Ointment vs. Cream, Lotion, and Gel - Healthline

Ointments. Of all skin products, ointments contain the most oil. They stay on top of your skin rather than being absorbed right away, which offers more ... HealthConditionsFeaturedBreastCancerIBDMigraineMultipleSclerosis(MS)RheumatoidArthritisType2DiabetesSponsoredTopicsArticlesAcidRefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's&DementiaBipolarDisorderCancerCrohn'sDiseaseChronicPainCold&FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeartDiseaseHighCholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkinDisordersandCareSTDsDiscoverWellnessTopicsNutritionFitnessSkinCareSexualHealthWomen'sHealthMentalHealthSleepOriginalSeriesFreshFoodFastDiagnosisDiariesYou’reNotAlonePresentTenseVideoSeriesYouthinFocusHealthyHarvestNoMoreSilenceFutureofHealthPlanHealthChallengesMindfulEatingSugarSavvyMoveYourBodyGutHealthMoodFoodsAlignYourSpineFindCarePrimaryCareMentalHealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyleQuizzesWeightManagementAmIDepressed?AQuizforTeensAreYouaWorkaholic?HowWellDoYouSleep?Tools&ResourcesHealthNewsFindaDietFindHealthySnacksDrugsA-ZHealthA-ZConnectFindYourBezzyCommunityBreastCancerInflammatoryBowelDiseasePsoriaticArthritisMigraineMultipleSclerosisPsoriasisFollowusonsocialmediaShopProductsbyConditionInsomniaStressReliefBackPainNeckPainSleepApneaHotSleepersAllergiesPainReliefProductReviewsVitamins&SupplementsSleepMentalHealthNutritionAt-HomeTestingCBDMen’sHealthWomen’sHealthHealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribeSkinCareYourSkinScienceIngredientsRoutineAcneConditionsProceduresProductsSunProtectionNaturalHair&NailsWhat’stheDifferenceBetweenOintment,Cream,Lotion,andGel?MedicallyreviewedbyAmandaCaldwell,MSN,APRN-C—ByKristeenCherneyandJessicaTimmonsonFebruary13,2022Creamvs.ointmentLotionvs.creamGelBalmComparisonHowtochooseTakeawayShareonPinterestOHLAMOURSTUDIO/StocksyWeincludeproductswethinkareusefulforourreaders.Ifyoubuythroughlinksonthispage,wemayearnasmallcommission.Here’sourprocess.Ointment,cream,lotion,orgel?Whenlookingforaskinmoisturizerortreatment,you’lltypicallycomeacrossfourmaintypesofproducts:ointmentscreamslotionsgelsDifferentratiosofwaterandoilgivethesesubstancesuniquetextures,whichcanhavesomeeffectontheproduct’sintendedpurpose.Toputitanotherway,thechoicebetweenanointment,cream,lotion,orgelmightdependontheskinconcernyouwanttoaddress.Thesameproductmaynotbethebestoptionforallofyourskincareneeds.Plus,sincesomeoftheseproductshaveheaviertexturesthanothers,youroverallskintypeisanotherimportantconsideration.Below,you’llfindessentialinformationthatcanhelpyounarrowdownyouroptionsandfindaproductthatworkswellforyourskinneeds.What’sthedifferencebetweencreamandointment?Bothcreamsandointmentscanhavemedicinalorcosmeticuses.Theprimarydifferencebetweenthetwoliesintheratiobetweenoilandwater.Whileacreamhasequalpartsoilandwater,ointmentscontainabout80percentoil.Afewotherdifferencesinclude:AbsorptionCreams.Duetotheirhighwatercontent,creamsareeasilyabsorbed,sotheycancoverlargeareasofskin.Theiroilcontentalsomeanstheystayonyourskin’ssurfacetohelpprotectagainstmoistureloss,whichmakesthemidealfortreatingdryskin,rashes,orskinlesions.Ointments.Ofallskinproducts,ointmentscontainthemostoil.Theystayontopofyourskinratherthanbeingabsorbedrightaway,whichoffersmoreprotectionagainstmoisturelossandtheelements,likecoldordryair.Commoningredientsfoundinointmentsincludemineraloilandpetroleum.ConsistencyCreams.Thesehaveasmoothtexturewithathickerconsistencythanlotions,whichtendtoberunnier.Theycanbenon-greasytomildlygreasy.Ointments.Thesehaveathickerconsistencythancreams,butmayspreadalittlefartheracrossyourskin.Theytendtohaveagreasyorevenstickyfeel.AppearanceCreams.Becauseoftheiroil-to-waterratio,creamstendtobethickenoughtomaintaintheirshapewhethersqueezedfromatubeorscoopedfromajar.Anolder2005studythatobtainedscientificallybased,systematicclassificationsfortopicaldrugsdescribedcreamsasopaqueandviscous.Ointments.Ointmentscanbeopaqueortranslucent.Likecreams,ointmentsholdtheirshapewell.OtherfeaturesCreams.Dailymoisturizingcreamsaretypicallysoldinjars.Treatmentcreams,suchashydrocortisoneforbugbitesandrashes,oftencomeintubes.Theproduct’scontainergenerallydependsonthebodysurfaceareatheproductisintendedfor.Thoseintendedforsmallareas,inotherwords,willlikelycomeinatuberatherthanajar.Ointments.You’lltypicallyfindmedications,suchasantibioticsforinfectionsorcorticosteroidsforpsoriasis,inointmentform.Theyremainonyourskin’ssurfaceforalongerperiodoftime,whichhelpsensuremaximumproductabsorption.Extremelydryskinmayalsobenefitfrommoisturizersinointmentformforthesamereason.What’sthedifferencebetweenlotionandcream?Manypeopleconsidercreamsandlotionsmuchthesameproduct,buttheyhaveverydifferentformulations.Again,creamscontainequalpartsoilandwater.Lotions,ontheotherhand,containmuchmorewaterthanoil,thoughsomemightalsocontainalcohol.Youcanalsofindoil-freelotions,whichmightbeidealforcombination,oily,oracne-proneskin.Ineithercase,lotionshaveamuchthinnerconsistencythancream-basedproducts.Theyalsoabsorbquicklyintotheskinandleaveverylittleresidue.Thatmeanstheygenerallyworkwellforeverydaywear,especiallyifyouhavenormaltooilyskin.Ifyouhavebothoilyandsensitiveskin,optforalotionwithoutanyalcohol,fragrances,orpreservativesthatmightirritateyourskin.Whataboutgels?Gelproductstypicallycontainacombinationofcellulose,water,andalcohol.It’salsopossibletofindgel-lotioncombinationproducts,whichgoonmuchlikealotion.Oil-freegelstendtoworkwellforextremelyoilyskin,sincetheyprovidehydrationwithoutleavingresidueandexcessoilonyourskin.Youmightalsofindthatgelsworkwellasfacialmoisturizersduringthehotandhumidsummermonths.Thatsaid,youmaynotbenefitasmuchfromgelsifyouhavedryskin,sinceyourskinmayabsorbtheseproductssoquicklythatnomoisturebarrierremains.Makesuretoreadproductlabelscarefully,especiallyifyouhavesensitiveskin,andavoidanygelproductwithalcoholorfragrances.Howarebalmsdifferent?Intheworldofskincare,balmsareanothercommonformulation.Theseproductstendtobeverythick,almostsolid,andtheymayhaveawaxytexture.Balmscontainbaseingredients,likefattyoilsandwaxes,ratherthanthewaterusedincreamsandlotions.Balmsarehighlyconcentrated,sincetheydon’tcontainthefilleringredientsnecessaryforwater-basedproducts.Likeointments,balmsaren’trapidlyabsorbedbyyourskin.Instead,theycreateabarriertolockinmoisture.Thatmakesthemagoodoptionforareaspronetoextremedryness,liketheknucklesandelbows.ProducthighlightsConsistencyIdealusesLotionthin,non-greasyrapidabsorptionwithoutresidueCreamholdsshape,viscous,non-greasytomildlygreasydryskin,rashes,orskinlesionsthatneedprotectionagainstmoisturelossOintmentthick,viscous,greasytopicalmedicationsthatneedmaximumproductabsorptionGelthick,non