ASHP Midyear: Pharmacists Play Crucial Role in Skin Care Recommendations

Ethan Melillo, PharmD, senior manager of integrated health at L'Oreal Dermatological Beauty, highlights the important role pharmacists play in providing skin care recommendations and counseling to patients. Melillo discusses the introduction of new dandruff products from CeraVe and Dercos, with CeraVe launching a pyrithione zinc product for mild to moderate dandruff and Dercos introducing a selenium sulfide product for moderate to severe cases. He also emphasizes that pharmacists are often the most accessible experts for patients seeking advice on the overwhelming number of options available. Pharmacists should be empowered and upskilled to confidently counsel patients on skin conditions. Melillo stresses the importance of pharmacists advising patients on the proper use of skin care products, such as using moisturizers and sunscreen, especially when starting medications like retinoids that can cause dryness and photosensitivity.

Pharmacy Times: L'Oreal is expanding into a new category. What is this category, and how will this expansion help L’Oreal’s portfolio?

Ethan Melillo: So, 2 of our brands, CeraVe and Dercos, are coming out with products to help with dandruff. CeraVe is going to have pyrithione zinc to help with mild to moderate dandruff [in] patients, and then Dercos is going to come out with a selenium sulfide [product] to really help with those moderate to a bit more severe dandruff [in] patients.

Pharmacy Times: What was the reason behind this expansion?

Ethan Melillo: We saw with Pharmacy Times that pharmacists [are] making a ton of recommendations—I believe it's [around] a couple million [per] year—for patients with dandruff, and so, we see that with our products that are great for the skin, that this can also help with patients who are experiencing dandruff as well.

Pharmacy Times: What is the pharmacist’s role in counseling patients to choose the right over-the-counter products for their skin conditions?

Ethan Melillo: I'm sure when you go to a pharmacy counter, you see [what feels] like a million different options for patients to choose from, and it can be extremely daunting when they're looking at it. And so, the pharmacist, we are the medication expert, and it makes sense for the pharmacist to be upskilled when it comes to skin care conditions, because not everyone has access, not everyone can afford to see a dermatologist, and pharmacists, we're the closest to the point of sale of a product. And so, if a patient tries a product has an issue with it, or tries a product [and] likes it, they can talk to their pharmacists about it [and] ask questions. With pharmacy school in general, we may get a lecture, maybe that [is] a little bit more about skin health. Pharmacists are making millions of recommendations when it comes to skin conditions, so, it just makes sense—I think—for pharmacists to be upscale [and] be able to be comfortable talking to their patients about that.

Pharmacy Times: How can various medications cause skin reactions, and how can pharmacists play a role in monitoring these events?

Ethan Melillo: Definitely, I think we see this most commonly with acne patients, [for example]. So, if they're just starting a retinoid, [that] can be extremely drying, so I'm sure if anyone's ever been on 1 before, they can really relate to that dryness. And so, having adjunct to therapy, [for example], a moisturizer [or] a cleanser that isn't going to clog your pores, because a lot of people don't realize that when you have acne, you should also be using a moisturizer as well, because with that drying out of the skin, if you don't apply moisturizer, what can happen is your skin's going to be like, "Oh, we need to create more oil because [their] skin is so dry," and it can actually make the acne worse.

Pharmacy Times: Some medications can cause skin sensitivity. How can pharmacists best counsel patients about their medications and the importance of wearing sunscreen?

Ethan Melillo: I think that it should just be a counseling point that happens right when the patient's picking it up and if they have questions about that...we always want to wear sunscreen every single day, and I think it's so important no matter what medication that you're on, but especially those more photosensitizing medications to really prevent those serious burns that can happen, especially with antibiotics like doxycycline, for example.

Pharmacy Times: Is there anything you would like to add?

Ethan Melillo: One thing I just want to add is that pharmacists, we kind of don't realize the amount of knowledge that we have and how much [patients] rely on us as well. So, really whatever a pharmacist recommends, most times, the patient is going to pick up that exact product, and so, I think it really shows the power of our recommendations and when we're counseling patients.