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A cream is a topical preparation usually for application to the skin. Creams for application to mucus membranes such as those of the rectum or vagina are also used. Creams may be considered pharmaceutical products as even cosmetic creams are based on techniques developed by pharmacy and unmedicated creams are highly used in a variety of skin situation (dermatoses). The use of the Finger tip unit concept may be helpful in guiding how much topical cream is necessary to cover different areas. Creams are semi-solid emulsions, that is mixtures of oil and water. They are divided into two types: oil-in-water (O/W) creams which are composed of small droplets of oil dispersed in a continuous phase, and water-in-oil (W/O) creams which are composed of small droplets of water dispersed in a continuous oily phase. Oil-in-water creams are more comfortable and cosmetically suitable as they are less greasy and more easily washed off using water. Water-in-oil creams are more difficult to handle but many drugs which are integrated into creams are hydrophobic and will be released more readily from a waterin-oil cream than an oil-in-water cream. Water-in-oil creams are also more moisturising as they provide an oily barrier which reduces water loss from the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin. Creams can be used for administering drugs via the vaginal route. Creams are used to help sun burns Composition: