What are ointments and creams?

Ointments are oily pasty topical preparations of the drug and a suitable base with an appropriate consistency. Commonly used base is divided into fat, water soluble and emulsion type base. Grease matrix is a strong hydrophobic material, such matrix is characterized by lubrication, non-irritating, applied to the skin can form a closed oil film, promote skin hydration, skin protection, softening effect, not easy to grow bacteria, suitable for epidermal thickening, keratinization, chapped and other chronic skin lesions and some early infectious skin diseases. However, due to its greasy and hydrophobic nature, resulting in poor drug water release, not suitable for exudation of the wound, not easy to wash with water, it is not suitable for skin damage with exudation, mainly for water unstable drugs, generally not used alone. In order to overcome its hydrophobicity, surfactants are often added, or made into emulsion matrix.
Cream is a semi-solid external preparation with a certain consistency made by uniformly mixing a drug with a suitable matrix. Commonly used matrix is divided into fat, water-soluble and emulsion type matrix, emulsion type matrix also known as cream. There are oil-in-water (O/W) creams and water-in-oil (W/O) creams, and most of the creams on the market are oil-in-water creams such as vaseline hand cream and bifonazole cream. These creams are easy to wash off, have the right consistency and are happy to use.