Happy allergy sufferers in a field of flowers doesn't tell the whole story about antihistamines

• White House action: President Trump on Tuesday ordered federal regulators to get tougher on misleading drug advertising.

• FDA warning blitz: The FDA is firing off thousands of letters to pharmaceutical companies demanding they fix or pull ads.

• TV ads in the crosshairs: Health officials want to close a loophole thats let drug commercials skim over side effects since the late 90s.

The government is turning up the heat on Big Pharmas marketing machine. President Trump signed an executive action directing the FDA to police drug advertising more aggressively, while the agency announced its sending out a flood of enforcement letters to drugmakers.

The crackdown wont stop at TV spots featuring happy couples strolling through meadows. Paid influencer campaigns on Instagram and TikTok, along with ads tied to telehealth providers, are also in regulators sights.

At issue is a long-standing FDA rule dating from 1997 that let drug companies list only the major side effects in broadcast ads and bury the rest online. That loophole fueled an explosion of prime-time drug ads many of them criticized for making risky drugs look like lifestyle enhancers. The administration now wants that practice ended.

The FDA said its starting with about 100 cease-and-desist letters, with thousands more warnings on the way. A sample letter released Tuesday ordered a company to yank noncompliant ads and warned that patients are not seeing a fair balance of a drugs benefits and risks.

Thats a big shift from recent years: in 2023 the FDA sent just one such letter, and in 2024 it sent none.

Were going to be tough on this, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told The Wall Street Journal. Drug companies spend 20% to 25% of their budgets on marketing and ads. Id like them to spend that money on lowering drug prices for everyday Americans.

The industry, not surprisingly, disagrees. Alex Schriver, a spokesman for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, defended drug advertising as a public service: Direct-to-consumer advertising helps patients make informed decisions about their health care and treatment options.

What it means for you

If this crackdown sticks, expect drug ads to look and sound different. That cheery voiceover might soon spend more time spelling out side effects and less time promising a brighter tomorrow. Social media influencers plugging prescriptions could face tougher scrutiny, too. In short: those fast-talking disclaimers may finally have to slow down and be a bit more straightforward.

What's wrong with the ads?

There are several significant objections to direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising:

Medical and Safety Concerns Critics argue that these ads can lead patients to self-diagnose or pressure doctors to prescribe specific medications that may not be appropriate for their condition. This can interfere with the clinical judgment process and potentially lead to inappropriate prescribing or overmedication.

Incomplete Information While DTC ads are required to include risk information, critics contend that the format and time constraints of advertisements don't allow for comprehensive discussion of side effects, drug interactions, or alternative treatments. The brief mention of risks in rapid-fire disclaimers may not adequately inform patients.

Cost and Healthcare Access Heavily advertised drugs are often newer, brand-name medications that are more expensive than generic alternatives or established treatments. This can drive up healthcare costs and create pressure for insurers to cover costly drugs that patients specifically request.

Relationship with Healthcare Providers Some physicians report that DTC advertising complicates patient interactions, as they must spend time explaining why an advertised drug might not be suitable, rather than focusing on optimal treatment options. This can strain the doctor-patient relationship and consultation time.

Disease Mongering Critics argue that some DTC ads promote "disease mongering" - turning normal life experiences or mild conditions into medical problems requiring pharmaceutical intervention, potentially medicalizing aspects of normal human experience.

Global Perspective The United States and New Zealand are the only developed countries that allow DTC pharmaceutical advertising, with most other nations viewing it as inappropriate for public health reasons.

Prices are the pump are already lower than they were last year

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Global oil prices are projected to decline sharply, with Brent crude expected to average $59/bbl in late 2025 and $50/bbl in early 2026, driven by strong inventory builds.

• U.S. gasoline prices are forecast to fall, averaging $3.10/gal in 2025 and dropping to $2.90/gal in 2026, with most regions paying below $3/gal.

