There is no doubt that the way our skin looks and feels can affect our mood. On the other hand, our mood can certainly affect the condition of our skin. Both dermatologists and psychiatrists have long been trying to determine the ultimate cause of psychodermatological conditions and to determine the most effective way of treating these complex disorders. However, they often run into many challenges when recommending treatment.

It is one thing for a psychiatrist to recommend to a patient already seeking psychiatric care that they may want to visit a dermatologist for any related skin conditions. After all, a dermatologist seems relatively harmless as far as medical professionals go and patients are likely eager to clear up skin problems. The reverse, however, is not as easy. A patient who has visited a dermatologist likely does not want to hear that they may need psychiatric treatment. In fact, a patient may even take offense to the suggestion and will likely resist seeking such treatment. For this reason, dermatologists should always be aware of the implications that psychological conditions may have on the skin and how they can be connected.

There are a number of skin conditions that are legitimately affected by psychological state of mind, which can include psoriasis, acne, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, pruritus, hyperhidrosis, lichen simplex, and rosacea. These are not the only psychodermatological disorders that exist and dermatologists should consider psychiatric health when treating patients.

How Pharmacists can Help

Patients with these disorders are often on several different medications to treat several aspects of their condition, both psychological and dermatological. These medications can often interact with one another and a pharmacist should always play an active role in managing a patient’s medication regimen. A pharmacist can do the following and more:

• Screen for adverse interactions between drugs
• Educate patients about their medications and the importance of adhering to their prescribed regimen
• Identifying any side effects to medication that may be causing or worsening skin problems

Call 856-323-8723 or stop by today for more information.

At Kress Specialty Apothecary, our pharmacists are always learning about new disciplines and trying to find ways that compounding can best help our patients suffering from complicated disorders. We develop a personal relationship with our patients to ensure they receive the best possible effects from their medication. We can also help to compound individualized medications to prevent side effect or interactions with other drugs. Please call today to discuss your needs with a pharmacist today.

Most women pay very close attention to their health and nutrition while they are pregnant. There are long lists of what you should eat and should not eat, what supplements you should or should not take, and much more. Once you have your baby, you are all of a sudden thrown into a world dictated by their schedule (or lack thereof) and their wants and needs. It is all too common for the diligent attention to nutrition to fall by the wayside a little in favor of convenience due to exhaustion. However, if you are breastfeeding your child, your nutrition is just as important now as it was when you were pregnant.

As in pregnancy, everything you eat and drink can have an effect on your child’s health and well-being. The following are only some steps you should take to improve your nutrition and you should always follow the advice of your doctor.

• Watch what you eat – Eating well is at the heart of nutrition and you should focus on a diet that is balanced and free from potentially harmful toxins, such as mercury or pesticides. In addition, though you may want to risk to lose baby weight, breastfeeding requires that you increase your calorie intake so your body has enough energy to make breast milk and provide other care for your new baby.
• Stay hydrated – Drinking plenty of fluids will prevent dehydration and will help with the production of your breast milk. Focus on water and other pure fluids, as drinks with too much sugar or caffeine can affect the health and mindset of both you and your baby.
• Consider supplements – Many doctors may recommend that you keep taking your prenatal supplements while you are breastfeeding. In addition, you can discuss additional vitamins or supplements that can help if you are not getting all of your nutrition from food for some reason.
• Limit your alcohol – While it can be possible to wait for alcohol to pass through your system before you breastfeed, this process is slow and your child may need to eat when you still have alcohol in your breast milk. So, you should always be cautious.

Call or stop by today for more information!

Our compounding pharmacists can not only work with you to improve your nutrition while you are breastfeeding but we can also tailor medications to meet the specific needs of your baby. We can personalize medications and supplements based on dosage, taste, and more, so please call Kress Speciality Apothecary at 856-323-8723 or stop in to speak with one of our pharmacists today!

It’s often been said that men have difficulties raising health concerns to their doctors, or taking their own health seriously, until they are hit with some sort of dangerous ‘wake-up call’. Traditionally seen as providers, it is important that men treat their physical well-being as serious as they do other issues in life.  To avoid issues getting out of hand, and possibly get around the doctor’s visit as a whole, let’s take a look at some common male health issues that can be avoided.

