Cream (pharmacy)
Cream (pharmacy)
Cream (pronunciation: /kri:m/) is a type of dosage form used in pharmacy that is semi-solid and contains a mixture of medicinal substances and excipients.
Etymology
The term "cream" is derived from the Old French creme, which in turn originates from the Latin crema, meaning "ointment".
Description
Creams are typically used for their emollient properties and to deliver topical medications. They are applied to the skin or mucous membranes for various medicinal purposes. Creams can be classified into two types: oil-in-water (O/W) creams and water-in-oil (W/O) creams.
Oil-in-Water Creams
Oil-in-water creams are more comfortable and cosmetically acceptable as they are less greasy and more easily washed off using water. These creams are more hydrating than their water-in-oil counterparts.
Water-in-Oil Creams
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 water-in-oil creams than oil-in-water creams.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cream (pharmacy)
- Wikipedia's article - Cream (pharmacy)
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