Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams 

Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams

The pharmaceutical formulations are designed in such a way that they are capable of transporting the active components or pharmaceuticals to the area that needs treatment in order to produce the desired therapeutic effects. Ointments are one example of this type of application method. It is a formulation that can be used topically, which means it may be spread over the skin. It contains medicinal chemicals. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the several stages involved in the production of ointment as well as its various uses for it. Continue reading to learn the definition of the process of creating ointments that is used in the pharmaceutical business, as well as a description of the procedure.
 

What Are Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams?

An ointment is a skin-applyable oil-based topical preparation with a semi-solid consistency and a greasy look. The medicinal ingredients are distributed throughout the medium in the manner of an ointment. Typically, the medium contains 80% oil and 20% water. As is clear from the description, a thick suspension is prepared by uniformly combining the water and oil mediums.

This composition has been created such that it can produce a viscous, thick application. An ointment preparation's viscosity guarantees that the medications contained in it will be adequately absorbed by the skin. In actuality, infections may be treated using ointments. Ointment applications provide substantially higher availability of medicinal ingredients and are ideal for skin conditions.

According to the technical ointment definition, there is a set number that represents the proportion of water in each individual mixture. The term "water number" describes this value. The formulation's viscosity is another factor that determines the emollition level. The greater the quantity of water, the greater its ability to disperse and be absorbed. Even so, it's made viscous for certain uses. If you look closely, you'll see that creams include more water than ointments do in their formulation.

A cream is a topical treatment designed for use on the skin. Creams are also used to apply to the rectum and vaginal mucous membranes. As even cosmetic creams are founded on pharmacy-developed processes, and even unmedicated creams are widely utilised for a wide range of skin diseases, they may be called pharmaceutical items (dermatoses). How much topical cream is needed to cover various locations may be estimated using the finger-tip unit idea.

Creams are water and oil emulsions that are semi-solid. They may be further classified into two categories: creams that include small droplets of oil scattered in a consistent water phase (O/W) and creams that contain small droplets of water dispersed in a persistent oily phase (W/O). Because oil-in-water creams are less oily and easier to remove with water, they are more pleasant and aesthetically acceptable. Although water-in-oil creams are more challenging to work with than oil-in-water creams, many medications added to creams are hydrophobic and will release more easily from the former. Water-in-oil creams are also more hydrating because they create an oily barrier that slows the loss of moisture from the stratum corneum, the skin's epithelial tissue.

Here, you can see that the only distinction between a cream and an ointment is that both can be used topically or medicinally. The proportion of oil to water is the main distinction between the two. Ointments have an oil content of roughly 80% compared to a cream's equal measures of water and oil.

One key distinction is the rate of absorption. As a result of their high water content, creams are quickly absorbed, allowing them to cover a vast area of skin. Due to their oil content, they also remain on the skin's surface to protect against moisture loss, making them useful in the treatment of dry skin, rashes, or skin lesions. Ointments, on the other hand, have the highest oil content of any skin care product. Because they don't get absorbed immediately away, your skin is better protected from moisture loss and environmental factors like dry air and wind. Ointments typically contain mineral oil, petroleum, or both.

The two goods also look very different from one another. Creams have a high oil-to-water content, making them thick enough to be easily dispensed from a tube or scooped out of a jar without melting. Opacified and thick, creams were classified as such in a 2005 research that compiled comprehensive, evidence-based categorizations of topical medications. Opaque or see-through ointments exist. Ointments have the same excellent form retention as creams.
 

Types of Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams

The following are the four primary categories of ointments:

• Hydrocarbon-base: Hydrocarbon-based bases that aid in medicine absorption by keeping them in close contact with the skin.
   
• Absorption bases: Some medications benefit from absorption bases, which are comprised of water-based solutions that improve drug absorption and can also be used to moisturise the skin.
   
