They give protection against irritation or repeated hydration and is useful in the treatment of napkin rash and bedsores, etc. Creams can only be diluted with suitable diluents specified in the appropriate entries and diluted creams must be freshly prepared without the application of heat. Creams should be stored in cool place and supplied in well-closed containers that prevent evaporation and contamination of the contents. Emollients soften the skin by forming an occlusive oil film on the stratum corneum, preventing drying from evaporation from the deeper layers of skin. Thus emollients are employed as protectives and as agents for softening the skin, rendering it more pliable in conditions like dry eczema, ichthyosis and psoriasis.
Emollients also serve as vehicles for more active drugs.
Gargles Are aqueous solutions, usually in a concentrated form intended for use after dilution, for treating affections of oral cavity and throat. Gargles are commonly used to alleviate painful and inflammatory conditions of the oral cavity including tonsillitis, oral candidiasis, herpes gingivostomatitis, radiation mucositis, blistering diseases affecting the oral cavity, aphthous ulcers, post orosurgical and periodontal procedures etc. A gargle does not, however, act as a protective covering to mucous membranes. Examples of gargles are Thymol gargle, Chlorhexidine gargle and Difflam gargle. In the treatment of mucositis, try to avoid a gargle that contains a high concentration of alcohol as it may produce irritation.