skin.

Creams for application to mucous membranes such as those of the rectum or

vagina are also used. Creams may be considered pharmaceutical products as even
cosmetic creams are based on techniques developed by pharmacy and unmedicated
creams are highly used in a variety of skin conditions (dermatoses). The use of the
finger tip unit concept may be helpful in guiding how much topical cream is
required to cover different areas.

Creams are semi-solid emulsions of oil and water. They are divided into two types:
oil-in-water (O/W) creams which are composed of small droplets of oil dispersed in
a continuous water phase, and water-in-oil (W/O) creams which are composed of small
droplets of water dispersed in a continuous oily phase. Oil-in-water creams are
more comfortable and cosmetically acceptable as they are less greasy and more
easily washed off using water. Water-in-oil creams are more difficult to handle but
many drugs which are incorporated into creams are hydrophobic and will be released
more readily from a water-in-oil cream than an oil-in-water cream. Water-in-oil
creams are also more moisturising as they provide an oily barrier which reduces
water loss from the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin.
Contents

1 Uses
2 Composition
3 Topical medication forms
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Uses

The provision of a barrier to protect the skin

This may be a physical barrier or a chemical barrier as with sunscreens
To aid in the retention of moisture (especially water-in-oil creams)
Cleansing
Emollient effects
As a vehicle for drug substances such as local anaesthetics, anti-
inflammatories (NSAIDs or corticosteroids), hormones, antibiotics, antifungals or
counter-irritants.

Creams are semisolid dosage forms containing more than 20% water or volatile
components and typically less than 50% hydrocarbons, waxes, or polyols as vehicles.
[1] They may also contain one or more drug substances dissolved or dispersed in a
suitable cream base. This term has traditionally been applied to semisolids that
possess a relatively fluid consistency formulated as either water-in-oil (e.g.,
cold cream) or oil-in-water (e.g., fluocinolone acetonide cream) emulsions.
However, more recently the term has been restricted to products consisting of oil-
in-water emulsions or aqueous microcrystalline dispersions of long-chain fatty
acids or alcohols that are water washable and more cosmetically and aesthetically
acceptable. Creams can be used for administering drugs via the vaginal route (e.g.,
Triple Sulfa vaginal cream). Creams are also used to treat sun burns.
Composition

There are four main ingredients of the cold cream:[2]

Water
Oil
Emulsifier
Thickening agent

Topical medication forms

Main article: Topical medication
There are many types of preparations applied to a body surface, such as:

ointments - consist of a single-phase in which solids or liquids may be

dispersed. There are hydrophobic, water-emulsifying, and hydrophilic ointments.[3]
creams - consist of a lipophilic phase and an aqueous phase. There are
lipophilic (W/O) and hydrophilic (O/W) creams, depending on the continuous phase.
gels - consist of liquids gelled by suitable gelling agents. There are
lipophilic gels (oleogels) and Hydrophilic gels (hydrogels).
pastes - contain large proportions of solids finely dispersed in the basis.
poultices - consist of a hydrophilic heat-retentive basis in which solids or
liquids are dispersed. They are usually spread thickly on a suitable dressing and
heated before application to the skin.
topical powders - consist of solid, loose, dry particles of varying degrees of
fineness.
medicated plasters - consist of an adhesive basis spread as a uniform layer on
an appropriate support made of natural or synthetic materia