Introduction
Creams and ointments of different kinds are used for skin rashes on any part of the body. Treatment with these drugs is also called topical treatment because the active ingredients treat where they are needed locally.
Difference between ointments and creams
The difference between ointment and cream is the water content in the individual preparations. Creams have a much higher water content whereas ointments have been dehydrated. Ointments are fatty substances that are very difficult to wash off with water.
Creams are better washable with water. Both products are exclusively intended for application on the outer skin. Both ointments and creams are available in fixed combinations in the shops, but can also be mixed together on prescription from pharmacies.
Ointments are more frequently prescribed by dermatologists for mixing in pharmacies than creams. Besides the water and fat contents which serve as carrier substance, an essential component of ointments and creams is the actual active agent without which the ointment or cream would not work at all. Depending on the area of application, creams and ointments usually contain a pain and anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-allergic or a caring and moisturizing agent.
Ointments and creams are applied to the affected skin areas. Depending on the water and fat content, the substances are absorbed into the skin faster or less quickly where they develop their full effect. For this reason it is important to note that all active ingredients can also enter the body and the bloodstream through the skin.
Depending on how highly an active agent is concentrated in the ointment or cream, the concentration of active agents in the blood increases accordingly fast and strongly and remains longer or shorter in the blood where it can be detected. You can find an overview of various ointments and creams as well as the difference to lotions and gels on our website: Ointments and CreamsThere are numerous over-the-counter ointments that can be purchased in pharmacies. Most of them do not carry any medicinal but only a caring or regenerative active ingredient.
One of the best known ointments is Bepanthen®. Also anti-allergic gels and ointments with the active ingredient Fenistil, e.g. Fenistil® Gel, are available in pharmacies without prescription. They are always used when there is an allergic reaction of the skin.
Even ointments with a low cortisone content are available in pharmacies without a prescription. However, due to the low concentration of cortisone the effect is rather small. Higher concentrated cortisone creams require a prescription. As there are many different types of skin rashes and each of them has to be treated differently, it is important to clarify first which form of rash it is.
