Topical medication

A topical medication is a <a href="/facts/Medication/h9mhwWP2">medication</a> that is applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical medication means application to <a href="/facts/Body_surface_area/Vhm1xF9G">body surfaces</a> such as the <a href="/facts/Skin/4havlLzG">skin</a> or <a href="/facts/Mucous_membrane/oIw0vyel">mucous membranes</a> to treat ailments via a large range of classes including <a href="/facts/Cream_(pharmaceutical)/hm2TeLhP">creams</a>, <a href="/facts/Foams/kGrXWWcb">foams</a>, <a href="/facts/Gels/t7eStnK0">gels</a>, <a href="/facts/Lotions/GXollPbk">lotions</a>, and ointments. Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin. Topical medications may also be <a href="/facts/Insufflation_(medicine)/dt9NPnl7">inhalational</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Asthma_medication/7GkJvxn3">asthma medications</a>, or applied to the surface of tissues other than the skin, such as <a href="/facts/Eye_drops/TzKX8700">eye drops</a> applied to the <a href="/facts/Conjunctiva/3UTlea10">conjunctiva</a>, or <a href="/facts/Ear_drop/dXMosfeu">ear drops</a> placed in the ear, or medications applied to the surface of a <a href="/facts/Human_tooth/SVkPCLal">tooth</a>. The word topical derives from <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek/LIK7NlUh">Greek</a> τοπικός topikos, "of a place".

Topical medication open-in-new

Topical medication