Understanding How and Why Does Ointment Get Absorbed Into Skin?

October 14, 2025 •

4 min read

Ointments are composed of up to 80% oil, making them highly occlusive, which significantly influences how they interact with your skin. While a light layer may seem to disappear, the answer to "Does ointment get absorbed into skin?" is both yes and no; it depends on the formulation's purpose and how deeply its ingredients are intended to penetrate.

Quick Summary

Ointments are absorbed, but typically more slowly and superficially than creams due to their high oil content and occlusive nature. Absorption depends on factors like the active ingredient, skin condition, and application site, affecting therapeutic outcome.

Key Points

Slow, Localized Absorption: Ointments, due to their high oil content and occlusive nature, are absorbed slowly and are designed primarily for localized effects.
Occlusive Barrier: The greasy base of an ointment creates a barrier on the skin's surface, which helps trap moisture and enhances the penetration of the active ingredient.
Mechanism of Action: Absorption occurs primarily through the intercellular lipid matrix of the outermost skin layer, the stratum corneum.
Numerous Influencing Factors: The absorption rate and depth are impacted by the skin's condition, the anatomical site of application, the active ingredient's properties, and whether the area is occluded.
Local vs. Systemic: While typically for local action, high-potency drugs applied over large areas, especially damaged skin, can lead to undesirable systemic absorption.
Ointment vs. Other Formulations: Ointments offer the slowest absorption and greatest hydration compared to creams and lotions, which have higher water content and absorb more quickly.

The Fundamental Difference: Ointments vs. Creams and Lotions

To understand how an ointment is absorbed, it's crucial to first differentiate it from other common topical formulations like creams and lotions. The primary distinction lies in their oil-to-water ratio. Creams have a balanced mix of oil and water, giving them a lighter, non-greasy texture that absorbs relatively quickly. Lotions, having the highest water content, are the lightest and absorb the fastest. Ointments, conversely, contain the most oil and minimal water. This creates a thick, greasy consistency that serves a specific purpose.

Ointments are designed to be occlusive, meaning they form a protective barrier over the skin's surface. This barrier has two main functions: it traps moisture to hydrate and soothe the skin and, most importantly for drug delivery, it holds the medication in constant, prolonged contact with the skin. This prolonged contact allows for a slower, more sustained, and often deeper penetration of the active ingredient, primarily for localized effects.

The Journey Through the Skin: Mechanisms of Absorption

Regardless of the vehicle (ointment, cream, etc.), a medication must cross the skin's barrier to be absorbed. The skin is a complex organ with multiple layers, but its outermost layer, the stratum corneum, is the main obstacle. This "brick and mortar" structure, composed of dead skin cells (corneocytes) surrounded by lipids, acts as a highly effective, semi-permeable shield. Absorption, or percutaneous penetration, occurs through two main pathways:

The Transepidermal Route (Intercellular): The most significant pathway for topical drug delivery. Here, lipophilic (fat-loving) drug molecules primarily diffuse through the lipid matrix that surrounds the skin cells. Ointments are particularly effective at this due to their oily base, which facilitates the dissolution and transport of lipophilic drugs.
The Transappendageal Route (Shunt): This pathway involves absorption through the skin's natural appendages, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. While a less significant route for overall absorption, it can provide a faster initial entry point, especially for larger or more polar molecules that struggle with the stratum corneum barrier.

Ointment's occlusive nature enhances absorption by hydrating the skin beneath the oily layer, which swells the corneocytes and increases the permeability of the stratum corneum.

Key Factors That Influence Ointment Absorption

Several variables determine the rate and extent of percutaneous absorption, which is why the effect of an ointment can vary greatly from one person to another and across different body parts.

