Topical medications

Topical Medications

Topical medications (pronunciation: /ˈtɒpɪkəl ˌmɛdɪˈkeɪʃənz/) are a category of medications that are applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical administration means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments via a large range of classes including creams, foams, gels, lotions, and ointments.

Etymology

The term "topical" originates from the Greek word "topikos" which means "of a place". The term "medication" comes from the Latin "medicatio" meaning "healing".

Types of Topical Medications

• Creams - Semi-solid emulsions of oil and water. They are more comfortable and cosmetically pleasing as they are less greasy and more easily washed off using water.
• Ointments - They are greasy, which makes them occlusive and therefore they are hydrating.
• Gels - Gels are thicker liquids or semi-liquid jelly-like substances. Their advantage is that they are non-staining.
• Lotions - Lotions are similar to solutions but are thicker and can be a suspension of solid particles in a liquid.
• Foams - Foams are a newer form of topical medication, and can be produced from gels or solutions, with a propellant added.

Uses

Topical medications are used for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Acne
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Inflammation
• Pain relief
• Fungal infections

Related Terms

• Transdermal
• Dermatology
• Pharmacology
• Drug delivery

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