What is the difference between a medical:
1.Cream
2.Ointment 
3.Lotion
4.Salve
5.Gel?
We had an exchange student who said they had a rash and used a type of
over the counter medication in England.  We tried to get them
something like it here but it seems that our pharmaceutical companies
put nearly the same ingredients in  creams, ointments, lotions, salves
and gels sometimes.

What is the medical difference between these 5 forms of medicine?  The
student said the Bible says to buy the salve.

Hi mcisencraft,

Here you go - a salve and ointment are pretty much the same, the rest
are quite different. Briefly...

Cream: water-based, medicinal, creamy consistency
Ointment: oil-based, medicinal, semisolid
lotion: skin cleanser usually water-based liquid
salve: oil-based, medicinal, adhesive
gel: coagulated colloidal liquid

CREAM

"something having the consistency of cream ; especially : a usually
emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation"
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html
 
OINTMENT

"An ointment has an oil base whereas a cream is water-soluble. (the
word ointment comes from the latin ungere meaning anoint with oil)."
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=ointment&action=Search+OMD

"a salve or unguent for application to the skin ; specifically : a
semisolid medicinal preparation usually having a base of fatty or
greasy material"
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

LOTION

1. A washing, especially of the skin for the purpose of rendering it fair.
2. A liquid preparation for bathing the skin, or an injured or
diseased part, either for a medicinal purpose, or for improving its
appearance.
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=lotion&action=Search+OMD

1. a liquid usually aqueous medicinal preparation containing one or
more insoluble substances and applied externally for skin disorders
2. a liquid cosmetic preparation usually containing alcohol and a
cleansing, softening, or astringent agent and applied to the skin
especially of the face and hands <hand lotion> <after-shave lotion>

SALVE

1. An adhesive composition or substance to be applied to wounds or
sores; a healing ointment.
2. A soothing remedy or antidote. "Counsel or consolation we may
bring. Salve to thy sores.
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=salve&action=Search+OMD

"an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores"
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

5.Gel: coagulated colloidal liquid:

"Jelly like material formed by the coagulation of a colloidal liquid.
Many gels have a fibrous matrix and fluid filled interstices: gels are
viscoelastic rather than simply viscous and can resist some mechanical
stress without deformation."
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=gel&action=Search+OMD

"a colloid in a more solid form than a sol"
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

I hope this helps. If you have an questions, please post a
clarification request before closing/rating my answer and I'll be
happy to reply.

Thank you,
hummer

Search Terms Used (medical dictionaries):
cream / ointment / lotion / salve / gel

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 20 Jun 2004 09:13 PDT

Hi McIsencraft,

Thank you for your nice note, rating, and tip - I enjoyed researching
your question. As far as "analgesic" goes, I think salves/ointments
are analgesic by nature, that is, they are soothing and reduce pain.
Just because one brand might call itself "Analgesic Salve/Ointment",
doesn't mean that it will be any more analgesic than one that just
calls itself "Salve/Ointment" (kind of like saying "fat free pretzels"
when all true pretzels are fat free!).

SALVE
   1. An analgesic or medicinal OINTMENT.
   2. Something that soothes or heals; a balm.
   3. Flattery or commendation.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=SALVE

Analgesic Salve: Ingredients:
http://www.hannasherbshop.net/V1705.html

OINTMENT
"A highly viscous or semisolid substance used on the skin as a
cosmetic, emollient, or medicament; a SALVE."
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=OINTMENT

ANALGESIC
A medication that reduces or eliminates pain.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=ANALGESIC

Here's another: Analgesic Balm! Have you ever heard of "Bag Balm"? It
was actually a product formulated for messaging cow's udders and teats
which often get chapped, dry, or cracked from harsh weather. Well,
(this is a true story, honest!) the farmers noticed how nice their
hands were after using it and it was soon brought into the house for
the family. Bag Balm was a staple on farm homesteads for years (still
is) but its sudden burst in popularity can be attributed to Shania
Twain, who once mentioned that she used it.

The Bag Balm Story:
John Mahoney, Editor, Log Cabin Chronicles
http://www.easterntownships.com/bagbalm/our_story.html

Thanks again,
hummer

Thanks for trying to sum it all up in the first paragraph the right way.
If you ever run across Analgesic Ointment or Salve  info let me know
Good JOB, Thankyou. McIsencraft

Ointment is a generic term that covers everything that is applied
externally for medecinal purposes.

A Lotion comes as a liquid.

A Gel comes as a gelatinous preparation.

Ointment, Salve and Cream all come as creamy preparations. They are
largely synonymous but Cream is mostly used for Cosmetics.

Users are often offered the same medication in different forms.