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Topical Medications: Ointments vs. Creams vs. Lotions

Ross Phan, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, BCPSMaria Robinson, MD, MBA
Published on April 20, 2022

Key takeaways:

  • Skin-related health conditions affect millions of people around the country. They can cause symptoms like itching, swelling, and rashes that range from mild to severe.

  • Many topical medications are available to treat these symptoms. Topical medications come as ointments, creams, lotions, and more.

  • The best topical medication varies for everyone. Your skin type, condition that’s being treated, and medical history all play roles. 

Portrait of a stunning beautiful woman with braids up in a top knot. The focus is her putting cream onto her neck and body. She is on a plain yellow studio background.
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Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by skin problems. In fact, skin-related health conditions impact as many as 1 in 3 people at any given time. Skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis are all common reasons why you could be considering a topical medication as a source of relief from your symptoms. 

If you’ve gone to purchase a topical medication online or at your local pharmacy, you may have noticed that these medications are often available in a few distinct versions. Understandably, the differences between them can seem vague — at best. So if you’ve ever been confused about needing an ointment versus a cream or lotion, you’re not alone.

Here, we’ll compare ointments, creams, and lotions.

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What’s the difference between ointments, creams, and lotions?

Ointments, creams, and lotions are all topical products that you can apply to your skin. Some of them are simply cosmetic products, while others are medications. Regardless, you may have noticed a few differences between them.

  • Ointments: Ointments tend to feel greasy. Your skin may appear glossy or shiny after using an ointment. Ointments are also usually thick and heavy. An ointment usually forms a thick barrier or protective layer on top of your skin.

  • Creams: Compared to ointments, creams are not as heavy and thick. Creams also tend to have a more cosmetically-pleasing appearance.

  • Lotions: Lotions are non-greasy products. They’re also thinner than ointments and creams. So, you can easily apply them to a larger area of your body.

These differences in appearances and textures are due to the various amounts of oil and water they each contain. Ointments are generally 80% oil and 20% water, and creams are typically 50% oil and 50% water. Lotions tend to contain a lot more water than oil. 

Are there any other types of topical medications?

Yes. Although they’re not as common, other types (formulations) of topical medications include:

  • Foams

  • Gels

  • Mousses

  • Shampoos

  • Solutions

  • Suspensions

Do some ointments, creams, and lotions have the same active ingredient?

In many cases, yes. Several ointments, creams, and lotions have the same active ingredient. 

A common example is hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone is a topical steroid medication that’s available as an ointment, cream, and lotion. It also comes as a topical solution and spray. Hydrocortisone is typically used for the short-term relief of itching, redness, and swelling caused by various skin conditions.

Another common example is Neosporin. Neosporin is available as an ointment and cream. Both versions contain antibiotics called neomycin and polymyxin that help prevent infection from minor skin injuries. However, the two formulations also have minor differences in other active ingredients they contain. 

On the other hand, some medications only come as one formulation. For instance, pimecrolimus (Elidel) is a prescription-only medication that treats eczema. It only comes as a cream — it doesn’t come as an ointment, lotion, or gel. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of medicated ointments, creams, and lotions?

When comparing topical products to each other, each type of topical product has a few advantages and disadvantages.

Product Advantages Disadvantages
Ointments
  • Tend to be stronger than creams and lotions (more potent)
  • Good medication absorption through the skin
  • Good source of skin lubrication
  • Forms a thick, protective layer that can help your skin heal
  • Have fewer preservatives
  • Hard to use on hairy skin
  • Have a greasy appearance and texture
  • Sometimes not preferred due to cosmetic concerns
  • Hard to spread on skin
  • Hard to wash off
  • Can stain clothes and fabrics
Creams
  • Also a good source of lubrication
  • More cosmetically appealing than ointments (less greasy)
  • Good for skin conditions that ooze or crust
  • Easier to spread over large areas
  • Less hydrating than ointments
  • Generally less potent than ointments
  • More likely to contain preservatives that can cause irritation and stinging
  • Not able to form a thick, protective barrier on your skin
Lotions
  • Have the least amount of grease and leave very little residue
  • Can be used on hairy areas
  • Good for skin conditions that ooze or crust
  • Easy to spread over large areas
  • The least hydrating
  • Generally less potent than ointments and creams
  • Not able to form a thick, protective barrier on your skin

Does your skin type determine if you need an ointment, cream, or lotion?

In some cases, yes. Your skin’s composition can play a role in which product type might be best for your skin. 

Skin type Preferred topical product
Normal skin Cream for adults older than 50 years old
Lotion for younger adults
Dry skin Creams or ointments
Dry and thick skin patches Ointments
Oily skin Creams or lotions
Dry and oily skin Creams or ointments for the dry spots, but no product on the oily spots
Hairy skin Creams or lotions

However, your skin type isn’t the only deciding factor. Certain topical medications might be better than others depending on where you apply them on your body. The skin condition that you’re treating is also a big factor. 

Can you combine medicated ointments, creams, and lotions?

While you might use multiple topical products for your skin condition, you shouldn’t typically combine them on your skin at the same time.

For instance, eczema is a common skin condition that often requires multiple topical products. If you have eczema, healthcare providers may prescribe a topical steroid medication, like a hydrocortisone ointment or cream. But they could also recommend using another moisturizer to help soothe and protect your skin.

However, two topical products generally shouldn’t be applied to the same area of skin at the same time. In fact, combining them can lower a treatment’s effectiveness and spread the mixture to unaffected skin areas. Experts usually suggest separating products by at least 10 to 30 minutes

Depending on your skincare routine and medications that you use, your healthcare provider can give you more specific guidance on how to use your products together in a safe and effective way. 

Which topical medication formulation is the best?

It depends. One formulation isn’t “better” than the other. 

The best topical medication will vary from person-to-person. They are all tools that come in handy in different situations. An ideal topical product will depend on the following factors:

  • Your skin type

  • Application site

  • Skin condition being treated

  • Medical history

  • Preferences

  • Previous experience with a topical medication (if applicable)

The bottom line

Several medications are available to treat skin conditions. Many of these medications are topical products, such as ointments, creams, and lotions. Like all medications, these topical products have their pros and cons. The best topical product will vary for each person due to certain factors — like skin type, application site, and skin condition. 

If you have any questions or concerns about any topical product for your skin condition, talk with your pharmacist or dermatologist. They can help find an ideal topical medication for you. 

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Why trust our experts?

Ross Phan, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, BCPS
Ross Phan is a board-certified clinical pharmacist. She has roughly two decades of healthcare experience — with most of her experience being pharmacy related.
Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS
Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.
Maria Robinson, MD, MBA
Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

References

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Burden of skin disease.

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2022). How to pick the right moisturizer for your skin.

View All References (10)

Chalmers, J. R., et al. (2019). Different strategies for using topical corticosteroids in people with eczema. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Chang, R. K., et al. (2013). Generic development of topical dermatological products: Formulation development, process development, and testing of topical dermatologic products. The AAPS Journal.

Ference, J. D., et al. (2009). Choosing topical corticosteroids. American Family Physician.

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. (2020). Eczema: Steroids and other topical medications. InformedHealth.org.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2021). Neosporin original [package insert].

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2021). Neosporin + pain relief [package insert].

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2019). Skin conditions at a glance.

National Eczema Society. (2019). Topical steroids factsheet.

Purnamawati, S., et al. (2017). The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: A review. Clinical Medicine & Research.

Sethi, A., et al. (2016). Moisturizers: The slippery road. Indian Journal of Dermatology.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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