# Cream vs. ointment vs. lotion **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-vs-ointment-vs-lotion/511573 "2009-09-25T21:03:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-vs-ointment-vs-lotion/511573/1 "2009-09-25T21:03:16Z")
I’ve been prescribed a dermatological cream that’s also available as an ointment and a lotion. The cream and ointment are measured in grams, and the lotion is measured in milliliters (I assume it’s less viscous). All three have the same percentage of the medication. So what determines which form the doctor will prescribe? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-vs-ointment-vs-lotion/511573/2 "2009-09-25T21:06:23Z")
a) Ointments are more potent for the same amount of medicine contained. b) Location and how well being greasy there will be tolerated or not, or if greasy there may cause other problems or prevent other problems. c) Mindless habit. Yeah that one lots of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cream-vs-ointment-vs-lotion/511573/3 "2009-09-25T21:44:27Z")
The difference is mostly in semantics and has to do with the consistency. [Cite.](http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/71369.htm)