White Ointment, USP is produced using bleached or purified yellow wax.

White Ointment, USP is produced using bleached or purified yellow wax.

• A. White Ointment, USP
• B. Yellow Ointment, USP
• C. White Petrolatum, USP (White Vaseline)
• D. Petrolatum, USP (Vaselin)

Answer: (A)

White Ointment, USP is made by combining petrolatum with bleached or purified yellow wax (white wax). The wax, after bleaching, loses its color and, when melted with petrolatum, gives a whitish, opaque ointment base. The wax also acts as a thickener, adjusting the consistency of the petrolatum to the desired ointment texture. This base is distinct from simply using white petrolatum, which is petrolatum refined to be colorless on its own, and from Yellow Ointment, which would use unbleached yellow wax and appear yellow. Petrolatum, USP (Vaselin) refers to the plain oleaginous base without the added wax that imparts whiteness.

White Ointment, USP is made by combining petrolatum with bleached or purified yellow wax (white wax). The wax, after bleaching, loses its color and, when melted with petrolatum, gives a whitish, opaque ointment base. The wax also acts as a thickener, adjusting the consistency of the petrolatum to the desired ointment texture. This base is distinct from simply using white petrolatum, which is petrolatum refined to be colorless on its own, and from Yellow Ointment, which would use unbleached yellow wax and appear yellow. Petrolatum, USP (Vaselin) refers to the plain oleaginous base without the added wax that imparts whiteness.