-greasyextremelyoilyskinBalmverythick,waxydryskininneedofhydratingbarrierandslowabsorptionSo,whichoneshouldIuse?Foraprescriptiontopicalmedication,ahealthcareprofessionalwilltypicallydeterminewhetheryoumightbenefitmostfromanointmentorcream.Ifyou’reselectinganover-the-counter(OTC)product,considerthekeybenefitsanddifferencesofeachtypeofproduct.OintmentOintmentsmayworkwellforextremelydryskinbecausetheirthick,oil-basedformulashelptrapmoisture.Youmight,forexample,useanointmentforyourhandsandfeetandathinnercreamorlotionforyourfaceandtherestofyourbody.Usinganointmentafterfrequenthandwashingcanalsohelpprotectskinandkeepyourhandsfromdryingout.AquaphorandEucerinaretwoexamplesofOTCointmentsthatoffersoothingprotectionfordry,chapped,orcrackedskin.Thesecanalsohelprelieveeczemaandpsoriasispatches.Bacitracin,Neosporin,Polysporin,andotherOTCtopicalantibioticscanhelppreventinfectionifyouhaveaminorwound,burn,orskinabrasion.CreamCreams,whichcanalsoworkwellfordryskin,mayofferabetteralternativeifyoudon’twantthegreasyfeelthatmanyoil-basedproductsleavebehind.That’sespeciallytruewithhandcreams.Whileointmentstendtoworkbestforpatchesofskin,thewatercontainedincreamsmakesthemmoreusefulforwidespreaduse.Ifyouhavetypical,dry,orsensitiveskin,youmayfindthatcream-basedmoisturizersprovideagoodlevelofhydration—thoughyoumightprefertousealotionduringthehotsummermonths.Burt’sBeesUltimateCareHandCreamwithBaobabOilisdesignedtoprovidesoothinghydrationthatabsorbsquickly.LotionLotionsgenerallyworkwellforcombinationornormalskinthatdoesn’tneedtheoilcontentfoundineithercreamsorointments.Onewaytotellacreamapartfromalotion?Checkwhetherthelabelsays“oil-free”or“lightweight.”Thislanguagetypicallyreferstoalotion,notacream.Lotionbottlesalsooftenhavepumps,whileyou’llfrequentlyfindcreamssoldinjars.Mostcreamsaretoothicktodispensewithpumps.Ifyouhaveacne-proneskin,optforalotionthat’snoncomedogenic—thismeanstheproductislesslikelytoclogyourpores.LotionslikeAveenoStressReliefMoisturizingLotionhaveahighwatercontent,whichmakesthemeasiertoapplyalloveryourbody.GelYoumightconsiderusingagel-basedproductifyouhaveoilierskinorifyouwanttotreataburn.Thehighabsorptionrateofgelscanleaveyourskinfeelinglessoilyoverall,anditcouldhelpmakebreakoutslesslikely.It’sgenerallybesttoavoidusinggelasyourregularmoisturizerifyouhavesensitiveordryskin.Gelproductsmaycauseirritationandexcessdryness.Onegelproductyou’veprobablyusedbefore?Aloeveragel,whichcanhelptreatsunburn.Sunburnrespondswelltoaloeveragel,inpartbecauseoftheproduct’srapidabsorptionrate.Plus,thenaturalsalicylicacidcontentinaloeverahasanantibacterial,anti-inflammatoryeffect.FacetheorySupergelMoisturiser,designedtohydrateandmoisturize,containsaloeveraandgreenteaextracttohelpsootheskin,vitaminCtohelpbrightenskin,andniacinamidetohelpreducetheappearanceofpores.ThebottomlineChoosingtherighttopicalproductcandependonyourskintype,aswellashowmuchwaterandoiltheproductcontains.Ointmentscontainthemostoil,makingthemthebestchoiceforextremelydry,crackedskin.Creamshavesomeoil,whilelotionsandgelscontainmorewater.Itmaytakeabitoftrialanderrortofindtherightproductforyourskintypeandcurrentneeds.Ifyou’vetriedarangeofproductsandstilldon’tgettheresultsyou’rehopingfor,adermatologistcanoffermorepersonalizedguidance.LastmedicallyreviewedonFebruary13,2022Howwevettedthisarticle:SourcesHistoryHealthlinehasstrictsourcingguidelinesandreliesonpeer-reviewedstudies,academicresearchinstitutions,andmedicalassociations.Weavoidusingtertiaryreferences.Youcanlearnmoreabouthowweensureourcontentisaccurateandcurrentbyreadingoureditorialpolicy.BuhseLF,etal.(2005).Topicaldrugclassification.researchgate.net/publication/7889632_Topical_drug_classificationChristoffersWA,etal.(2019).Interventionsforhandeczema.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6484375Dryskinrelief.(n.d.).aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dry-skin-reliefHowtocontroloilyskin.(n.d.).aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/oily-skinNisbetSJ.(2018).Skinacceptabilityofacosmeticmoisturizerformulationinfemalesubjectswithsensitiveskin.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5933397OakleyA.(2016).Topicalformulations.dermnetnz.org/topics/topical-formulationsSurjusheA,etal.(2008).Aloevera:Ashortreview.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764Topicalointmentsandcreams.(2020).aaaai.org/Tools-for-the-Public/Drug-Guide/Topical-Ointments-CreamsOurexpertscontinuallymonitorthehealthandwellnessspace,andweupdateourarticleswhennewinformationbecomesavailable.CurrentVersionFeb14,2022ByKristeenCherney,PhD,JessicaTimmonsEditedByCrystalRaypoleMedicallyReviewedByAmandaCaldwell,MSN,APRN-CCopyEditedByJenAndersonOct21,2020ByKristeenCherney,PhDEditedByjgokhmanMedicallyReviewedByCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRNCopyEditedByjgokhmanSharethisarticleMedicallyreviewedbyAmandaCaldwell,MSN,APRN-C—ByKristeenCherneyandJessicaTimmonsonFebruary13,2022ReadthisnextSheaButtervs.CocoaButter:HowDoTheyCompare?MedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRN,WHNP-BC,FAANPBothsheabutterandcocoabuttercontainfattyacids,whichallowyourskintoretainmoisture.Theyalsoprovideimmediaterelieffordryand…READMORECanYouUseCoconutOiltoTreataYeastInfection?MedicallyreviewedbyCarissaStephens,R.N.,CCRN,CPNCoconutoilissaidtohavemanyhealthbenefits,suchasaidingdigestionandhelpingtobalanceyourhormones.Youmaybefamiliarwith…READMOREGlycolicAcidandRetinol:CanYouReallyUseBoth?Yes,youcanincorporatebothoftheseingredientsintoyourskincareroutinesafely,aslongasyoudosowithcaution.Here'swhattoknow.READMOREHowHumectantsKeepHairandSkinMoisturizedMedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRN,WHNP-BC,FAANPHumectantsarecommoningredientsinskinandhairproducts,butwhatarethey,exactly?We'lltakeacloserlookathowtheywork,commonexamples…READMOREDoesHydrocortisoneEffectivelyTreatAcneandPimples?MedicallyreviewedbyAlanCarter,Pharm.D.Hydrocortisonecreamdoeslessontheappearanceofacne,buttheeffectislargelycosmeticandnotalong-termtreatmentsolutionfortheskin…READMOREIsYourSkinReadyforFall?TheRejuvenatingPost-SummerSkinCareYouNeedMedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRN,WHNP-BC,FAANPSunexposurecantakeitstoll.Here'showtorevivebeforedryweatherhits.READMORE14BestPillowcasesforHairandSkinin2022MedicallyreviewedbyDebraSullivan,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,CNE,COISilkandsatinpillowcasesareconsideredthebestforpreservinggoodhairandskin.Herearethebestpillowcasesforthebeautysleepyouneed.READMORE10BestProductstoLightenHyperpigmentationfromBugBitesin2022MedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRN,WHNP-BC,FAANPLookingforthebestproductstolightenhyperpigmentationcausedbybugbites?Herearethebestoftheyear.READMORE