From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
A cream is a
topical preparation usually for
application to the
skin. Creams for application
to
mucus 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).
Creams are semi-solid
emulsions, that is
mixtures 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
aqueous 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 outmost
layer of the skin.
Some uses of creams include:
