Introduction
There are numerous ointments and creams that you will certainly have in your household. But when is which ointment used? And what is the difference between an ointment, cream, lotion and gel?
In the following we would like to give you a short overview of the most important preparations and in which case they are used. Many of the preparations are available without a prescription in pharmacies, but before using them you should read the package insert and consult your doctor or pharmacist. In case of severe or chronic skin diseases, also in case of further symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor and have the skin condition medically clarified.
Topical therapy, i.e. the application of local therapeutics on the skin, is used especially for dermatological diseases, the skin diseases. In order to explain the differences between the various preparations, one often consults the phase triangle. Each corner of the triangle represents one of the phases liquid, solid and oily, the preparations each consist of one of the connecting lines between the phases.
A cream is located in the phase triangle between fat and liquid, these mixtures consist of fat and liquid. There are also water-based creams with a higher proportion of liquid and fat-based creams with a higher proportion of fat. Emulsifiers are added to creams to prevent separation of the phases.
Creams should not be used for very dry skin as they may worsen the condition. They have a light consistency and are absorbed quickly. In addition, especially water-based creams have a cooling effect, which has a calming effect especially on insect bites and allergic skin changes.
The best known skin creams are discussed below as an overview. This well-known cream is a real all-rounder. Nivea has different products for every skin type, they are very well tolerated by the skin and have a caring effect.
Nivea cream can be used on the face as well as on other dry areas such as elbows or for the hands. Penaten® Creme is a skin and wound protection cream and is particularly well-known from baby care. Its skin-friendly composition makes it especially suitable for babies and adults with very sensitive skin.
Florena Creme is also a beauty all-rounder. Different care series are suitable for facial care of different skin types. Florena is also very well tolerated by the skin.
This is a cream for use with moderately pronounced inflammatory skin diseases. It contains cortisone and soothes signs of inflammation of the skin. Like FeniHydrocort, it is a cortisone-containing cream from various manufacturers for use in moderate inflammatory skin diseases.
Some creams are especially suitable for use in contact eczema, sunburn or mosquito bites. The warming cream relieves tension, muscle and joint pain and is often used in the treatment of back pain. Vagisan® moist cream is used for complaints caused by vaginal dryness or the outer intimate area, such as burning, itching, injuries or pain during sexual intercourse.
Oestrogen deficiency after the menopause is often the cause. The cream is applied in the vagina and on the skin of the genital area. The cream should only be used in case of complaints, a healthy vagina usually does not require any additional care measures.
An ointment is a preparation with a high fat content. So-called pure fat ointments are generally not used very often as they are less tolerated by patients. Ointments with a slightly higher water content are absorbed more quickly.
In general, ointments have a covering and greasing effect. In the following you will get an overview of the most important ointments. Vaseline is very versatile and well tolerated even by sensitive skin.
It is suitable as a moisturizer, wound cream, cold protection and for muscle hardening and pain. Many care products contain kerosene. Its mode of action is controversial; kerosene puts a film on the skin and is not absorbed by it.
The user experiences a soft and relaxed skin, but the pores of the skin become blocked and the skin’s own regeneration mechanisms are disturbed. Long-term use can dry out the skin. Wax ointments moisturize, soothe and regenerate irritated, cracked, dry or sensitive skin.
It also has a wound healing effect. Zinc ointment is suitable for the treatment of pimples and acne and is used in the treatment of wounds. It has an antiseptic effect and promotes wound healing.
This ointment is used for purulent skin inflammations such as pimples or abscesses.It accelerates the maturation and evacuation of abscesses and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Clobetasol Ointment contains a strong corticosteroid and is used for therapy-resistant plaques in the context of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Ointments containing cortisone are used for the local treatment of moderately pronounced inflammatory skin diseases.
This ointment contains comfrey root fluid extract and is considered a plant-based alternative to ointments containing the active ingredient diclofenac or other NSAIDS, i.e. painkillers. It is used for muscle, joint and back pain. Our article about this: Kytta® OintmentHorse Ointment is suitable for the treatment of muscle tension and pain as well as joint pain.
It was originally developed for horses and is used today mainly in sports. It contains herbal ingredients such as menthol, rosemary, arnica and camphor. Horse ointment has a cooling effect, promotes blood circulation, is pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory.
Arnica ointment contains an extract of the arnica flower and is another herbal medicine for external use. Arnica is considered a natural painkiller, the field of application ranges from bruising to muscle pain to joint pain, for example from arthritis. Diclofenac is an active substance from the group of the not steroidal antirheumatic drugs (NSAIDS) and works pain-relieving as well as anti-inflammatory.
It is used for the external supportive treatment of pain caused by acute strains, bruises or sprains, for example as a result of sports accidents. Lotions are also a mixture of fat and liquid. Here the liquid content is very high.
They are used in acute dermatoses, such as sunburn, because they have a cooling effect on the skin. However, they can dry out the skin severely. When using a lotion, it is worth paying attention to the ingredients it contains and using high-quality products.
Effective and usually well-tolerated additives in lotions are, for example: With the following additives you should pay attention to symptoms of allergies. Some are also suspected of being carcinogenic or can damage the skin and body in other ways:
- Panthenol
- Urea
- Lactic acid
- Glycerine
- Hyaluronic acid
- Kerosene: clogged pores and disrupts the skin’s natural regeneration mechanisms, as well as high environmental pollution due to this by-product from oil production
- Parabens, preservatives
- Polyethylene glycol
- May cause hypersensitivity reactions: Emulsifiers, fragrances, lanolin (wool grease)
- Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil can lead to contact eczema, it does not last long and decomposes into aggressive turpentine
Unlike ointments and creams, gels are completely fat-free. They are semisolid, scientifically called viscoelastic fluids.
Gels are the basis of various pharmaceutical preparations, they also have a cooling effect on the skin. Gels are also used in ultrasound examinations, as they improve the echogenicity by acting as a fluid cushion between the transducer and the skin. A list of the most important gels can be found below.
Fenistil Gel contains the antihistamine Dimentinden, has a cooling effect and stops itching. It is suitable for sunburn, minor burns or insect bites. Our article about this: Fenestil GelDiclofenac is an active ingredient for analgesia and anti-inflammatory and is used externally for muscle or joint pain, such as sports injuries like strains, bruises and sprains.
The gel can be used to treat scars, for example after operations, cuts or acne scars and stretch marks. It is a combination of the active ingredients onion extract, heparin and allantoin which have anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and wound healing properties. Tyrosur Gel is suitable for use on infected wounds.
It can be used in every phase of wound healing, in weeping, open, closed and dry wounds. The active ingredient tyrothricin from the group of antibiotics has an antibacterial effect and fights the pathogens causing wound infections.
