Table of contents:
- The difference between creams, ointments and lotions
- Medicated skin cream
- Medicinal skin lotion
- Ointment skin medication
- So, which skin remedy is the most effective?
When you go to the doctor for skin problems, you are often given external medication that must be applied to the skin. This type of medication is called a topical medication. The form of topical skin medication varies from creams, lotions, to ointments. Actually, what is the difference between the three medicinal preparations? Let's look at the explanation below.
The difference between creams, ointments and lotions
Medicated skin cream
Cream is actually a mixture of liquid and ointment. Cream consists of water, oil, and emulgators (active ingredients to combine oil and water).
In addition, creams are usually added with preservatives such as parabens. In some cases, skin creams can also be mixed with perfume. This may cause allergic reactions in some people.
Various active ingredients can be included in the cream. The cream itself is widely used in cosmetics. In addition, doctors usually give creams to skin diseases that are extensive and subacute (they have been suffering for a long time but have not yet become chronic). This is because the absorption of cream is better than powder. Creams can also be used on various parts of the body, even on the body with hair.
Medicinal skin lotion
Source: Glamor Magazine
The ingredients of the lotion are actually similar to cream. However, usually the formula is thinner and lighter. The consistency of the lotion is also usually more fluid. Most of the lotions also contain a little alcohol, whose function is to stabilize the active substance and inhibit the evaporation of solutes in the skin layer.
The lotion can be used on large areas of the skin and can be used on hairy parts of the body and in skin folds.
Ointment skin medication
Source: Health Tap
The ointment is a fatty or fat-like substance. The base ingredient is usually vaseline, but it can also be made from lanolin or oil. Usually ointments are used in skin diseases with dry, chronic, and deep skin conditions. The absorption power of the ointment is the strongest compared to other basic ingredients.
In addition, ointments can also be used on skin with choked skin diseases. However, unlike creams and lotions, ointments should not be used on areas of the body with hair and skin that are prone to boils (folicullitis) or in hot weather because of their sticky consistency and can withstand sweating.
The use of ointments can only be used on certain parts of the body and is not recommended for use on the whole body.
So, which skin remedy is the most effective?
Choosing a basic ingredient for skin medicine is an important first step in providing treatment. The selection of the basic ingredients of topical drugs actually varies. This depends on the type of skin disease, the condition of each patient's skin condition such as dry or oily, and which area of the skin will be treated.
In conclusion, the efficacy of skin medicine cannot be seen from its dosage form alone. Doctors also have to take other factors into account. For example, if your skin is very dry, doctors will usually give skin medication in the form of an ointment, not a lotion.
That is why when choosing topical drugs, don't forget to consult directly with your doctor so that you get the most appropriate and effective treatment.
