What is the process of ointment?

Author: Ms. Lupe Rosenbaum  |  Last update: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

In the pharmaceutical industry, ointments are manufactured by melting oil and aqueous phases in two separate jacketed vessels with agitators for proper mixing. The two phases are transferred to the main ointment vessel through valves and pipes.

What is the process of making ointment?

Procedure for Preparation:
  1. Melt the stearyl alcohol and white petrolatum on a hot plate.
  2. Heat this mixture to 70°C.
  3. Dissolve remaining ingredients in water and heat the solution to 70° C.
  4. Add the oleaginous phase slowly to the aqueous phase, stirring constantly.
  5. Remove from heat and stir the mixture until it congeals.

What is the procedure for applying ointment?

Squeeze a small amount of the cream or ointment onto your finger, and gently apply it to the area. You can spread it a little bit beyond the edge of the area. Ask your child not to touch the area so the cream can do its work. Wash your hands again when you are done, even if you wore gloves.

What is the action of ointment?

Ointments, which include medicines, moisturizers, or cosmetics, can be applied to the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes to help treat anything from dry skin to cuts, scrapes, burns, bites, and hemorrhoids.

What are the three main functions of ointments?

Topically applied pharmaceuticals have three main functions: (1) to protect the injured area from the environment and permit the skin to rejuvenate; (2) to provide skin with hydration or to produce an emollient effect; and (3) to convey a medication to the skin for a specific effect, either topically or systemically ( ...

Formulating Ointments

What does ointment do to your skin?

Ointments are often formulated with petrolatum, an occlusive moisturizer that's considered the “gold standard” of occlusives due to its effectiveness. This ingredient works by forming a physical barrier on top of your skin that helps seal in moisture.

How does skin absorb ointment?

Topically absorbed drugs first penetrate the outer barrier of dead skin cells (stratum corneum), then move through the viable layers of the epidermis to reach the vascularized dermis layer of the skin (see Figure 5-1).

What is the methodology of ointment?

Ointments are prepared by two general methods: • (a) incorporation • (b) fusion, Depending primarily on the nature of the ingredients. The components are mixed until a uniform preparation is attained.

How long to wait after applying ointment?

Wait at least 30 minutes before using any other skin product after you put on fluticasone cream or ointment. If you need to use a dressing, like a bandage or plaster, wait at least 10 minutes after putting fluticasone on. If you're treating a child, do not cover the cream or ointment with dressings or bandages.

Does ointment heal skin faster?

A person can treat a wound with several over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial ointments, which can help prevent infections. They can also help a wound heal more quickly. One review of 27 animal model studies showed that antibacterial treatments played a positive role in helping wounds heal faster.

How long do topical ointments take to work?

Topical betamethasone – how long does it take to work? For most skin conditions, and in most people, some improvement is noted within three to four days of starting treatment. The majority of conditions should resolve within one week of betamethasone use.

What is the side effects of ointment?

These reactions may include burning, crusting, dryness, flaking, itching, oozing, pain, redness, sores or ulcers, or swelling. Scarring or permanent pigment change from the cream is very unusual.

How does cream ointment work?

Ointments are occlusive. They stay longer on the surface of your skin, trap moisture in to prevent wounds from drying out and are not well absorbed into your skin. If you have dry skin, using an ointment can keep it moisturized.

What are ointments prepared from?

In this case, natural vegetable oils are used as the oil base. The water medium is introduced in these oil bases and an ointment base is prepared. These bases are used generally in cosmetics. The most common vegetable oils used for this purpose are almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, etc.

Why is it called ointment?

The Old French oignement came from the Latin unguentum, from the stem unguere, "to anoint or salve."

What is the manufacturing process of ointment?

The manufacturing process for ointments involves heating to melt the petrolatum and waxes, followed by addition of other liquid components, such as polar solvents, with mixing/homogenization for uniform dispersion. The ointment is then cooled to room temperature before filling into containers such as jars and tubes.

What process is used to prepare an ointment?

In the pharmaceutical industry, ointments are manufactured by melting oil and aqueous phases in two separate jacketed vessels with agitators for proper mixing. The two phases are transferred to the main ointment vessel through valves and pipes. The additional stirrers in the main vessel provide agitation (1).

Which ointment is best for wound healing?

Bacitracin can be found in just about every over-the-counter antibiotic ointment on the market. It's an antibiotic that kills a broad range of bacteria that can be present in most wounds. In many cases, bacitracin is enough to kill any infections in the wound without the need for a prescription antibiotic.

How can I make ointment absorb faster?

Apply to Just-Washed Skin

Damp skin acts like a sponge, quickly absorbing whatever comes its way. (That's damp, not wet.) This rule applies to almost every product—even retinoids.

What oil penetrates deepest into skin?

Olive oil penetrates the skin best, but coconut oil, almond oil, and tea tree may be better choices depending upon your skin type.

Do topical creams go into the bloodstream?

Most skincare formulas are designed to work on the top layers of the skin, or penetrate to slightly deeper layers, but that doesn't mean absorption into the bloodstream isn't possible, however, it's pretty unlikely.

What is the disadvantage of ointment?

Disadvantages of an ointment

1) These oily semisolid preparations are staining and cosmetically less aesthetic. 2) Application with finger tip may contaminate the formulation or cause irritation when applied. 3) As compared to solid dosage forms, semisolid preparation are more bulky to handle.

How long does it take skin to absorb ointment?

Some skincare formulas can take up to 30 minutes to fully absorb — but that doesn't mean you have to wait that long between skincare steps. Most skincare products are designed to begin absorbing right away.

Is CeraVe Healing Ointment just Vaseline?

It's not at all. It's great. The Cerave healing ointment is just enhanced with ceramides, cholesterol, and Hyaluronic acid which are naturally found in the skin, and are necessary for a healthy barrier. Vaseline is JUST petroleum jelly.

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