7 Top rated dermatology compounding pharmacies

Table of Content:
What is a compounding pharmacy? | Do all compounding pharmacies make dermatology medications? | Best dermatology compounding pharmacies | Do you need a prescription? | How to request a prescription? | Foothills Professional Pharmacy | Compounding Pharmacy of America | Chemistry Rx | Big Country Dermatology Pharmacy | Pro Compounding Pharmacy | Empower Pharmacy | Pure Pharmacy | FAQ

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What is a compounding pharmacy?

A compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy that prepares customized medications to meet the specific needs of an individual patient based on a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. Instead of dispensing only commercially manufactured drugs, compounding pharmacies create medications by combining, adjusting, or reformulating ingredients when standard options are not suitable.

Compounding pharmacies are commonly used when:

• A patient needs a specific dose or ingredient combination that isn’t commercially available
• A medication must be made in a different form (such as a cream, gel, foam, or solution)
• A patient has allergies or sensitivities to certain inactive ingredients
• Multiple active ingredients are combined into a single medication for convenience and adherence

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

Do all compounding pharmacies make dermatology medications?

No, not all compounding pharmacies make dermatology medications. Compounding pharmacies often specialize in a certain area, such as dermatology, hormone replacement therapy, pain management, pediatrics, or sterile compounding. While many pharmacies are capable of compounding dermatologic products, not all have the formulations, equipment, expertise, or bases needed to prepare high-quality dermatology medications. As a result, dermatologists need to work with pharmacies that specialize in dermatology compounding rather than general compounders.

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

What are the best dermatology compounding pharmacies in the United States?

Here are some popular dermatology compounding pharmacies in the USA with nationwide coverage or broad service options that dermatologists and clinics commonly work with: 

• Foothills Professional Pharmacy 
• Compounding Pharmacy of America 
• Chemistry Rx
• Big Country Dermatology Pharmacy 
• ProCompounding Pharmacy 
• Empower Pharmacy 
• Pure Pharmacy 

These pharmacies can fill customized dermatology prescriptions and often support e-prescribing and direct-to-patient shipping across multiple states, making them practical options for patients and dermatologists. 

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

Do you need a prescription for compounded medications?

Yes, you do need a prescription to buy most medications from a compounding pharmacy. Compounded medications are custom-made based on a licensed healthcare provider’s prescription that specifies the exact formulation, dosage, and delivery method tailored to the patient’s needs. These pharmacies are not allowed to dispense compounded drugs without a valid prescription because the medications are not mass-produced or FDA-approved in standard formulations. 

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

How to request a prescription for a dermatology compound medication?

To obtain a prescription for a compounded dermatology medication, you can have a consultation with an online dermatologist via Miiskin, to do this, follow these steps:

1. Start a consultation: Visit Miiskin’s website or download the Miiskin app to initiate an online consultation. You’ll be prompted to answer a brief questionnaire about your skin concerns and upload clear photos of the affected areas.
2. Dermatologist review: A board-certified dermatologist licensed in your state will review your submission. Within 1–2 business days, they will provide a diagnosis and, if appropriate, prescribe a customized treatment plan.
3. Prescription fulfillment: Choose Foothills as your preferred pharmacy and if a compounded medication is deemed suitable, they will issue a prescription which you can then order right on Miiskin.
4. Medication purchase and delivery: Once the payment is processed, your compounded medication will then be prepared and shipped by Foothills pharmacy.

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

List of top rated dermatology compounding pharmacies

Foothills Professional Pharmacy

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescription from Miiskin.
• How to get a prescription issued: You can have a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist via Miiskin and choose Foothills as your preferred pharmacy and then order your medication right on the platform.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Through Miiskin, most formulas are ~$48.99, with advanced formulas ~$58.99–$68.99; oral meds are often priced ~$24.99–$38.99.
• Nation-wide coverage: Yes, licensed in all 50 U.S. states plus territories.

