Collin County Living Well Magazine Fall 2014 | Page 25

the specific area of concern and its effects can strategically impact a specific region of interest instead of being
dispersed throughout the entire body. This also minimizes
the possibility of creating a dependency for drugs that are
known to be addictive. Other products commonly compounded into creams are scar reducing formulas, nauseas
reducing medications and some dietary supplements.
Not all medications and dietary supplements can be
compounded into a topical cream. The size and structure of
each ingredient must be small enough to pass through the
skin when combined with an appropriate carrier agent or
base. Topical medications can be helpful for many different reasons. Some of these reasons can include the following conditions or circumstances:

• Swallowing difficulties
• Having texture and taste sensitivities
• Diminished absorption due to the surgical alteration of the
digestive tract like those who have had bariatric surgery
• Slow movement of food through the digestive tract (slow
motility)
• Extreme nauseous
• Minimization of the possibility of addiction from pain medications

There are limitations to what can be compounded and a
few of those reasons can include:

• Poor absorption through the skin of a specific chemical
• Topical medication is already available by a manufacturer
• Lack of stability studies on the product trying t