Blog

What's the difference between ointment, lotion & cream?

What's the difference between ointment, lotion & cream?

Gansbaai Pharmacy

All are formulations that you put on the skin and all contain a mixture of oil and water. However, each has a slightly different composition; ointments contain a higher proportion of oil and are greasy compared with lotions, which have more water and are very light on the skin, and creams, which are somewhere in between the two. Ointments can leave marks on clothes which is unappealing to some patients.

One of the functions of the skin is to regulate heat and water loss from our bodies. When creams, lotions or ointments are applied to the skin, the water they contain tends to evaporate, leaving the oil base on the skin. For this reason, creams and ointments are the best for dry hands in winter (lotions can actually dehydrate the skin as the high water content evaporates, drying the skin out).

For normal skin, a cream is appropriate, while for those with sensitive or eczema prone skin, an ointment would be beneficial.

What's the difference between ointment, lotion & cream?

Gansbaai Pharmacy

Gansbaai Pharmacy has been taking care of locals and visitors to the greater Gansbaai area since 1994. The pharmacy stocks everything from prescription medicine to beauty products. A convenient day clinic run by qualified nursing staff is an added service the chemist offers its clients. The pharmacy...

View Profile

What is Xplorio?

Xplorio is your local connection allowing you to find anything and everything about a town.

Watch the Gansbaai Video
Read More

Other Articles

Well done to our Canoe Team!

Well done to our Canoe Team!

Last Saturday, our team had an awesome day at the Western Province Marathon Champs.

Grootbos Foundation
Herdenking van Hemelvaart by Laerskool Gansbaai

Herdenking van Hemelvaart by Laerskool Gansbaai

Laerskool Gansbaai het op Donderdag, 29 Mei 2025, Hemelvaart herdenk tydens 'n saalbyeenkoms.

Laerskool Gansbaai
Daily Blog: 02 June 2025 | Shark Cage Diving in South Africa

Daily Blog: 02 June 2025 | Shark Cage Diving in South Africa

After multiple landlocked days, waiting for the storm to pass, it was finally time again to head out to sea!

Noodkreet vir OMR Ambulansdienste

Noodkreet vir OMR Ambulansdienste

'n Noodkreet gaan uit na die gemeenskap, besighede en individue vir die voortbestaan van Overstrand Medical Response (OMR)...

Gans-Berg Nuus / News
Building Homes for Penguins

Building Homes for Penguins

Here’s Dean and Enva from our team, hard at work building new homes for one of Africa’s most endangered seabirds.

From Renting to Owning: Building Your Future, One Brick at a Time

From Renting to Owning: Building Your Future, One Brick at a Time

The question of whether to rent or buy a home is a perennial one, a crossroads many face on their financial journey. 

See All Articles