Lubricating Gels
Guide to Choosing the Best Lubricating Gels
Lubricants are common for medical and surgical uses as well as for personal use. Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. will use personal lubricants in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Data and Simmons Consumer Survey. There are many kinds of lubricants and each has a different purpose. This guide can help you choose a lubricant to fit your needs.
What is a Lubricant?
Simply put, a lubricant is a substance such as a liquid, gel or jelly, that minimizes friction. There are many different types of lubricants available, and each one differs according to how you plan to use it. For example, some lubricants are for instruments, some for skin, and others serve different purposes.
Uses for a Lube
There are many ways you can use a lubricant, and each product usually has a specific use. For example, some lubes are for use with medical equipment and might not be suitable for anything else. Other lubricants offer a solution when you need a personal lubricant.
Simply put, a lubricant is a substance such as a liquid, gel or jelly, that minimizes friction. There are many different types of lubricants available, and each one differs according to how you plan to use it. For example, some lubricants are for instruments, some for skin, and others serve different purposes.
What to Look for in a Lubricant
What you look for when choosing a lube depends on the purpose. If you're using it for an ostomy appliance, a lubricant that fights odors while also helping you empty your bag might be beneficial.
Personal Lubricants
Personal lubricants ease friction during intimacy and help with vaginal dryness. They come in oil-, water- and silicone-based varieties.
Medical and Surgical Lubricants
Medical and surgical lubricants should be non-toxic, non-irritating and safe to use on medical instruments or appliances. Finally, they should also inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Skin Protectants
Petroleum jelly is best to heal your skin from minor cuts and abrasions. It also helps prevent and heal severely dry, cracked skin. Look for varieties that contain 100 percent petroleum jelly.
Petroleum Jelly vs. Ointments and Creams
There is a difference between Vaseline petroleum jelly and skin ointments and creams. They vary in what they're best used for, product ingredients, purposes and how they work.
Creams
Creams are best to soothe mild to moderately dry skin. Some have targeted purposes, such as treatment for acne, eczema, or burns. They are available in scented, unscented, and medicated varieties. Water-based creams spread quickly and absorb well.
Ointments
Ointments are best to promote healing while protecting the skin. They are also have targeted purposes such as eczema and wound care. They often contain medication for cuts, abrasions, and other skin conditions. Many are petroleum- or lanolin-based, so they have more oils than creams. This makes them thicker, too, and slower to absorb.
Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline petroleum jelly is best as a skin protectant. Unlike creams, similar to ointments, petroleum jelly spreads over the skin in a thin layer to create a moisture barrier. It takes more time to absorb since it's generally thicker in consistency than creams and some ointments. Petroleum jelly also softens the skin and promotes the healing of minor cuts, abrasions, and chafing.
Lubricants are common for medical and surgical uses as well as for personal use. Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. will use personal lubricants in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Data and Simmons Consumer Survey. There are many kinds of lubricants and each has a different purpose. This guide can help you choose a lubricant to fit your needs.
What is a Lubricant?
Simply put, a lubricant is a substance such as a liquid, gel or jelly, that minimizes friction. There are many different types of lubricants available, and each one differs according to how you plan to use it. For example, some lubricants are for instruments, some for skin, and others serve different purposes.
Uses for a Lube
There are many ways you can use a lubricant, and each product usually has a specific use. For example, some lubes are for use with medical equipment and might not be suitable for anything else. Other lubricants offer a solution when you need a personal lubricant.
Simply put, a lubricant is a substance such as a liquid, gel or jelly, that minimizes friction. There are many different types of lubricants available, and each one differs according to how you plan to use it. For example, some lubricants are for instruments, some for skin, and others serve different purposes.
- Medical and surgical
- Skin Protectant
- Vaginal Dresses
What to Look for in a Lubricant
What you look for when choosing a lube depends on the purpose. If you're using it for an ostomy appliance, a lubricant that fights odors while also helping you empty your bag might be beneficial.
Personal Lubricants
Personal lubricants ease friction during intimacy and help with vaginal dryness. They come in oil-, water- and silicone-based varieties.
Medical and Surgical Lubricants
Medical and surgical lubricants should be non-toxic, non-irritating and safe to use on medical instruments or appliances. Finally, they should also inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Skin Protectants
Petroleum jelly is best to heal your skin from minor cuts and abrasions. It also helps prevent and heal severely dry, cracked skin. Look for varieties that contain 100 percent petroleum jelly.
Petroleum Jelly vs. Ointments and Creams
There is a difference between Vaseline petroleum jelly and skin ointments and creams. They vary in what they're best used for, product ingredients, purposes and how they work.
Creams
Creams are best to soothe mild to moderately dry skin. Some have targeted purposes, such as treatment for acne, eczema, or burns. They are available in scented, unscented, and medicated varieties. Water-based creams spread quickly and absorb well.
Ointments
Ointments are best to promote healing while protecting the skin. They are also have targeted purposes such as eczema and wound care. They often contain medication for cuts, abrasions, and other skin conditions. Many are petroleum- or lanolin-based, so they have more oils than creams. This makes them thicker, too, and slower to absorb.
Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline petroleum jelly is best as a skin protectant. Unlike creams, similar to ointments, petroleum jelly spreads over the skin in a thin layer to create a moisture barrier. It takes more time to absorb since it's generally thicker in consistency than creams and some ointments. Petroleum jelly also softens the skin and promotes the healing of minor cuts, abrasions, and chafing.