Pharmaceutical Evaluation of Commercial Corticosteroid Ointments and Creams

Commercially available corticosteroid ointments and creams were investigated in terms of physical evaluation. In 33 products of commercial ointments and about 50 of creams, the presence of particles or crystals of corticosteroid and the occurance of recrystallization in these products were studied by polarizing microscopic method. In addition, the measurement of yield of these products was made with the spread meter. Results were as follows:1) Crystals of corticosteroid were observed in 25 of 33 ointment products and in 30 out of 50 cream products.2) Diameters of corticosteroid particles existed in ointment products, ranging from 100μm to 200 kem, were smaller rhan those in cream products.3) 73% of ointment products showed yield value ranging from 4000 to 10000 dyne/ cm2, while 70% of cream products showed the value below 4000 dyne/ cm2.