? Example: Hydrophilic Petrolatum, Anhydrous Lanolin, Aquabase™, Aquaphor®, Polysorb® Absorption O.B. ?Examples: Cold Cream type, Hydrous Lanolin, Rose Water Ointment, Hydrocream™, Eucerin®, Nivea® .
This group of so-called “greaseless ointment bases” comprises water-soluble constituents. Polyethylene Glycol Ointment is the only Pharmacopeial preparation in this group.
oint·ment basethe vehicle into which active ingredients may be incorporated. Ointment bases are usually pharmacologically inert but may entrap water and serve to keep the skin from dying or to provide an emollient protective film.
Preparation of ointments Ointments are prepared by two general methods: - Incorporation - Fusion Incorporation By the incorporation method, the components are mixed until a uniform preparation is attained.
Procedure for Preparation:
- Melt the stearyl alcohol and white petrolatum on a hot plate.
- Heat this mixture to 70°C.
- Dissolve remaining ingredients in water and heat the solution to 70° C.
- Add the oleaginous phase slowly to the aqueous phase, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and stir the mixture until it congeals.
Ointments are preparations applied to the skin, eyes, and mucus membranes used as medicines, moisturizers, or cosmetics. Ointments are best used on dry skin because they trap moisture and are not well absorbed into the skin.
SUMMARY CHART: PROPERTIES OF OINTMENT BASES
| Oleaginous Ointment Bases | Water/Oil Emulsion Ointment Bases |
|---|
| Examples | White Petrolatum, White Ointment | Cold Cream type, Hydrous Lanolin, Rose Water Ointment, Hydrocream™, Eucerin®, Nivea® |
Ointments are homogeneous, viscous, semisolid preparations, most of which are greasy, contain 80% oil and 20% water, have a high viscosity, and are intended for external application to the skin or mucous membranes.
- treatment at 121 °C in an autoclave under a superpressure effected by saturated steam at 121 °C for 20 minutes; - treatment in a hot air sterilizing apparatus at 140 °C for 3 hours; - treatment in a hot air sterilizing apparatus at 160 °C for 45 minutes.
A cream is a preparation of a medication for topical use that contains a water base. An ointment is a preparation of a medication for topical use that contains an oil base. It is a preparation of water in oil. While ointments have a higher concentration of oil, creams have a higher concentration of water.
Medicated Ointments for your First Aid KitMedicated ointments should be one of the first items in a first aid kit. Whether you are trying to fight off infection, allergic reaction or any other number of conditions, a medicated ointment can help. Reduce or eliminate Infections and pain from injuries.
Compounding Considerations
| Ointment Base | Characteristics |
|---|
| Eucerin | Occlusive, Greasy, Emollient, Not water washable, Will absorb water, Insoluble in water |
| Rose water ointment | Occlusive, Greasy, Emollient, Not water washable, Will absorb water, Insoluble in water |
Creams and ointments can be either medicinal or cosmetic. The primary difference between the two is the ratio between oil and water. While a cream has equal parts oil and water, ointments have about 80 percent oil.
What are the properties of an ideal ointment base?
- It should be physically and chemically stable.
- In ointment base, finely divided active ingredients should be uniformly distributed.
- The base of ointment should not possess any therapeutic action.
- The ointment should be smooth and free from grittiness.
Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin, or multi-hydrocarbon, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons (with carbon numbers mainly higher than 25), originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties.
An absorption base is an oleaginous composition containing an emulsifier or emulsifiers such that the composition is capable of absorbing water to form an emulsion of the water-in-oil type. It may be used as all or a part of the oleaginous material of an emulsion suitable for cosmetics, ointments, etc.
Hydrophilic Ointment Base is a traditional oil-in-water emulsion containing petrolatum and propylene glycol. Hydrophilic Ointment Base can accept some water to create a thinner base for compounding topical lotion preparations.
Medical Definition of white ointment: an ointment consisting of 5 percent white wax and 95 percent white petrolatum. — called also simple ointment.
Description: An anhydrous base designed to protect and soften extremely dry skin. May also be used to prepare water-in-oil emulsions by adding small amounts of aqueous solution.
Abstract. Background: White petrolatum is broadly used as an ointment vehicle, although hydrophilic drugs cannot be easily dissolved in the vehicle.
: a salve or unguent for application to the skin specifically : a semisolid medicinal preparation usually having a base of fatty or greasy material. More from Merriam-Webster on ointment.
This ointment can be used as often as needed. It is particularly helpful for protecting the eyeball at night, because it lubricates the eye for longer than drops. If you are using any other eye drops you should apply them first and then wait for at least five minutes before using this eye ointment.
Chemical reaction method Preparation of some ointment involves chemical reactions Eg – (a)Iodine ointment (iodine free form) (b)Iodine ointment (iodine combined form with ointment base) (a)Ointments containing free iodine ?Iodine is slightly soluble in fats and vegetable oils.
- 50g of Emulsifying Ointment is prepared by using the formula following:
- 5g of ointment formed is weighed.
- 1.5g of Acetylsalicylic acid is weighed and grinded with mortar and pestle.
- The weighed amount of acetylsalicylic acid is mixed with 30g of ointment weighed by using levigation method.
In general, people prefer using creams to ointments since they are less sticky and heavy on the skin. Since the viscosity (thickness) of creams is less than that of ointments, they also work better for covering large areas of skin.
