Advantages Of Ointments

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Ointments are a homogeneous, viscid, semi-solid preparation, most commonly greasy and thick oil with a great viscosity, which is used for external application to the skin or mucous membranes. All Ointments have a water number which is the no. of grams of water that can be held by 100 gm of the ointment of the base so it’s expressed the hydrophilicity of the base .They are used as emollients or protective for the skin, therapeutic, or prophylactic purposes and where a degree of occlusion is desired. Ointments are used topically on different body surfaces. Which include the skin, the mucous membranes of the eye (an eye ointment), chest, vulva, anus, and nose. An ointment may or may not be medicated.
Ointments are usually very moisturizing, and good for dry …show more content…

Ophthalmic products are intended for application to the conjunctiva, the conjunctival sac, or the eyelids .Similar to suspensions, ointments can be more difficult to formulate in sterile form. They can be terminally sterilized, or, otherwise, they must be manufactured from sterile ingredients in an aseptic atmosphere. Filtration through a suitable membrane or dry heat sterilization is often used. The ointment base chosen for an ophthalmic ointment must be nonirritating to the eye and must permit the diffusion of the active ingredient throughout the secretions washing the eye. Ointment bases which used for ophthalmics have a melting or softening point close to body temperature. Ophthalmic ointments have a longer visual contact time when compared to many ophthalmic solutions. Researches published that the visual contact time is two to four times bigger when ointments are used than when a saline solution is used. Ophthalmic ointments are preferred for nighttime applications as they spread over the entire corneal and conjunctival surface and cause unclear vision that occurs as the ointment base melts and is spread across the

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