Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a common condition that has multiple possible causes. It results from either a decrease in the production of saliva or a change in saliva’s composition. Dry mouth is frequently associated with the use of certain medications and is common in patients undergoing radiation therapy. Individuals with Sjogren’s syndrome have chronic dry mouth that requires long-term care. Compounded treatments include a topical dry mouth spray that can…

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…

Laser hair removal continues to be a popular cosmetic treatment for both women and men. Even with the increased use of Botox, fillers, laser resurfacing, and skin tightening devices, laser hair removal is still the most frequently requested treatment. While usually not as painful as something like laser resurfacing or a deep chemical peel, laser hair removal can still be uncomfortable. Many individuals having laser hair removal request a numbing…

Silver has been used for hundreds of years to treat infections and prevent the spread of bacteria. The toxicity of silver to human cells is low compared to its toxicity to bacterial cells which makes it especially effective for this purpose. Until recently, hospitals in the United States put silver eye drops in infants’ eyes to prevent conjunctivitis. It is still used in hospitals in everything from bandages to catheters…

The topical anesthetic gel for dentistry that we compound is BTT 12.5 - which is popular with dentists in multiple specialties. Since BTT is compounded, it is not FDA-approved. Without clinical trials and studies that demonstrate the efficacy and safety of particular dosages, most dentists rely on their experience and the advice of their peers when using compounded products. However there are general guidelines that can be used for applying…

Dermatologists and aestheticians frequently use benzocaine cream for a variety of skin procedures. The skin can be numbed with a benzocaine cream before everything from mole removal to skin tightening. This cream makes the experience of a cosmetic procedure more comfortable for patients and easier for professionals. Benzocaine cream is also sometimes prescribed to provide pain relief form minor burns and irritations on the surface of the body. While benzocaine…

When certain types of infections are treated it can result in a reaction as the toxins are cleared from the body. This is referred to as a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, which is a combination of the names of the dermatologists who first described it. As an antibiotic destroys the cell membranes of bacteria, the dead bacteria are cleared from the body through the blood stream. This release of toxins into the…

Permanent makeup application provides a clean, consistent look for makeup that doesn’t fade. It makes it so that a woman can wake up every day with a flawlessly done face. The procedure is the same as a tattoo permanently inking the skin. This involves small needle punctures to insert the ink. Since this can be painful, a numbing cream is often used to make the procedure more comfortable. The best…

Vulvodynia is a condition characterized by chronic vulvar pain that may include a burning or itching sensation. The condition is not caused by an infection or acute injury but often to neurological pain. The pain can be exacerbated by certain movements that cause friction like with bike riding or sitting. Pain is generally least noticeable when lying down. Pudendal, ilioinguinal, or genitofemoral neuralgia is often the cause of vulvar pain…

Sildenafil and tadalafil are the two most commonly prescribed ingredients in drugs to reduce erectile dysfunction and enhance male sexual performance. Both drugs were sold commercially in FDA-approved medications for treating erectile dysfunction and had well-recognized brand names. When the patents expired, these popular drugs became available as generics. While the commercially available versions were sold in a tablet form, our pharmacy usually compound these drugs into troches (medical lozenges).…