melasma is difficult to treat condition with no cure but there are several treatment options available that can reduce its appearance. The mainstay treatment for melasma is prescription hydroquinone cream. Topical treatments are generally the most effective way to treat melasma. They have fewer side effects than systemic medications and are applied directly to the areas of concern. The topical hydroquinone for melasma that is available commercially…

Currently there is no cure for psoriasis and treatment involves preventing and reducing the extent of flare-ups. Low dose naltrexone is a promising new treatment option for psoriasis. This non-toxic drug has been prescribed for many years to treat a variety of chronic conditions. Medications Available for Treating Psoriasis Commercially available medications for treating psoriasis include biologics, systemic medications like methotrexate, and topical creams. Topical creams are one of the…

Tretinoin, also called retinoic acid, is in a group of drugs called retinoids that have been proven to be effective at treating a variety of skin conditions and in reducing wrinkles. They are frequently prescribed by dermatologists for treating acne, psoriasis, skin damage, and signs of aging. Acne in particular is a common disease that accounts for much of tretinoin’s use in dermatology. It has been a mainstay in acne…