Ointments are viscous and semisolid substances that are primarily used for topical application on the skin. They are medicated or non-medicated preparations, commonly containing a combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceutical bases, and excipients. Ointments are typically intended to be applied externally and are designed to provide local treatment for various conditions like skin irritations, infections, and inflammatory disorders.
The composition of ointments generally includes a base material that acts as a vehicle to carry the active ingredients onto the skin surface. Such bases can be hydrocarbon-based, such as petrolatum, or water-based, like polyethylene glycols. These bases give ointments their characteristic semisolid consistency and help improve their adherence to the skin surface, ensuring better absorption and enhanced therapeutic effects.
Ointments are typically applied through gentle rubbing or massaging onto the affected area, allowing the active components to be absorbed into the skin. Due to their viscosity and occlusive nature, ointments might offer some degree of physical protection to the skin, helping to prevent moisture loss, reducing friction, and creating a barrier against external irritants.
While ointments often possess a greasy texture, they tend to have a higher oil content compared to creams or lotions, resulting in slower absorption into the skin. This characteristic can enable ointments to provide sustained release of the active ingredients over an extended period, prolonging their therapeutic benefits.
Ointments can be found both with and without prescription, and they vary in their use depending on the specific medical condition they are formulated to treat. They are widely employed in dermatology, offering various therapeutic options for a broad range of skin ailments, including eczema, psoriasis, acne, fungal infections, and more.
