What is ointment base?
Emily Wilson
Updated on May 24, 2026
Typical ointment bases comprise petrolatum and mineral oil, or petrolatum and waxy/fatty alcohol combinations, the ratio and grades of these components being selected to give the desired finished product viscosity/spreadability.
What are ointment bases in pharmacy?
There are three major types of ointment bases: oleaginous (greasy) bases, which are water repellent; water-absorbing bases, which are greasy but allow absorption of water, and water-miscible bases (vanishing creams or water-soluble bases). …
What are ointment bases with examples?
SUMMARY CHART: PROPERTIES OF OINTMENT BASES
| Oleaginous Ointment Bases | Water/Oil Emulsion Ointment Bases | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | White Petrolatum, White Ointment | Cold Cream type, Hydrous Lanolin, Rose Water Ointment, Hydrocream™, Eucerin®, Nivea® |
What is ointment example?
Ointments used for medical purposes contain medications that can either act on the skin or be absorbed through the skin for systemic action. Common bases for ointments include: Petroleum jelly. Anhydrous lanolin. Waxes.
What is ointment made of?
Common ingredients found in ointments include mineral oil and petroleum. Topical medications, such as antibiotics for infections or corticosteroids for psoriasis, may be ideal in ointment form because they don’t evaporate off the skin, ensuring maximum product absorption.
Are ointments petroleum based?
Aquaphor and Vaseline are two brand names for petroleum jelly-based products. Both brands offer a myriad of products, from Aquaphor’s baby creams and ointments to Vaseline’s body lotions. These two products have similar uses and can help lock-in moisture for dry skin, but they’re not identical.
How are the ointments classified?
Dosage forms are first classified as liquid or semisolid; whereby, solutions, suspensions, and lotions fall under the liquid category and creams, gels, pastes and ointments belong to the semisolid category.
What are absorption bases?
An absorption base is an oleaginous base that contains a w/o emulsifying agent. When water is taken up into the base, it will form a w/o emulsion. Absorption bases typically can incorporate about 50% of their volume in water. Incorporating insoluble drugs into these bases can be done mechanically or by fusion.
What is an ointment made of?
Ointments consist of any one or a combination of hydrocarbons, mineral oils, lanolin and polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, carbopol and methylcellulose.
How do you describe an ointment?
Ointments are preparations for external use, intended for application to the skin. Typically, they have an oily or greasy consistency and can appear “stiff” as they are applied to the skin. Ointments contain drug that may act on the skin or be…
What is ointment preparation?
Preparation of ointments Ointments are prepared by two general methods: – Incorporation – Fusion Incorporation By the incorporation method, the components are mixed until a uniform preparation is attained.
