As the temperature starts to drop, we begin to see a lot
more patients looking for cold and flu remedies, as well as ointments for dry
skin. Since the cold temperature is coming quickly this fall, we will
proactively discuss tips on avoiding the flu and dry skin inside this September
blog!
Tips on avoiding the flu
1. Getting the flu shot is the most
effective way of avoiding the flu virus because it helps your body build the
defenses it needs to fight the flu.
Starting in mid-October, Custom
Care Pharmacy will be providing flu vaccines again at the pharmacy. This is
free for all patients with an OHIP card (health card). If you have received a
flu vaccine at Custom Care Pharmacy last year, we will contact you as soon as
the first batch of flu vaccines arrives. No appointment is necessary; however,
scheduling an appointment ensures faster access.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water
thoroughly and often OR use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer (gel or wipe).
o Make sure you wash your hands for at least 15 seconds or more.
o The alcohol based hand sanitizer has to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective
With
all the hand washing and disinfecting, we may be successful at avoiding the flu,
but we can sometimes end up with very dry skin! Harsh soap can wash away your
skin’s natural moisture barrier. Lower temperature also leads to lower humidity
level, which causes dry skin on your face and hands. As we get older, our skin
also becomes thinner and therefore, we can become more susceptible to dry skin
compared to a few years before.
Tips on avoiding dry skin
1. Use
a humidifier at home to keep air moist. Set
humidity at a constant 45% to 55%
2. Moisturize
your skin after every hand wash, face wash, shower and before you go outside.
Did
you know that Custom Care Pharmacy can custom make preservative-free,
fragrance-free skin cream at our special compounding lab?
We
use a combination of effective and natural ingredients such as Shea butter and
Glycerin to create a skin cream that helps skin retain moisture naturally. We
can also add special ingredients such as vitamin E oil, retinol serum and
vitamin B (niacinamide) for anti-wrinkle and anti-dark spots treatments.
This
is a customized service that we provide for our members, starting at $20. Come
in to try a free sample or Call us at 905-305-0111 for further details!
Tips on skin care ingredients
There
are so many skin care products on the shelf, it can sometimes be difficult to
find the one with the right ingredients for your skin. Here are some of the
effective ingredients and the explanation on how they work:
Shea butter
Shea butter is extracted from the nut of the
African shea tree that has natural soothing and moisturizing properties. Shea
butter is full of nutrients, including vitamin A, which has many healing
properties and has been known to aid in treating blemishes, wrinkles, eczema
and dermatitis, as well as burns and even stretch marks. Shea butter is also
packed with antioxidants like vitamin E , as well as polyphenols and
phytonutrients. These ingredients make shea butter an anti-inflammatory, which
is why it works so well at moisturizing and soothing all types of skin.
Glycerin & Sodium
Pyrrolidone Carboxylate (Also know as PCA)
These two ingredients attract moisture to your skin to keep
it feeling smooth and moist.
Aloe vera
This
ingredient comes from the Aloe Vera plant and it is widely used to soothe
sunburn. It has also shown to be able to increase circulation in the tiny blood
vessels in the skin as well as kill bacteria. These properties can be useful in
healing dry, chapped skin.
Vitamin E
vitamin
E is an antioxidant that protects and repairs your skin. Antioxidants are
agents that neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals, which are molecules
that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.
Niacinamide (Vitamin
B3)
In multiple clinical
studies, topical niacinamide (vitamin B3) has been observed to be well
tolerated by skin and to provide a broad array of improvements in the
appearance of aging facial skin such as reduction in the appearance of
hyperpigmentated spots and red blotchiness.
In addition to previously
observed benefits for topical niacinamide, additional effects were identified, such as:
- Improved appearance of skin wrinkles and yellowing
- Improved skin elasticity
Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin
A that can improve wrinkles and skin discolouration.
Mandelic Acid & Ascorbic Acid
Mandelic acid is an extract
of bitter almonds that can make skin look smoother and more youthful. It is a
gentle form of alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) that causes less redness and peeling
than glycolic acid but it has shown to be just as effective.
Ascorbic Acid is commonly
known as vitamin C. Most people have heard that vitamin C can improve wrinkles
and skin discolouration. But many of the vitamin C products available on the
shelf are weak because it is not freshly made. Custom made cream containing
Ascorbic acid ensures that its potency is not lost.
Hydroquinone
This ingredient is only
available through health care professional. It is an effective and potent
medication to treat dark spots on skin. To understand the proper use of this
ingredient, ask our pharmacist at Custom Care Pharmacy.
Custom Care Pharmacy has a compounding lab where we can custom make skin care formula to suit your needs. Come in or call us about your skin care needs today! 905-305-0111
Tips from Registered
Dietitian – Rowena Leung
When thinking of flu/cold prevention, many individuals
automatically turn to Vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the easiest vitamins to
obtain from food as long as you eat all different colours of vegetables &
fruits. Some individuals may not know that oil of oregano is a natural
antibiotic and can also help with flu/cold prevention. Because oil of oregano
is a natural antibiotic, it kills both good and bad bacteria; therefore, only
use oil of oregano when you are sick. Make sure that you are supplementing
probiotic bacteria while you are taking oil of oregano to ensure that your
level of good bacteria in the body is not compromised.
Here is a anti-oxidant rich salad perfect for the fall:
Kale and Sweet Potato Salad (makes 6 servings)
2 medium sweet potatoes (sliced into
wedges)
1 sweet onion, sliced
2 clove garlics, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
Sea Salt and Freshly Cracked
Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
3 c baby kale, chopped
½ c toasted pecans
1 tsp maple syrup (optional)
Instructions:
- Pre-heat oven to 425oF.
- In a large bowl, toss together sweet potato, onion, garlic, oil, salt and pepper
- Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Roast @ 425oF until sweet potatoes are golden and tender when pierced with a fork (~20 minutes). Transfer to a large bowl
- While potatoes are still hot, drizzle with red wine vinegar, Dijon and maple syrup; toss with kale to combine.
- Sprinkle with pecans
在家里使用加湿器保持空气湿润，设定湿度恒定在45 - 55 ％之間。
乳木果油具有天然舒緩和保濕性能，是從非洲乳木樹的堅果提取的。乳木果油是充满營養素，包括維生素A，它具有很多的治療作用，並一直被稱為治療暗瘡，皺紋，濕疹和皮炎，以及燒傷，甚至妊娠紋的好选择!
很多人在預防流感和傷風时會自然想起维生素C。只要你吃各种不同颜色的蔬菜和水果，维生素C是最容易从食物中获取的维生素。有些人可能不知道，牛至油是一种天然抗生素，也可以预防感冒和傷風。由于牛至油是一种天然的抗生素，它可杀死包括好的和坏的细菌;因此，只有当你生病時才用牛至油。你在服用牛至油的同时注意也要补充益生菌，以确保你身體內好的细菌在体内的水平不会受到损害。
