Cream (pharmaceutical) - Uses of Creams

Uses of Creams

• The provision of a barrier to protect the skin
  • This may be a physical barrier or a chemical barrier as with sunscreens
• To aid in the retention of moisture (especially water-in-oil creams)
• Cleansing
• Emollient effects
• As a vehicle for drug substances such as local anaesthetics, anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs or corticosteroids), hormones, antibiotics, antifungals or counter-irritants.

Creams are semisolid dosage forms containing one or more drug substances dissolved or dispersed in a suitable base. This term has traditionally been applied to semisolids that possess a relatively fluid consistency formulated as either water-in-oil (e.g., Cold Cream) or oil-in-water (e.g., Fluocinolone Acetonide Cream) emulsions. However, more recently the term has been restricted to products consisting of oil-in-water emulsions or aqueous microcrystalline dispersions of long-chain fatty acids or alcohols that are water washable and more cosmetically and aesthetically acceptable. Creams can be used for administering drugs via the vaginal route (e.g., Triple Sulfa Vaginal Cream). Creams are used to help sun burns

Composition: There are four main ingredients of the cold cream 1: Water 2: Oil 3: Emulsifier 4: Thickening agent