Lotion

For the song "Lotion" by The Greenskeepers, see The Greenskeepers.

A lotion is a non-viscous medicated topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin. Most lotions are oil-in-water emulsions but water-in-oil lotions are also formulated. See the article on creams for an explanation of these types of emulsion. Lotions are to be applied without friction (they are usually dabbed on with a clean cloth, cotton wool or gauze) and are not applied to mucus membranes.

The key components are the aqueous and oily phases, an emulgent to prevent separation of these two phases, and the drug substance or substances. A wide variety of other ingredients such as fragrances, glycerol, dyes, preservatives, vitamins, proteins and stabilizing agents are commonly added to commercial lotions.

Lotions are used for the delivery to the skin of medications such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antiseptics
• Antifungals
• Corticosteroids
• Anti-acne agents
• Soothing or protective agents (such as calamine)

Aside from medical use and usage in skin care, lotions are often used as accessories to aid massage or masturbation, or accompany sex.

It is not uncommon for the same drug ingredient to be formulated into a lotion, cream and ointment. Creams are the most convenient and acceptable of the three but are inappropriate for application to regions of hairy skin such as the scalp, while a lotion is non-viscous and may be readily applied to these areas (many medicated shampoos are in fact lotions). Lotions also have an advantage in that they may be spread thinly compared to a cream or ointment and may economically cover a large area of skin. Non-comedogenic lotions are recommended for use on acne prone skin.

See also

• Sunscreen