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These products have semisolid consistency and applied to skin or mucous membranes for therapeutic orprotective action or cosmetic purpose. The following preparations belong to semisolid dosage products:creams, ointments, gel and pastes having viscous consistency.
Definitions:
Ointment: An ointment is hydrocarbon based semisolid preparation, translucent in appearance andgreasy in nature for topical use.
Creams: A viscous semisolid emulsion (Oil in Water (O/W) or Water in Oil (W/O) with opaqueappearance for topical use (on the skin) that contains a water base. Oil in water are non-greasywater washable, good for drug delivery
Pastes: Is a high insoluble solid content stiff ointment. However, its appearance unlike ointment isopaque.
Gel: It is a solid, jelly-like material with properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough.Made of substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state. Byweight, gels are mostly liquid, yet they behave like solids due to a three-dimensional cross-linkednetwork within the liquid.
