Ointments, creams, and lotions are topical semi-solid preparations used to apply active ingredients to the skin. Ointments have a high oil and low water content which allows them to occlude the skin and promote absorption of active ingredients. Creams have a higher water content and are more easily absorbed and spreadable. Lotions have the lowest oil and highest water content, making them lightweight and non-greasy. Ointments are best for dry skin conditions while creams and lotions are better for larger areas or weeping lesions due to being less occlusive and greasy.

1. OINTMENTS, CREAMS AND
LOTIONS

2.  Ointments are homogenous, translucent, viscous, semi
solid preparation intended for external application to skin
or mucous membranes. Ointment may be medicated or
not.
British Pharmacopoeia (BP) definition
 Ointments are formulated to provide preparations that
are immiscible, miscible or emulsifiable with the skin
secretion.
 “Ointments are preparations for external application but
differ from creams in that they have greasy bases.The
base is usually anhydrous and therefore most ointments
are immiscible with skin secretions. Ointments usually
contain a medicament or a mixture of medicaments
dissolved or dispersed in the base.”

3.  Uses
 Emollient
 Application for active ingredients to the skin
 Occlusive
 Ointment Bases
• Oleaginous Bases
• Absorption Bases
• Water-Removable Bases
• Water-Soluble Bases

4.  When is it best to use an
ointment? Ointments are best used on dry
skin.They are ‘occlusive,’ which means they
trap moisture and are not well absorbed into
the skin.Thus, they are able to keep the skin
moist for longer periods of time. Ointments
also promote more complete absorption of
the active ingredient or medication. Because
of preservatives used in creams, ointments
are less likely to cause an allergic reaction

5.  Viscous semi solid emulsion with opaque
appearance.
 Consistency depends on whether the cream is
W/O or O/W.
Definition (B.P):
 Creams are formulated to provide preparations
that are essentially miscible with the skin
secretion.
 They are intended to be applied to the skin or
certain mucous membranes for protective,
therapeutic or prophylactic purposes, especially
where an occlusive effect is not necessary.

6.  Viscous semi solid emulsion with opaque
appearance.
 Consistency depends on whether the cream is
W/O or O/W.
Definition (B.P):
 Creams are formulated to provide preparations
that are essentially miscible with the skin
secretion.
 They are intended to be applied to the skin or
certain mucous membranes for protective,
therapeutic or prophylactic purposes, especially
where an occlusive effect is not necessary.

7.  w/o oily creams ( as cold cream):
Emulgents: natural origin e.g., bees wax, wool
alcohols, wool fat used as emollient.
 o/w aquous creams (as vanishing cream):
Emulgents: synthetic waxes e.g., macrogols,
cetomacrogols used here rapid penetration of
drugs required.
 O/W creams are elegant drug delivery
system

8.  When is it best to use a cream? In general,
people prefer using creams to ointments since
they are less sticky and heavy on the skin. Even
though we think of creams as being
moisturizing, given their higher water content
and the evaporation that occurs following
application, creams are better than ointments
for treating oozing or “wet” skin conditions.
Since the viscosity (thickness) of creams is less
than that of ointments, they also work better for
covering large areas of skin.

9.  Lotion are not defined specially in the USP
 but a broad definition describes then as either
liquid or semi liquid preparations that contains
one or more active ingredients in an appropriate
vehicle.
 Lotions may contains antimicrobial
preservatives and other appropriate excipients
such as stabilizers, Lotions are intended to be
applied to the un-broken skin without friction.
 Lotions are usually suspension of solids in an
aqueous medium, Some lotions are, in fact,
emulsions or solutions.

10. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Definition single-phase basis
in which solids or
liquids may be
dispersed
Multiphase
Preparations
consisting of a
lipophilic phase and
an aqueous phase
either liquid or semi
liquid preparations
that contains one
or more active
ingredients in an
appropriate vehicle.
Types Ointment Bases
Oleaginous
Bases
•Absorption
Bases
•Water-
Removable
Bases
•Water-
Soluble Bases
w/o oily creams
( as cold cream):
Emulgents: natural
origin e.g., bees
wax, wool alcohols,
wool fat used as
emollient.
Lotions are
emulsions or
suspensions
generally in an
aqueous vehicle,
although certain
solutions have been
designated
as lotions because
of either their
appearance or
application

11. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Types o/w aqueous
creams (as
vanishing cream):
Emulgents:
synthetic waxes
e.g., macrogols,
cetomacrogols
used here rapid
penetration of
drugs required.
O/W creams are
elegant drug
delivery system
Examples Lidocaine Ointment
Gentamicin Sulfate
Ointment
Tretinoin Cream
Capsaicin Cream
Aveeno Skin Relief
Moisturizing Lotion
, Cetaphil
Moisturizing Lotion

12. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Appearance Opaque Relatively Soft
spreadable
Translucent
light-weight,
non-greasy
Viscosity Exhibits very
high viscosity value
s at low shear rates
and
decreasing viscosity
values as the shear
rate increases
viscosity of cream
is increased by
lowering the
temperature and by
increasing the fat
content.
Not truly viscous,
exhibiting
thixotropic
properties. With
age, the body of
cream increases
rapidly for a few
hours and more
slowly for 48 hours.
Agitation reduces
the viscosity.
low-Viscosity
due to lower water
content

13. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Absorption and
Spreading ability
•Not easily
absorbed
•Low Spreading
ability
•ointment will
remain on the skin
longer and take a
longer time to
absorb
 Quickly
absorbed by the
skin
 High Spreading
ability
 may work
better on larger
areas of the skin
because of their
"spreadability"
factor,
compared to
ointments.
•readily applied to
skin Historically,
lotions also had an
advantage in that
they may be spread
thinly compared to
a cream or
ointment and may
economically cover
a large area of skin
Stability on skin Stay longer on the
surface
Stay short time on
the surface
Long term stability

14. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Conc.of oil and
water
Have a higher
concentration of
oil
80 percent oil and
20 percent water.
blend of oil and
water, but with a
higher oil
concentration (a
50-50 ratio of
water and oil)
Have a lower
concentration of
oil than
ointment
Higher water
content
Greasiness More greasy Less greasy non-greasy

15. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Benefits Ointments are used
as moisturizers—
normally a
combination of 80
percent oil and 20
percent water.This
combination locks
in moisture more
effectively than
creams and lotions,
which are normally
made with more
water.
Like lotion, body
cream is used to
treat and prevent
dry, cracked skin
while keeping it
supple and
moisturized.
Because it provides
a barrier that
provides ultra-
hydration, it’s best
for dry to
excessively dry skin
and for normal skin
during the harsher
winter months.
Because body
lotion is more
readily absorbed by
the skin – due to its
lower viscosity than
cream – it’s
excellent for
normal to slightly
dry skin. It leaves a
less greasy residue
than cream and is
ideal for use during
the day and in hot
summer months.

16. Characteristics Ointments Creams Lotion
Uses used to treat a
variety of skin
conditions (e.g.,
eczema,
dermatitis,
allergies, rash
insect bites,
poison oak/ivy,
eczema,
dermatitis,
allergies, rash,
itching of the
outer female
genitals, anal
itching)
used as a
moisturizer to
treat or prevent
dry, rough, scaly,
itchy skin and
minor skin
irritations (e.g.,
diaper rash, skin
burns from
radiation therapy)

17.  Here are some guidelines for deciding when to use an ointment
and when to use a cream:
 Creams are best when covering large areas of the skin or to avoid
the greasiness associated with an ointment.
 Wet or “weeping” skin lesions, such as eczema or poison ivy, are
best treated with a cream (or gel).
 Ointments are best when treating dry skin conditions, such as
psoriasis.
 Ointments allow greater penetration of the active ingredient in
the topical medication, whether it is an antibiotic, steroid, or anti-
fungal medication.
 The best moisturizers are in ointment form.
 Ointments may be better to use on sensitive skin since many
creams are manufactured with sensitizing preservatives.

18.  https://www.kleinmd.com/blog/moisturizing-101-cream-vs-lotion
 https://healthfully.com/advantages-disadvantages-ointments-6069390.html
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030233933111
 Remington,Joseph Price (2006), Beringer, Paul (ed.), Remington:The
Science And PracticeOf Pharmacy (21st ed.), LippincottWilliams &Wilkins,
p. 772, ISBN 978-0781746731.
 ^ McDonald, Michel (July 2009). "What'sThe Difference Between An
Ointment, A Cream And A Lotion?". ABC News. Retrieved 2January 2016.
 https://www.rdmag.com/article/2017/07/how-characterize-ointment-
flow-behavior
 "Hand Dermatitis in Health CareWorkers" (PDF). Washington State
Department of Labor and Industries. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
 https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-61621/body-lotion-
topical/details
 https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-150643/desowen-ointment-and-
lotion-topical/details

19.  https://www.scribd.com/doc/89888864/Exam
ples-of-Medicated-Ointment
 Remington:The Science and Practice of
Pharmacy
British Pharmacopeia (BP)
 United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
 https://www.edocamerica.com/health-
tips/creams-and-ointments-whats-the-
difference-which-is-best/