• Water-removable base: Oil-in-water emulsions including petrolatum are known as water-removable bases, and they are more frequently employed for cosmetic purposes since they can be removed from the skin with water.
   
• Water-soluble: Bases that are water-soluble and solely include other compounds that are water-soluble.
   

One or more pharmacological sub-substances are dissolved or dispersed in an appropriate w/o or o/w emulsion basis to create a cream, which is a semisolid dosage form. Creams are more liquid than other semisolid dose forms like ointments and pastes. The light-scattering phases, such as oil globules, give creams their characteristic white, creamy colour and texture. This is in contrast to regular ointments, which are transparent.

Emollient and cleaning action is provided by w/o emulsions, whereas o/w emulsions are beneficial as water-washable basis for creams. A high-water-content o/w cream, or disappearing cream, is a kind of o/w cream, as previously explained. When you rub this cream into your skin, the water-soluble medicine becomes more concentrated in the oily film that sticks to your skin because the external/continuous aqueous phase evaporates. By heightening the drug's concentration gradient across the stratum corneum, percutaneous absorption is enhanced.

Creams that are not based on emulsions, such as cold cream, are effective as agents that soften the skin as well as clean it. The name "cold cream" comes from the calming effect that is produced by the gradual loss of the dispersed aqueous phase throughout the manufacturing process. It is common practise to include fragrances in a cold cream, which also serves the purpose of removing makeup.
 

Benefits of Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams

Here are some of the benefits pharmaceutical ointments & creams

• Patients often have difficulty taking medications orally. People have varying degrees of difficulty swallowing medicines; some run the danger of throwing up, while others have a much harder time. Rejection of an orally taken medicine diminishes the treatment's efficacy, which might result in the condition's prolongation if it isn't treated. Babies and young toddlers who are not accustomed to taking pills often have this issue.
   
• Abuse of pills and needles is common because they are so convenient. The misuse of pain relievers is a particularly typical example of patient drug abuse. Addiction is a possible outcome of substance usage. The danger of misuse is significantly reduced when drugs are applied topically, such as in the form of ointments or creams. As a bonus to their usefulness in treating and preventing various conditions, topical drugs also reduce the likelihood of patients abusing them.
   
• Almost everybody is terrified of at least one thing. Few individuals experience anxiety when it comes to putting ointment on their skin, in contrast to other medical procedures such as getting injections or swallowing pills. Because of this, medical professionals discover that it is simpler to persuade their patients to take their medication when the medication is administered via a topical drug delivery system.
   
• Medical treatments were frequently given through injection in the past, causing hospitals to reach capacity. These days, if your illness or injury isn't life-threatening, you may visit a hospital, be treated, and go home with some over-the-counter medicine. Both the hospital and the patient's medical bills are reduced as a result, freeing up space for more critical patients.
   

How Do Pharmaceutical Creams & Ointments Work?

Ointments used in the pharmaceutical industry are topical preparations that deliver drugs directly to the afflicted areas. Medicines are transported in the emulsifying bases. Medications are made in a water-in-oil basis for improved and more convenient application.
 

FAQs: Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams

Q. What are some examples of pharmaceutical ointments?

Ans: Some well-known examples are Neosporin and Polysporin, amongst others.

Q. What are the different types of pharmaceutical creams?

Ans: Creams can be categorised as either oil-in-water (O/W) creams, in which the oil is disseminated in a continuous water phase, or water-in-oil (W/O) creams, in which the water is scattered in an oily phase.

Q. What is the difference between ointments and creams?

Ans: The proportion of oil to water that each one contains is the primary distinction between the two. Ointments, on the other hand, typically contain about 80 percent oil, in contrast to creams which contain both oil and water in equal parts.

Q. Where to buy ointments and creams in bulks?

Ans: To purchase in large quantities, simply visit any pharmacy in your area. To take advantage of the wholesale pricing, you can search for a store in your area that carries the brand in question. It's also available for purchase from several online retailers.