DewRx: Custom Skin Topicals

Custom topical skincare is a prescription cream made by a licensed pharmacy for one specific patient. Think of it as a personalized skincare routine. Instead of a standard tube in a fixed strength you buy from the store, your provider chooses the active ingredients (like tretinoin, hydroquinone, or azelaic acid) and the strength of each, based on your skin, history, and goals. A pharmacist then mixes them into a single formula. Federal law requires compounded drugs to be made from a valid, patient-specific prescription, so no two formulas are mass-produced.

No. FDA doesn’t approve compounded drugs, which means it doesn’t review their safety, effectiveness, or quality before they’re dispensed. What’s regulated are the ingredients. Under FDA rules, a pharmacy can only compound with ingredients that meet official USP standards, are part of an FDA-approved drug, or are on FDA’s approved list of bulk substances. The ingredients in your formula are the same active ingredients found in FDA-approved prescription products. Your dermatology provider prescribes them, and a licensed pharmacy makes your formula.

For many concerns, prescription strength makes the difference. For example:

• Hydroquinone. It’s been prescription-only in the U.S. since 2020, when all over-the-counter hydroquinone products had to come off the market. Drugstore “dark spot” products have since switched to milder ingredients like kojic acid and niacinamide.
• Retinoids. Retinol has to be converted by your skin into retinoic acid, which is what tretinoin already is. A clinical review puts over the counter retinol at about 20 times less potent than tretinoin.
• One formula. Custom formulas combine several prescription actives in one nightly step, adjusted for your skin.

That said, store-bought products work well for mild concerns and sensitive skin, but don’t often take into consideration the severity, sensitivities and history of your skin and the skin condition. Your provider will tell you if you don’t need a prescription.

Your Honeydew DewRx Custom Topical is $45/month, billed as $90 every 2 months. It includes your medication, free first consult (optional), unlimited messaging with your care team, formula adjustments, and shipping to your home. Your formula is HSA/FSA eligible.

Yes. Your skin changes, and your formula should too. Send progress photos and message your care team anytime. Your provider can raise or lower a strength as your skin adjusts, swap an ingredient that’s irritating you, or add an active for a new concern. Ingredient adjustments are included in your membership.

Usually not. Most insurance plans don’t cover compounded prescriptions, so your custom formula is typically an out-of-pocket cost. You can pay for it with HSA or FSA funds. If a standard, commercially available prescription would work just as well for you, your Honeydew provider can prescribe that instead and send it to your insurance.

Honeydew’s differences:

• Wider prescription range. Honeydew formulas can include prescription hydroquinone and tranexamic acid for pigmentation, which can be a game changer for treating dark spots and melasma.
• Full dermatology care in one membership. Custom formulas are one piece of your care. If your skin is not responding to treatment or you have another dermatological concern, Honeydew providers can expand your treatment to include other treatments like Accutane, spironolactone, and biologics like Dupixent for eczema and psoriasis.

Your formula is made by a licensed compounding pharmacy in your region, from the prescription your Honeydew provider writes. Compounding pharmacies are licensed and overseen by state boards of pharmacy. Each formula is made for you alone, labeled as a compounded drug as federal rules require, and shipped to your door.