When it comes to skincare, you may wonder if a pharmacist is adequately prepared to formulate treatments, give advice regarding suitable products and know when more serious care is required. A bit of healthy skepticism is a good thing so this is a valid question to ask!
While pharmacists aren’t dermatologists, they are highly trained healthcare professionals who undergo extensive training in a multi-year program (depending on the region, between four and six years) focusing on therapeutic knowledge and clinical skills. My education and training included a range of courses covering areas such as:
- Physiology (how plant and animal bodies work)
- Pathophysiology (diseases)
- Pharmacology (how drugs work)
- Pharmaceutical care (part of the health care team and patient care)
- Compounding (creating pharmaceutical products to fit the unique needs of patients).
Pharmacists understand how drugs work, in particular, how they work in the human body. No other health care professional undergoes as much training with respect to drugs or medicines as pharmacists. This training also encompasses how to convey information in a way that individuals without a medical background can understand. Pharmacists may be generalists, but their analytical training prepares them to specialize in a range of areas where they feel they can deliver added value. These days, you’ll find pharmacists specializing in a wide range of fields including Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Oncology and of course, Skincare!
Pharmacists & Skincare: It Makes Sense!
My pharmacist training and practical experience have prepared me well to work in the field of skincare, just as it would for any other medical specialty. Analytical and patient focused skills help me to sift through clinical studies, scrutinize ingredients and recognize whether a treatment or its active ingredients can make a difference to your health, including that of your skin. I take the potential for side effects seriously and question overstated benefits – the same thing I’d do for any aspect of your health.
You won’t find hyped ingredients in Apothekari. Our science-based line is formulated with appropriate concentrations of active ingredients and botanicals that will improve the look and feel of your skin. I’ve done the research so you don’t have to!
In Part 2, I’ll share with you the 5 guidelines I use to screen ingredients and formulate products at Apothekari. Let me know if you have any questions.