Heart Disease. The leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease is a dangerous illness that should never be underestimated. There are several steps that can be taken to lessen the risk of heart disease, such as eating heart-healthy foods and losing weight over all. Smokers have a higher chance of getting heart disease, as do those who have high levels of cholesterol and blood pressure. Taking action to prevent heart disease in these ways is good for your all around health, and can help prevent several other illnesses on this list as well!

Skin Cancer. Many men spend high amounts of time outdoors, working on the lawn, playing sports or other nature activities. This can be a great way to get exercise and improve your health overall, but can also open you up to a vulnerability for skin cancer. It’s recently been announced to be the #1 cancer in men over the age of 50, and some studies point to men’s skin being more sensitive than women’s.

To prevent skin cancer, men should regularly wear sunscreen, spend less time outside when the sun is brightest, say 10am to 4pm, and cover up while outside with hats, tight-knit clothes, and sunglasses.

Sleep Apnea. While the first sign of this dangerous condition often comes when a man’s partner complains of his disruptive snores, that isn’t always just an irritating habit, but a sign of something far more troubling. Sleep apnea can result in stroke, heart disease, and diabetes, and happens when the person (often a man) briefly stops breathing during the night.

Common signs of sleep apnea, in addition to snores, include waking up with a headache or scratchy throat, sleeping restlessly and never getting a good night’s sleep, or waking up multiple times during a night. It can be prevented by losing weight, also through exercise and dietary changes. Even little changes like avoiding sleeping on your side can help! It can also be lessened through an avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, as well as sleep medication.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Generally recognized with the acronym GERD, this common disease causes heartburn and acid reflux from common ‘guy foods’ such as greasy and spicy foods, as well as red meat (steaks) and beers. Besides just being an uncomfortable nuisance, GERD can cause serious esophageal damage. As well as avoiding those particular foods, losing weight is another important way to lessen the effects of GERD, as well as stopping smoking.

For more information on avoiding or treating these five issues for yourself or a loved one, or any health concerns you may be facing, call us at Kress Apothecary at 856-323-8723 or stop by today for more information. We pride ourselves on individualized attention to our patients, and you can rest assured that at Kress, you’re family.

Anyone who has ever struggled with unsightly acne, from the teenage years to beyond, knows how frustrating it can be to wake up day after day while trying all types of supposed cures with little result. However, there is still hope for even those with the most unforgiving of skin. Here are some of our best tips to clearing up your acne as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Mind Your Makeup: Many people with certain skin types can be faced with a terrible dilemma, and feel like they need to choose between looking pretty by wearing makeup, or keeping their pores clog-free without. The problem with that line of thinking is that it ignores the fact that wearing makeup and having clogged pores will lead to acne, which isn’t pretty either! If you are struggling with facial breakouts, try taking a break from your foundation, even if temporary. You may be shocked at the results, and so will everyone else when they see your natural and acne-free beauty shining through.

Exfoliating Bliss: Popular and effective exfoliating products often share a lot of their chemical compounds with medicated acne treatments, and work just as well if used regularly! Even daily use of exfoliators can have a tremendous impact on your acne problem.  Drawing any of the blackheads or other hardened substances out of your pores through exfoliating is a great way to squash your acne in its tracks. You will want to be cautious of over exfoliation especially when using a products containing retinoids.

Hands Off: No matter what you do, don’t touch your face. Touching your face is a terrible way to get acne because it’s totally preventable, and you likely don’t even realize you’re doing it. All of the germs and grease on your fingers are automatically transferred onto your sensitive facial pores. The more you think about how much you touch your face, the more self-conscious you will be about it, and then likely stop because of that consciousness.

Smooth Skin Sun Screen: Everybody knows that the regular application of sunscreen is one of the best ways to keep your skin looking healthy long into your old age. But did you know that choosing the wrong sunscreen can have a serious impact on your acne population? Chemical sunscreens can irritate sensitive skin, causing it to get red and inflamed, overall stressing the skin itself and causing all types of issues, including acne. Opt instead for a mineral (like zinc) based sunscreen, which will deflect the sun’s UV rays rather than heat them up onto you.

While there is so much conflicting conventional and new wisdom out there when it comes to keeping your skin clean and blemish free, these are some surefire tips that will keep your acne out of business for a long time to come. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

For more information about your friendly compounding pharmacy and the many services that we can provide for you and your family, give us at Kress Specialty Apothecary a call today at 856-323-8723 or stop by our office. We would be happy to give you more information and work to create a plan that works best for all your needs. Call today!