Here are some of the most critical factors influencing absorption:

Skin Condition: Compromised or damaged skin (e.g., burns, abrasions, eczema) has a weakened stratum corneum barrier, leading to significantly increased absorption. Healthy, intact skin will absorb much less. Hydrated skin also absorbs more readily than dry skin.
Anatomical Location: Skin thickness and blood flow vary across the body. The thinner skin of the face, neck, and genital area is much more permeable than the thicker skin of the palms and soles.
Application Method: The amount of product applied, how vigorously it's rubbed in, and whether the area is covered with an occlusive dressing (like a bandage) will all affect absorption. Occlusion is particularly potent for increasing absorption.
Drug Properties: The active ingredient's molecular size, solubility (lipophilic vs. hydrophilic), and concentration are key. Smaller, more lipid-soluble molecules penetrate more easily through the oily matrix of the stratum corneum.
Vehicle Composition: The ointment base itself is a critical factor. The concentration and type of oil used, along with any included chemical penetration enhancers, can be optimized to promote or limit absorption depending on the therapeutic goal.

The Difference Between Local and Systemic Effects

Topical medications are typically intended for a local effect, meaning the active ingredient is meant to target a specific area on or just below the skin's surface. For example, a topical antibiotic ointment for a cut is designed to work where it is applied without causing systemic effects.

However, under certain conditions, such as applying a high-potency steroid ointment to a large area of broken skin and covering it, the drug can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is known as systemic absorption. While transdermal patches are specifically designed for systemic delivery, systemic absorption from topical ointments can be an unintended consequence and, in some cases, lead to adverse side effects. This is why adhering to prescribed usage instructions is critical, particularly with potent medications like topical corticosteroids.

Comparison of Topical Formulations


Feature	Ointment	Cream	Lotion
Consistency	Thick, greasy, and stiff	Holds shape, viscous, less greasy	Thin, non-greasy, pourable
Oil-Water Ratio	High oil (80% or more), low water	Equal parts oil and water	High water, lowest oil content
Absorption Rate	Slowest; stays on skin longer	Moderate; absorbs relatively quickly	Fastest; absorbs rapidly
Primary Use Case	Dry skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, severe eczema); wound care; enhanced drug penetration	Rashes, skin lesions; general moisturizing; covering large areas	Mildly dry skin; rapid, consistent absorption without residue; treating hairy areas
Occlusiveness	High; creates a thick barrier to trap moisture	Moderate; offers some barrier protection	Low; offers minimal barrier protection
Ideal Skin Type	Dry, cracked, scaly	Normal, combination	Oily, normal

Conclusion: A Slow, Targeted Penetration

In conclusion, the question of does ointment get absorbed into skin? has a clear answer: yes, but in a slow, controlled, and typically localized manner. Ointments are specifically formulated to leverage their high oil content and occlusive properties to hold an active ingredient against the skin. This allows for deep, prolonged penetration intended for local therapeutic effects, such as treating severely dry skin conditions or localized infections. Compared to creams and lotions, ointments prioritize long-term contact and hydration over rapid, widespread absorption. However, factors like the drug's properties, skin condition, and application technique can significantly alter the outcome, sometimes leading to unintended systemic absorption. It is this carefully managed absorption that makes ointments a powerful and specialized tool in dermatological treatment.

For more detailed information on transdermal drug delivery and its mechanisms, an excellent resource is the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

An ointment is absorbed more slowly than a cream because its high oil content creates an occlusive, moisturizing barrier that holds the medication against the skin for a longer period.

A doctor may prescribe an ointment for conditions like severely dry skin, psoriasis, or wounds because its occlusive nature provides more intense moisture and deeper, prolonged delivery of the active ingredient.

Yes, an ointment can enter the bloodstream (systemic absorption), especially if applied to large areas, broken skin, or used with occlusion. This can lead to systemic side effects and is a primary consideration for potent medications like corticosteroids.

Yes, skin thickness significantly affects absorption. Thinner areas of skin, such as on the face or neck, are more permeable and absorb ointments more readily than thicker areas like the palms and soles.

Occlusion, such as covering the area with a bandage, enhances ointment absorption by trapping moisture on the skin's surface. This hydrates and swells the outermost skin layer, increasing its permeability.

Ointments are best for dry and scaly skin conditions because their high oil content and occlusive properties provide superior moisturization and hydration. Their greasiness can be unsuitable for oily skin.

No, the absorption of an active ingredient depends on its specific properties. Smaller, more lipid-soluble molecules will penetrate more easily through the fatty intercellular spaces of the skin's barrier than larger or more water-soluble ones.