Ointment 2062597 226040640 2008-07-16T15:46:10Z Turzh 6649499 {{Wiktionary|ointment}} An '''ointment''' is a viscous semisolid preparation used topically on a variety of body surfaces. These include the [[skin]] and the [[mucus membrane]]s of the [[eye]] (an ''eye ointment''), [[vagina]], [[anus]], and [[nose]]. An ointment may or may not be medicated. ==Description== The vehicle of an ointment is known as ointment base. The choice of a base depends upon the clinical indication for the ointment, and the different types of ointment bases are: #Hydrocarbon bases. e.g. hard paraffin, soft paraffin. #Absorption bases. e.g. wool fat, beewax. #Water soluble bases. e.g. macrogols 200,300,400. Properties which affect choice of an ointment base are: #Stability #Penetrability #Solvent property #Irritant effects #Ease of application and removal ==Methods of preparation of ointments== '''Trituration''': In this finely subdivided insoluble medicaments are evenly distributed by grinding with a small amount of the base followed by dilution with gradually increasing amounts of the base. '''Fusion''': In this method the ingredients are melted together in descending order of their melting points and stirred to ensure homogenity ==See also== * [[Cream (pharmaceutical)]] * [[Lotion]] * [[Liniment]] * [[Gel]] ==External links== *[http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/mussheet06.pdf History of ointments] {{Template:Dosage forms}} {{treatment-stub}} [[Category:Pharmacy]] [[Category:Ointments]] [[Category:Dosage forms]] [[ar:مرهم]] [[de:Salbe]] [[fr:Pommade]] [[la:Unguentum]] [[li:Zalf]] [[nl:Zalf]] [[ja:軟膏剤]] [[no:Salver]] [[pl:Maść (medycyna)]] [[pt:pomada]] [[ru:Мазь]] [[uk:Мазь]]