Creams

Contents
1. Introduction
2. Types
3. Component
4. Uses
5. Preparation
6. Differences between creams and :
a. Ointments
b. Pastes
1. Introduction
Introduction
A cream is a preparation usually for application to the 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
2. Types
- :All the skin care creams can be classified on different basis

:According to the nature of type of emulsion .1

.E.g.: W/O and O/W

:According to function .2
.E.g.: cleansing, foundation, manage etc

:According to characteristic properties .3

. E.g.: cold creams, vanishing cream
 
 
Types of cream
oil-in-water(o/w) .composed of small droplets of oil dispersed in continuous phase. -1
.O/W creams are more easily washed off using water
water-in-oil(w/o) composed of small droplets of water dispersed in a continuous oily-2
phase
W/O 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
W/O are also more moisturizing as they provide an oily barrier which reduces water loss
from the stratum corneum the outermost layer of the skin
According to the nature of type of emulsion

W/O O/W
creams which are composed of small.1 creams which are composed of small.1
droplets of oil dispersed in a continuous droplets of water dispersed in a continuous
water phase oily phase

more greasy.2 less greasy.2

Less easily washed off using water.3 more easily washed off using water.3

Less comfortable and cosmetically.4 more comfortable and cosmetically.4

acceptable acceptable

more moisturising as they provide an oily.5 Less moisturising.5

barrier
The most widely acceptor classification is based on function.
According to the function the creams can be classified as:
1. Cleansing and cold creams
2. Foundation and vanishing creams
3. Night and massage creams
4. Hand and massage creams
5. Hand and body creams
6. All purpose and general creams
3. Composition
 composition of semi solid dosage form
Ingredients used in preparation of semi solid dosage form:
Active pharmaceutical ingredients
Bases
Preservatives
Humectants
Anti oxidants
Emulsifier
Gelling agent
Permeation enhancer
Buffers
 Bases
It is one of the most important ingredient used in the formulation
of semisolid dosage form

• Cream (w/o emulsion, o/w emulsion)

Presevatives
Some bases , although, resist microbial attack
Commonly used preservative include:

Methyl hydroxy benzoate

Benzoic acid
 Antioxidant
To prevent hydrolysis of active ingredient.

Example : Butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT)

vitamin _E

:EMULFISIERS
Quaternary ammonium compounds (cetrimide)
Gelling agents
 Gelling agent forms a gel dissolves in a liquid phase as a
colloid mixture that forms a weakly cohesive internal
structure.

i. Example of gelling agent; Gelatin, agar, pectin, tragacanth

form gels by this mechanism
 Permeation enhancer
Skin can acts as a barrier with the introduction of
various panetration enhancers, panetration of the
drug through the skin can be improved. For
example – methanol.

Humectants
A humectant is a hygroscopic substance . For example
glycerin
 Buffers
Buffers are added to variopus purpose such as:

 Compatibility with skin

 Drug solubility

 Drug Stability

 Influence on ionization of drug

Example: Sodium acetate , Sodium Citrate

4. Uses
 
The provision of a barrier to protect the skin.1
This may be a physical barrier or a chemical barrier as with sunscreens.2
To aid in the retention of moisture (especially water-in-oil creams).3
Cleansing.4
Emollient effects.5
As a vehicle for drug substances such as local anaesthetics, anti-inflammatories.6
 (NSAIDs or corticosteroids), hormones, antibiotics, antifungals or counter-irritants
Preparation .5
 PREPARATION OF SEMI SOLIDS

Trituration Chemical
method reaction
method
Ex. Ointments Ex. Ointments
creams creams
pastes
Fusion Emulsification
method method

Ex. Ointments Ex. Ointments

creams creams
pastes
Emulsification method
Crean may be formulated from a variety of oil both mineral and vegetable
.and from fatty alcohols, fatty acid and fatty ester. Emulsifying agent include non-ionic surfactants and soaps

Preparation involves separating the formula components into two portion: liquid and aqueous.The lipid
.portion contains all water-insoluble components

Both phases are heated to a temperature above the melting point of the highest melting components. The
phases then are mixed, and the mixture is stirred until reaching ambient temperature or the mixture has
congealed. Mixing is continued during the cooling process to promote uniformity. Highshear homogenisers
may be employed to reduce particle or droplet size and improve the physical stability of the resultant dosage
.form

.Vanishing cream are o/w emulsions containing large percentage of water and stearic acid
.After application leaving behind a thin residue film of stearic acid or other oleaginous components
:Differences between .6

Ointment Creams Pastes

SN Features Cream
1 Definition Creams are opaque, viscous, relatively
soft, consistently spreadable, semisolid
dosage forms that often comprise more
than 20% water and volatiles and normally
less than 50% hydrocarbons, waxes, or
polyols as the vehicle for the drug
substance, intended for external
application
2 Appearance Usually white to off-white
3 Nature of Water-based semisolid preparation
Formulation
4 Constituents More than 20% water and volatiles and
normally less than 50% hydrocarbons,
waxes, or polyols as the vehicle.
Ointment
Ointments are semisolid dosage
forms that comprise less than 20%
water and volatiles, and more than
50% hydrocarbons, waxes, or
polyols as the vehicle intended for
external application.
Usually translucent
Oil-based semisolid preparation
Less than 20% water and volatiles,
and more than 50% hydrocarbons,
waxes, or polyols as the vehicle.
Paste
Pastes are semi-solid preparations for
external use. They consist of finely
powdered medications combined with
White Soft Paraffin BP, Liquid Paraffin
BP, or a non-greasy base made from
glycerol,
Not translucent(dark)
 
consist of finely powdered medications
combined with White Soft Paraffin BP,
Liquid Paraffin BP, or a non-greasy
base made from glycerol,
mucilages, or soaps.
 Features Cream Ointment Paste
5 Viscosity Thin Thick More thick
6 Spreadability Easily spreadable Less easily spreadable Hard to spred

7 Greasiness Non-greasy or less greasy Greasy less greasy than ointment

8 Absorption. Faster Slower Does't absorp

9 Onset of action Quick Slow Less than onitment

10 Duration of action Short Prolong  

11 Shelf-life Shortened Longer Longer than ointmen

12 Wash off Easier Less easy  

13 Example Betamethasone Valerate Cream, Zinc Hydrocortisone Ointment, Triamcinolone acetonide paste, zinc
Acetate 0.2% cream, and Econazole Bacitracin Ointment, and oxide paste, and phenylbutazone
Nitrate cream etc. Lidocaine Ointment etc. paste.
‫أسماء الطالب‬
‫‪ ‬سمير أحمد صالح‬

‫‪ ‬أحمد حميد مسواك‬

‫‪ ‬أحمد نبيل النجري‬
‫‪ ‬حارث سلطان أبوحليقه‬
‫‪ ‬أبراهيم علي الشارحي‬
‫‪ ‬أشرف شاكر العريقي‬
‫‪ ‬صخر جميل سيله‬
‫‪ ‬جالل محمد نصر الشرعبي‬
‫‪ ‬سلمان بدر أحمد البدري‬
‫‪ ‬محمد ناجي علي ناجي‬