How do pain relief topicals work?

Pain relief topicals work in one of four ways:

Anti-inflammatory pain relief topicals use soothing ingredients like arnica to reduce swelling. 

Counterirritating pain relief topicals rely on ingredients like menthol and camphor to cool the skin.

Salicylates, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), block a crucial enzyme in the inflammation process.

Lidocaine pain relief topicals numb the skin with a local anesthetic.

Bengay:

Bengay is one of the few products that contain salicylates. Salicylates make it effective in soothing aches and pain. It is possible to apply too much, so make sure you read the directions.

Ingredients: Camphor 4% (Topical analgesic), Menthol 10% (Topical anesthetic), Methyl salicylate 30% (Topical analgesic)

Pros: Potent formulation, suitable for arthritis, non-greasy

Cons: Strong Smell, challenging to remove from hands, can overuse.

Bengey is a tried-and-true product that has been around for a long time. If you don’t mind the smell, it’s a good product.

BioFreeze Roll-on:

BioFreeze is a counterirritant. It relies on menthol to create a cooling effect on your skin. You may get some relief from your pain, but the tingling feeling mostly just distracts you from the pain, making you think it’s working. Be aware that camphor and menthol can be an irritant for those with sensitive skin.

Pros: It comes in a roll-on, Mess-free application.

Cons: It can irritate the skin; the scent is strong and chemical.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Root (Burdock) Extract, Boswellia Carteril Resin Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Carbomer, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Camphor USP, Glycerin, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Ispropyl Myristate, Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Triethanolamine, Water, Blue 1, Yellow 5

BioFreeze is an excellent product due to the roll-on aspect. This product also has a strong smell.

Salonpas Pain Patch:

Salonpas® Pain Patch features a Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS), an anti-inflammatory medicine spread across an ultra-thin and stretchy cloth.

Pros: Easy to apply, discrete, works for 12 hours, can apply directly to painful areas.

Cons: Can only use two patches a day for three days in a row.  It cannot be used with a heating pad. Pads may not stick.

Ingredients: licyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin, baking cloth, film, mineral oil, polyisobutylene, polyisobutylene 1,200,000, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, synthetic aluminum silicate.

Icy Hot Lidocaine spray:

The active ingredients are counterirritants which make the skin feel cold then hot.

Icy Hot Lidocaine will help numb the nerves and pain receptors in any area of injury or pain. 

Pros: great numbing effect.

Cons: numbs the pain, does not heal it.

Ingredients: acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer,  allantoin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, cetyl alcohol, diisopropyl adipate, disodium EDTA, ethoxydiglycol, fragrance, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, menthyl lactate, methylparaben, PEG-150 sterate, pentylene glycol, 4-t-butylcyclohexanol, phenoxyethanol, polysorbate 80, propanediol, SD alcohol (5% w/w), glycine soja (soybean) sterols, steareth-21, stearic acid, triethanolamine, water, xanthan gum (309-018).

Voltaren:

Voltaren is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Diclofenac works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation.

Pros: effective pain relief topical.

Cons: It could take up to 2 weeks to feel the effects. Consult your doctor if you have heart problems.

Ingredients: carbomer homopolymer Type C, cocoyl caprylocaprate, fragrance, isopropyl alcohol, mineral oil, polyoxyl 20 cetostearyl ether, propylene glycol, purified water, robust ammonia solution

Infused ReLeaf CBD Lotion: 

I have not entirely ruled out CBD creams. I believe in the benefits of CBD and all-natural ingredients.

Pros: All-natural ingredients, CBD

Cons: It can be pricey, and most products smell like patchouli oil, this one does not.

Ingredients: 1000 mg CBD*, Arnica, Menthol, Camphor, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Peppermint, Tea Tree
Inactive Ingredients: Distilled Water, Aloe Vera, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, Stearic Acid, Soya Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Potassium, Sorbate, Vitamine C, Citric Acid, Germall Plus

I would recomend checking out this site. It is very informative. The owner and developer is knowledgeable about pressure points and finding the route of where your pain stems from.

Discover the access points of your pain! Here

Dr. Milt’s Magnesium Topicals and Soaking Crystals:

These all-natural ingredients have been used for centuries to promote body strength, endurance, and relaxation.

The main ingredient in Dr. Milt’s is Magnesium. Dr. Milt’s is the only product that I can say works. It doesn’t just mask the pain and swelling.

Ingredients: UPS Grade Magnesium Sulfate, Witch Hazel, Arnica, and Wintergreen.

I use the 8oz Spray or gel and then apply the cream on top to get the best benefits.

Dr. Milt’s also comes in a 4oz sample pack. This is great for athletes. You can bring it with you on your workouts. It’s small enough to fit in your pockets or a bag.