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Home Topics A–Z Topical formulations
Author: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2010. Updated in February 2016.
Topical formulations are applied directly to the skin. Advantages of this include:
Disadvantages of topical formulations include:
Topical formulations are made up in a vehicle, or base, which may be optimised for a particular site of the body or type of skin condition. The product may be designed to be moisturising or to maximise the penetration of an active ingredient, often a medicine, into or through the skin.
The amount of the active ingredient which is absorbed through the skin depends on the following factors:
Minor differences in the formulation may make surprising differences to the effectiveness of a topical medication.
How much topical medication to prescribe can challenge the most experienced dermatologist. It depends on:
Expect 1 g of cream to spread out over a 10-cm2 area of skin; an ointment spreads a little further. The fingertip unit (0.5 g) is a guide to the amount of a cream or ointment needed to treat an area for a certain time. One fingertip unit covers one side of 2 flat hands, and one gram covers both sides of the patient’s two hands.
It takes 20–30 g of cream or ointment to cover an adult's total body once.
Topical formulations contain an active ingredient, often a medication or drug or botanical, and a vehicle. The vehicle usually contains water, oil, alcohol or propylene glycol mixed with preservatives, emulsifiers, absorption promoters and fragrances.
The table below describes different formulations. Manufacturers interpret the definitions in various ways so a similar preparation might be called lotion, gel or cream.
Other terms used by cosmetic and pharmaceutical manufacturers include emulsion, paint, suspension, milk, syrup, collodion, balm and mist. Formulae may have mixed ingredients with more than one type of vehicle.
Factors in the choice of the vehicle or base for a topical medication include the nature of the skin complaint and its site.
When a pharmacist makes up a mixture, it is extemporaneously compounded. The crude ingredients (often natural in origin) are called galenicals. They may be added to a vehicle or a brand-name product.
The skin barrier function of full-term newborn babies is nearly the same as in older children and adults. However, the barrier function in premature babies is markedly impaired.
The surface area of a baby is proportionally much greater than that of an adult. Organs such as the liver, kidneys, blood and central nervous system are not fully developed. This means topically applied medications can be more likely to result in side effects and toxicity.
Like oral medicines, some topical medications may be unsafe during pregnancy and lactation. These include:
Medications are classified according to their risk. The FDA classification system is often used. Pregnancy categories used in New Zealand follow.
Category A
Drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.
Category B1
Drugs that have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals[1] have not shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage.Category B2Drugs that have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals[1] are inadequate or may be lacking, but available data show no evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage.
Category B3
Drugs that have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals[1] have shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage, the significance of which is considered uncertain in humans.
Category C
Drugs that, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible.
Category D
Drugs that have caused or are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause an increased incidence of human fetal malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects.
Category X
Drugs that have such a high risk of causing permanent damage to the fetus that they should not be used in pregnancy or when there is a possibility of pregnancy.
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