• Gasoline expenditures as a share of disposable income will reach their lowest level since at least 2005 (excluding 2020), easing financial pressure on U.S. households.

As the price of nearly everything has seemed to rise, gasoline prices have been a bright spot for consumers. Gas costs less than it did a year ago, and the U.S. The Energy Information Administration expects that trend to continue, with motorists seeing relief at the pump over the next 18 months.

In its September 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook, the agency projects that average U.S. gasoline prices will slide from about $3.10 per gallon this year to $2.90 per gallon in 2026.

The decline reflects steep drops in crude oil prices. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is forecast to fall from $68 per barrel in August to $59 in the final quarter of 2025, before dipping to around $50 early next year.

Rising output from OPEC+ members and other major producers like the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Guyana is pushing inventories to levels not seen in years.

GasBuddy counts 17 states with average prices below $3 per gallon fewer than weve seen in recent months, Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, said in the companys blog. However, with the transition back to winter gasoline just a week away for most areas, those increases may be short-lived, with potential relief arriving toward the end of the month. Additionally, OPEC+ announced an increase in oil production starting in October, which could help keep oil prices lower for longer.

Lowest gas costs in decades

With fuel prices trending lower, American households are expected to spend a historically small share of their income on gasoline. The EIA estimates that gasoline expenditures will fall below 2% of disposable personal income this yearthe lowest level since at least 2005, outside of the pandemic-driven collapse in 2020.

That shift could free up billions of dollars in consumer spending for other goods and services. The decline in gasoline costs comes on top of steady growth in disposable incomes, which have risen by about 4% annually since 2022.

Demand will likely increase

For the first time in several outlooks, the EIA now expects U.S. gasoline consumption to tick up in 2026. The reversal is driven partly by a larger-than-expected working-age population and the stimulative effect of lower prices. Vehicle miles traveled are projected to rise 0.7% next year, translating into a 0.3% increase in fuel use.

Although gasoline demand in the U.S. has been relatively inelastic historically, the EIA estimates that the scale of the expected price decline will modestly boost consumption.

Sixteen products added to the recall because they may contain microbial contamination

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• DermaRite Industries has expanded its July 16 recall to include additional lots and products due to potential contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex.

• The contaminated products may cause serious, life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, while healthy users may face localized skin infections.

• The recall covers a wide range of moisturizing, antiseptic, antifungal, skin protectant, and hand hygiene products (e.g., 4-N-1, DermaCerin, Gel Rite, Lantiseptic, Renew line, and others) distributed across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

DermaRite Industries is expanding its recall of some of its moisturizing and antiseptic skin products, initiated on July 16, due to potential microbial contamination identified as Burkholderia cepacia complex. The recall has expanded to include additional products and lots.

Burkholderia cepacia complex in these products may result in serious and life-threatening infections if the products are used by immunosuppressed individuals or by people attending to immunosuppressed individuals.

For healthy individuals with minor skin lesions, the use of the product may result in local infections, whereas in immunocompromised individuals the infection could spread into the blood stream, potentially leading to life-threatening sepsis.

The recalled products

The products included in this expanded voluntary recall include:

• 4-N-1 is a no-rinse wash cream intended to temporarily protect and help relieve chafed or cracked skin

• DermaCerin is a skin protectant moisturizing cream indicated to temporarily protect and help relieve dry, chapped, or cracked skin. It also helps protect skin from the drying effects of wind and cold weather.

• DermaFungal is an OTC antifungal cream intended for the treatment and prevention of most athletes foot, jock itch, and ringworm. It relieves itching, scaling, cracking, and discomfort associated with these conditions.

• DermaKleen is an OTC healthcare antiseptic lotion soap with Vitamin E indicated for handwashing to decrease bacteria on the skin.

• DermaMed is an OTC skin protectant intended to dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, oak, or sumac, or other skin irritations.

• DermaSarra is an OTC external analgesic indicated for temporary relief of itching associated with minor skin irritations due to dry skin, insect bites, detergents, or sunburn.

