Recently Asked Questions

Alcohol-free hand sanitizers are not available in NHG Pharmacy. You may wish to contact the hospital or retail pharmacies to enquire on its availability. Hand sanitizers with alcohol can be drying to chapped skin in your hands. However, alcohol-free hand sanitizers with a moisturizing base may not be effective in killing viruses.

Do note that washing your hands is more effective than using hand sanitizers. Washing your hands help prevent illness by removing harmful bacteria and viruses. However, frequent hand washing can lead to dry skin as well.

Hence, if you have dry skin, you may wish to

-          Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in lukewarm water. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleansers to wash your hand. Avoid applying too much soap/cleanser as thick lather may wash away natural oils.

-          Dry your hands with a clean towel but leave some water on your hands

-          Apply moisturizer to your skin, including your fingertips and nails

-          When you are using a hand sanitizer, it is advisable to apply your moisturizer immediately after the hand sanitizer dries.

-          Keep your fingernails short to prevent dirt and germs from collecting. It is also to prevent skin tears when itching.

Moisturizer used should be free of dyes, fragrance and other possible irritants to prevent worsening of itch and dryness of the skin such as aqueous cream and emulsifying ointment. These are available in NHG Pharmacy. You may purchase it over the counter in the retail pharmacy.

However, if your hands still itch, you may consider mild steroid creams to reduce itch. Oral antihistamines can be taken to reduce the itch as well. Both these medications are available in NHG Pharmacy. You may purchase it from the retail pharmacies after consultation with a pharmacist.

Dry skin and itch may be due to an allergic reaction, skin disorders such as eczema or psoriasis or other skin conditions. Hence if the dry itchy skin does not get better, or worsens over time, it is advisable to consult a doctor for a review of your skin condition and for appropriate treatment and advice.

Tinea corporis refers to a fungal infection on the skin that can be seen anywhere on the body except the scalp, beard, feet, or hands. This is also known as a ringworm infection.

Signs and symptoms of this condition may include:

• A ring-shaped area on the skin that is slightly elevated
• A clear or scaly area inside the ring, possibly with red bumps within the ring
• Itchiness at the affected area
• Slightly raised rings that are becoming bigger
• Overlapping rings

Antifungal body washes are not commonly used in tinea corporis. Over-the-counter antifungal creams (such as Clotrimazole 1% cream and Miconazole 2% cream) are usually used to treat fungal infections such as tinea corporis.

The antifungal cream has to be applied on the affected area twice a day. Continue the treatment for at least one to two weeks after the symptoms have resolved. This is to make sure that the fungal infection is cleared effectively, and to prevent the infection from returning or getting worse.

As I would not be able to assess the severity and extent of your condition, you may wish to speak to a pharmacist or doctor first to assess if the use of these antifungal medicines is suitable for you before purchasing it.

Please see a doctor if:

• A large area of the body is affected, or
• There is no improvement with the use of over-the-counter antifungal creams within two weeks.

You may refer to our website to find tips on how to prevent fungal infections from occurring.

You may use Seretide Evohaler according to what the doctor has prescribed for you, either once or twice a day.

If you have been advised to use the Evohaler twice a day daily, it is recommended to use the second dose 12 hours after the first dose. This is to ensure that the effect of the medicine lasts for the whole day.

You may consider the use of ear cleaning drops such as olive oil ear drop or Audiclean ear wax remover solution to soften the ear wax. Do not try to dig out the earwax using items such as a cotton bud, as you may push the wax further in and injure the ear.

Audiclean ear wax remover solution is available on our website here as well.

Please take note that Audiclean ear wax removal solution is not suitable for use in children under 3 years old.

If the symptoms do not improve after a few treatments or the ear starts to hurt, please consult a doctor instead.

Diben drink is suitable for use in people with diabetes. It has low Glycemic Index (GI) to help with diabetes management. Low GI means that the product is slowly digested and absorbed in the body, and thus causes a lower and slower rise in blood sugar levels.

Headaches have been reported as a side effect in patients who have used Avamys Nasal Spray. However, headaches may also be caused by other reasons as well. As I am not able to assess the cause for your headaches, you may consult a doctor, especially if the headache is bothering you or if it does not go away. It is important to find out the underlying cause and get appropriate treatment and advice accordingly.

If you consider the headache to be mild or occasional, you may also refer to this link for tips to relieve and prevent mild headaches.

Vitamin C does not reverse signs of aging such as wrinkles, which develop naturally over time. However, it can help to protect the skin against damage caused by sun exposure. Studies have also found that Vitamin C helps to produce collagen, which helps to keep skin supple and smooth.

Vitamin C tends to break down quickly once it is exposed to heat, air and light. Therefore, it is usually manufactured in serum form, which the skin can absorb more efficiently. Ingredients such as Vitamin E and ferulic acid also help Vitamin C to work better.

Products which contain 8% of Vitamin C or more are usually more effective. However, do note that higher concentrations above 20% may cause skin irritation and should be used with caution.

A prescription from a Singapore registered doctor is required for the purchase of this medicine. If you do not have a valid prescription, you may wish to contact your doctor for a review of your medical condition and to refill your medication.

There are different strengths of Seretide Evohaler such as 25/ 50, 25/125 and 25/250 that are available in NHG Pharmacy.

Do note that a valid prescription is required for the purchase of this medication.

If you have a valid prescription, you may fill the prescription in the Polyclinic pharmacy.

If you do not have a valid prescription, you may wish to consult your doctor for a review of your medical conditions and refill your medications.

21^st Century Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc + D3 contains calcium in the form of calcium carbonate.