What is the difference between a cream and ointment. Also are all ointments are emulsions?

cream is an emulsion which i know. Are all ointments are emulsions. I dont think it should be an emulsion. it only has a base and some ingredients in it.What is the difference between a cream and ointment. Also are all ointments are emulsions?
In terms of what to expect from the product off the shelf:





Creams - are like cold cream, a water in oil emulsion, they typically can be rubbed in easily and the water evaporates to leave a pleasant thin film, that is not greasy.





Ointments are greasy, a good example of the classical oil and water emulsion is Hydrophobic Ointment.





Nether ointments or creams have to be medicated, ointments are better at preventing water loss, but they have the disadvantage of keeping oxygen out and can make greasey stains on clothes.





HOWEVER:





Modern defintions, really suitable only for industrial pharmacists, rather than anyone else, classifies these semisolid dosage forms in terms of flow characteristics.





Creams are less stiff than ointments, but each upon rubbing decrease's its resistance to flow.





Therefore you can have a water soluble base being called an Ointment, like Polyethylene Glycol Ointment.





The vocabulary used in industrial pharmacy texts for these types of products adds very little if any to the working knowledge of a health professional.What is the difference between a cream and ointment. Also are all ointments are emulsions?
Emulsion is a heterogenous mixture of oil and water. It can be (oil in water) or (water in oil). Both types of emulsions may be presented as creams, lotions, ointments, microemulsions. Creams and ointments differ in consistency. Creams are smooth and comparitively freely spreadable. Ointments are thicker. Yes ointments are emulsions, it is a dispersion of water in oil, but u cant visually distinguish.
Ointments are generally medicated, where creams are generally cosmetic.