• Gel Rite is an OTC instant gel hand sanitizer with vitamin E used to decrease bacteria on the skin. It is recommended for repeated use.

• Hand E Foam is an OTC foaming hand sanitizer with vitamin E used for handwashing to decrease bacteria on the skin. It is recommended for repeated use.

• KleenFoam is an OTC antimicrobial foam soap with Aloe Vera indicated for handwashing to decrease bacteria on the skin after changing diapers, after assisting ill people, or before contact with a person under medical care or treatment.

• Lantiseptic is an OTC skin protectant indicated to temporarily protect minor cuts, scrapes and burns. It helps prevent and temporarily protect chapped or cracked skin.

• PeriGiene is an OTC antiseptic cleanser indicated for use in the perineal area.

• PeriGuard is an OTC skin protectant indicated to help relieve and prevent rashes and irritation due to wetness from incontinence. It also protects chafed skin due to irritation and helps seal out wetness.

• Renew Dimethicone is an OTC skin protectant indicated to help treat and prevent diaper rash, protect minor skin irritations associated with diaper rash, and helps seal out wetness.

• Renew Periprotect is an OTC skin protectant indicated to help treat and prevent diaper rash, protect minor skin irritation associated with diaper rash, and helps seal out wetness.

• Renew Skin Repair is an OTC Skin cream indicated to temporarily protect and help relieve chapped or cracked skin. It is beneficial for face, hands, body and legs.

• UltraSure is an OTC anti-perspirant & deodorant indicated to reduce underarm wetness.

What to do

The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico.

DermaRite has notified its distributors and customers by e-mail to immediately examine available inventory and destroy all affected products in accordance with each facilitys process.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can call Sedgwick at 888-943-5190 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm EDT or email dermarite5186@sedgwick.com.

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product or have questions about whether the product was used in their healthcare facility.

Findings from a recent study show how dormant oral bacteria may provide a significant health risk

• Findings from a recent study found that bacteria from the mouth can hide inside artery plaque for years without causing problems.

• When these bacteria wake up, they can trigger swelling and weaken the plaque.

• This weakening can cause the plaque to burst, leading to a blood clot and possibly a heart attack.

Youve probably heard that high cholesterol is the main villain behind heart attacks.

New research, however, suggests an intriguing twist: some heart attacks may actually be set off by bacterial troublemakers hiding in your walls.

Scientists from Finland and the U.K. discovered that certain oral bacteria, nestled inside artery plaques, might stay silent for years only to awaken and launch an inflammatory attack when triggered.

Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direct and convincing evidence has been lacking. Our study demonstrated the presence of genetic material DNA from several oral bacteria inside atherosclerotic plaques, researcher Pekka Karhunen said in a news release.

The study

What did researchers do to uncover this surprising connection?

To figure this out, the scientists looked at plaque samples from people who had died suddenly from heart problems, as well as from patients having surgery to clear blocked arteries. They searched for traces of bacteria especially a common type found in the mouth called streptococci by testing the genetic material inside the plaque.

The findings

The researchers discovered that bacteria from the mouth were hiding in almost half of the artery plaque samples they tested.

These bacteria werent scattered randomly they were sitting in slimy clusters called biofilms. While the biofilms were intact, the bodys immune system mostly ignored them, so they didnt cause much trouble.

But in plaques that had ruptured the kind that can trigger a heart attack the story looked very different. Here, the bacteria had broken free from their hiding spots. Once released, they seemed to wake up the bodys defense system, setting off inflammation that made the plaque cap weaker.

A weak cap is more likely to tear, which can cause a clot to form and block blood flow to the heart.

For everyday people, the takeaway is that heart health may not only be about cholesterol and diet it might also have something to do with hidden bacteria. The research is still early, but it opens the door to new ideas for preventing heart attacks, such as ways to spot these bacteria in advance or treatments that stop them from causing damage.