SDPA: Strategic Supplement Strategies for the Derm PA
Sara Wilchowski, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, presented “Strategic Supplement Strategies for the Derm PA” at SDPA’s 22nd Annual Fall Dermatology Conference in Las Vegas. The lecture explored the role of nutraceuticals and alternative medicines in supporting patients in their overall wellness journey.
“Get your patients well—note that word. I didn’t say better,” was a take-home message Wilchowski wanted attendees to understand. She spoke to attendees about how these supplements can be integrated into almost any treatment regimen to enhance patient outcomes.
Supplements can be used to downregulate inflammatory cytokines and for diverse therapeutic benefits. Some of the supplements she spoke about were turmeric, magnesium, and vitamins such as K2.
There is an opportunity for nutraceuticals and alternative medicines to have a positive impact on a patient’s wellness journey, and for that reason it’s important for providers to be knowledgeable on the topic and what products are available. It’s something she calls the “devil in the details.”
“You need to have a good understanding of the patient, their dynamics, and what their disease is in order to fully understand what is going to be the best nutraceutical to support their inflammation or their inflammatory pathway,” Wilchowski told Practical Dermatology.
Wilchowski noted it’s important to understand the suggested dosing and emphasized the importance of selecting high-quality products to ensure safety and efficacy.
But ultimately, she reminded participants, “You can’t supplement your way out of a poor diet and lifestyle.”
At the conclusion of the session, participants learned how to provide foundational knowledge on nutrition and dietary practices to improve patient care through an integrated wholistic approach, integrate non-prescription solutions into treatment plans for diverse health conditions to optimize patient outcomes, and understand the complexities and intricacies of the immune system and how alternative options can aid in downregulating inflammation and deprescribe.