Aging of the skin combined with symptoms of hormone decline can lead to feeling aged before being old. Premature aging of the skin can result from years of exposure to UV rays, smoking, and bad skincare habits. With age comes diminished levels of collagen in the skin, which can cause wrinkles and volume loss. Production of hormones also slows with age, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms. There are multiple effective options for treating the signs and symptoms of aging that are available from a compounding pharmacy.

Anti Aging Prescriptions for Skin

Premature aging of the skin is mostly caused by unprotected sun exposure and habits like smoking. Even with proper skin protection and a good skincare routine however, there will still be volume loss and wrinkles associated with aging. Age spots (also called sun spots) are areas of hyperpigmented skin that form from sun exposure. These discolorations in the skin from sun damage can often be reduced with the use of a cream containing hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone evens out skin tone by changing the pigment of the skin. While hydroquinone cream is available commercially, it is not available in strengths 6% or higher except through a compounding pharmacy. Additionally, a compounding pharmacy can combine hydroquinone with other effective lightening ingredients like kojic acid and anti-aging ingredients like tretinoin.

Tretinoin (retinoic acid) is a derivative of vitamin A that speeds up the skin’s renewal process. A tretinoin cream replaces rough, sun-damaged skin with newer skin cells. The cream can be applied daily to help reduce years of accumulated sun damage. When beginning tretinoin, some irritation and scaling may occur. This will usually go away with continued use as the skin adjusts.

Example Formulations:

1. Peel and Bleach Cream: Hydroquinone 8%, Tretinoin 0.1%, Hydrocortisone 0.5%
2. Hydroquinone 6%, 8%, 10% Creams
3. Tretinoin 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% Creams

Serums, gels, and creams with hyaluronic acid are also effective at reducing the signs of aging. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that is naturally produced in the skin and helps it retain water. With age comes a diminished production of hyaluronic acid, which leads to dull, dry skin. By using a daily moisturizer along with hyaluronic acid, the skin’s ability to retain moisture can be restored. Our peptide cream also contains hyaluronic acid along with other effective ingredients like Vitamin C.

Example Formulations:

1. Hyaluronic Acid 1% Gel
2. Hydrating B5 Gel: Hyaluronic Acid 1% with Vitamin B5
3. Peptide Cream: Hyaluronic Acid 1%, DMAE 3%, Argireline 3%

Hormone Decline

For both women and men, hormone levels decline with age. Multiple symptoms can result from a hormonal imbalance. Menopausal symptoms for women include hot flashes, irritability, and sleep problems. For men there is not a set time when hormones decline, although the term “andropause” is sometimes used. Instead, levels of testosterone gradually decline with age. Low testosterone in men can result in decreased body mass, decreased energy and libido, and a reduction in cognitive functioning.

Besides menopausal symptoms, hormone decline increases the risk of developing osteoporosis in women. Hormone replacement therapy can help reduce that risk. The most recent position statement by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) states that hormone replacement therapy is safe and effective for women under age 65 and within 10 years of the onset of menopause. For these women, the benefits of hormone replacement outweigh the risks.

Hormone replacement therapy is a way to restore hormone balance for both women and men. Hormones can be made into cream form by a compounding pharmacy and put in easy-to-use dispensers for accurate dosing. For women, a combination of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can be combined in one formulation. Capsules, troches, and suppositories are also available.

Example Formulations:

1. Estradiol, Estriol, Progesterone, Testosterone Cream
2. Estradiol 0.2% Cream
3. Testosterone 100mg/mL Cream
4. DHEA 50mg SR Capsules

Aesthetic Procedures

Anti-aging procedures with little to no downtime continue to grow in popularity. Common treatments include laser resurfacing, microneedling, chemical peels, Botox, and fillers. Many of these procedures are called “minimally invasive.” That means that they are not as invasive as surgery but still might have some pain and discomfort. Fillers and Botox use needles and microneedling makes small punctures in the skin. These treatments do not require downtime but can be uncomfortable and are more easily tolerated with the use of a numbing cream. The best numbing cream for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures is a prescription-strength BLT cream – a combination of benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine. This cream can effectively numb the skin prior to many anti-aging procedures.

Chemical peels can remove damaged skin and allow newer, undamaged skin to regenerate. There are different formulations depending on skin type and the results desired. Custom formulations and strengths of peel solutions are available from a compounding pharmacy.

Example Formulations:

1. BLT Cream: Benzocaine 20%, Lidocaine 6%, Tetracaine 4% Cream
2. Jessner’s Peel: 14%, 17% Solutions