Compounding Pharmacy of America

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescriptions from telehealth healthcare providers.
• How to get a prescription issued: You need to find a licensed healthcare provider to submit a prescription via e-script, fax, or phone.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Pricing isn’t publicly posted; provided after prescription is received.
• Nation-wide coverage: Yes, licensed in all 50 U.S. states

Chemistry Rx

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescriptions from different telehealth platforms.
• How to get a prescription issued: Find a healthcare provider to issue a prescription.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Pricing provided upon receiving a prescription (not publicly listed).
• Nation-wide coverage: Yes

Big Country Dermatology Pharmacy

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescriptions from telehealth clinicians but does not list a specific named telehealth platform partnership publicly. 
• How to get a prescription issued: Find a healthcare provider to issue a prescription.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Pricing is not publicly listed. 
• Nation-wide coverage: Yes 

ProCompounding Pharmacy

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescriptions from telehealth clinicians.
• How to get a prescription issued: Find a healthcare provider to issue a prescription.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Pricing not publicly listed; determined per prescription.
• Nation-wide coverage: Yes

Empower Pharmacy

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescriptions from various telemedicine services; no specific named telehealth partner publicly listed.
• How to get a prescription issued: Find a healthcare provider to issue a prescription.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Pricing varies per prescription and is not publicly standardized.
• Nation-wide coverage: Yes.

Pure Pharmacy

• Telehealth platform partners: Accepts prescriptions from telehealth clinicians but no specific telehealth partner is publicly listed.
• How to get a prescription issued: Find a healthcare provider to issue a prescription.
• Price range of compounded dermatology meds: Pricing is provided once a prescription is received and varies by formulation.
• Nation-wide coverage: No. Ships to ~40 states 

FAQ about compounding medications and compounding pharmacies

What are compounded dermatology medications?

Compounded medications are prescription medications that are custom-prepared by a licensed pharmacy based on an individual prescriber’s determination that a patient may require a formulation that differs from commercially available products.

Compounding may involve:

• Customized formulations: Preparing medications with specific ingredients or strengths as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
• Combination preparations: Including more than one active ingredient in a single formulation, when prescribed.
• Alternative dosage forms: Preparing medications in forms such as creams, liquids, or lozenges when a patient cannot use a commercially available form.
• Availability considerations: Preparing medications when certain FDA-approved products are unavailable or discontinued.

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

Who may be considered for a compounded dermatology medication?

A licensed dermatologist may consider a compounded dermatology medication for patients who:

• Need a personalized formulation
  When a patient requires a specific combination of ingredients, strength, or dosage form that is not available in commercially manufactured medications.
• Are evaluated through an individual prescriber–patient relationship
  Including in-person or telehealth visits where the provider determines that a compounded medication is clinically appropriate for that patient.
• Require an alternative delivery format
  Such as a cream, gel, lotion, or solution chosen based on clinical needs, application preferences, or skin tolerance.
• Have sensitivities to certain inactive ingredients
  When a formulation needs to exclude dyes, fragrances, or other excipients commonly found in FDA-approved products.

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

Why do compounded pharmacies not have a price list available?

Compounded pharmacies typically do not offer a single, fixed price list because compounded medications are prepared on an individual, prescription-specific basis, rather than manufactured in standardized commercial batches.

Prices may vary depending on factors such as:

• Ingredients prescribed (type and number of active ingredients)
• Strengths and quantities ordered by the prescriber
• Dosage form (e.g., cream, capsule, solution)
• Preparation requirements, including formulation complexity and beyond-use dating
• Sourcing costs for pharmaceutical ingredients at the time of compounding

Because each prescription may differ, pharmacies generally calculate pricing after reviewing the specific prescription, rather than relying on a universal price list.

Important disclosure: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

Why is compounding not FDA approved?

Compounded medications are not FDA-approved because they are custom-made for individual patients and are not manufactured in bulk like commercial drugs. Here’s why:

• • Unique Formulations: Compounded medications are tailored based on a healthcare provider’s prescription to meet specific patient needs, such as changing a dosage, removing allergens, or combining multiple ingredients. These custom formulations are not standardized, so the FDA does not evaluate or approve each individual mixture.

• • Not Mass-Produced: FDA approval is a process designed for mass-produced drugs, which undergo extensive clinical trials and quality testing. Since compounded drugs are prepared in small batches or one at a time, they don’t go through this same process.

• • Regulated Differently: Instead of FDA approval, compounding pharmacies are regulated by state pharmacy boards and must follow USP (United States Pharmacopeia) guidelines. Some larger compounding facilities (called 503B outsourcing facilities) are subject to more oversight and inspections by the FDA but still do not receive formal “approval” of the compounded drugs they make.