What is the difference between ointments and pastes

Because pastes are stiff, they do not spread easily, localizing drug delivery. This is particularly important, if the ingredient to be applied to the skin is corrosive, such as in dithranol, coal tar, or salicylic acid. It is also easier to apply a paste to a discrete skin area, such as a particular lesion or plaque, and thereby, it does not compromise the integrity of healthy skin. Pastes are also useful for absorbing harmful chemicals, such as the ammonia released by bacterial action on urine, and so they are often used in nappy products.

In addition, their high powder content enables them to be used for absorbing wound. Pastes are generally applied with a spatula or are spread on lint; whereas, ointments are simply applied on the skin.

Pastes form a protective coating to the area where it is applied; whereas, ointments are used as protective or emollient for the skin. Paste contains a large amount of powder which is porous in nature, allowing perspiration to escape; whereas, ointments are used for the protection of lesions. Pastes are less macerating in nature; whereas, ointments are more macerating in action. There are five 5 classes or types of ointment bases, which are differentiated on the basis of their physical composition.

These are:. Each type has a different physical characteristic, as well as therapeutic uses, based on the nature of its components. One partner should prepare bases 1, 3, and 5 while the other prepares 2 and 4. Make sure that you closely follow the procedures for preparation. Around two 2 to four 4 grams of an ointment may be lost in the compounding process.

The ointment is lost as it adheres to beakers, ointment tiles, or ointment pads. To compensate for this loss, make an excess of the ointment. When heat is used to melt ingredients, use a water bath or a special low temperature hot plate. These two heating devices provide adequate temperature control and will ensure that the ingredients are not overheated.

When both an oil and an aqueous phase are being mixed together to make an ointment, it is helpful to heat the aqueous phase a few degrees higher than the oil phase prior to mixing. The aqueous phase tends to cool faster than the oil phase, and it may cause premature solidification of some ingredients.

However, one must use the lowest temperature possible and keep the time of heating as short as possible to minimize the quantity of water lost through evaporation. When melting a number of ingredients, melt the ingredient with the highest melting point first; then, gradually reduce the heat to melt the ingredient with the next relatively high melting point.

Continue this process until all ingredients have been added. This does not typically contain alcohol, but some versions do contain fragrances. Like other types of gel products, aloe vera absorbs rapidly. The natural salicylic acid content in aloe vera has a drying effect. The gel is also thin enough to be applied over facial and body hair. These go on the skin just like a lotion.

People with dry skin may not benefit as much from gels because gels are absorbed too quickly without creating a moisture barrier on the skin. Read product labels carefully if you have sensitive skin, and avoid any gel product with alcohol or fragrances.

When selecting an over-the-counter OTC product for non-medical use, you have several choices. Here are the main benefits and differences to consider:. An ointment may be best for extremely dry skin because its oil-based formula keeps moisture trapped in the skin. Some OTC products like Aquaphor and Eucerin offer superior protection for dry, chapped, or cracked skin. These can also protect eczema and psoriasis patches. Ointments may also be helpful for use after frequent handwashing.

This helps to prevent your hands from drying out. Also, while ointments work best for patches of skin, the water contained in creams makes the latter better for widespread use. If you have normal, dry, or sensitive skin , you may find that cream-based moisturizers provide the right hydration. Lotions may still be a better fit during the hot summer months. A higher water content makes lotions easier to apply all over the body and face.

Another sign of an actual lotion? Most lotions bottles have pumps, while creams are in jars. This is because most creams are too thick to dispense with pumps. For oily skin or burns, consider using a gel-based product. The high absorption rate leaves your skin feeling less oily and breakout prone overall. Avoid using gel as your regular moisturizer if you have sensitive or dry skin. Such products may cause irritation and excess dryness.

Choosing the right topical product depends on your skin type, as well as how much water and oil the product contains. Ointments contain the most oil, making them the best choice for extremely dry, cracked skin. It consists of fatty base e. Pastes are the semisolid preparations intended for external application to the skin. Usually they are thick and do not melt at normal temperature. A cream is a preparation of a medication for topical use that contains a water base.

It is a preparation of oil in water. An ointment is a preparation of a medication for topical use that contains an oil base. This medication is used to treat and prevent diaper rash and other minor skin irritations e. 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.

Add an amount of the ointment that is approximately equal in size to the drug. Hair gel is a product used to style hair. On the other hand, hair paste is actually a wax-based hairstyling product, used to texturize hair into various pieces, and manage hair in different styles. Hair paste has a thick texture, and contains some wax. The difference between a Gel and Cream : A gel is transparent, and a cream is not.

Gels are mostly colourless and disappear when applied. Despite having a colour base, creams are also not visible once applied, although gels are absorbed faster. Gels are usually oil free.

What is a Compound Medication? A compound medication is created specifically for an individual when their medication needs cannot be met by commercially available manufactured products. According to American Chronic Pain Association, the most common compounded medications are topical medications. Paste is a command that allows you to insert data from the clipboard into an application. In order to use the Paste command, you must first use either the Copy or Cut command to save data to the clipboard.

Once the clipboard contains data, you can paste the saved data into any supporting program. Medical Definition of ointment : a salve or unguent for application to the skin specifically : a semisolid medicinal preparation usually having a base of fatty or greasy material. The paste is the liquid only, but it's viscosity is more so it behave like a semi solid also.