ICY HOT PATCH

ICY HOT PATCH

ICY HOT PATCH

Icy hot patches are used for pain-relieving.

How Icy Hot Patch Works

The active ingredients in Icy Hot formulations are menthol or a combination of menthol and methyl salicylate (aspirin). Some formulations also contain camphor, and others lidocaine (a topical anesthetic). The ingredients cause a cooling sensation followed by a warming sensation ("icy" then "hot") that helps bring pain relief.

All formulations are suggested by the manufacturer for relief of minor pain associated with arthritis, simple backache, bursitis, tendonitis, muscle soreness, strains, sprains, bruises, or cramps. All products are for external use only.

There have been few studies of such patches to prove their clinical usefulness, and those that have been performed are of poor quality.1

Precautions

Read the ingredients on the label, as they are different for similar-sounding Icy Hot products. Some concentrations are stronger than others.

The warnings on the label of all of the formulations of Icy Hot state the following:

• Use only as directed.
• Avoid contact with eyes or mucous membranes.
• Do not apply to wounds or irritated, broken, or damaged skin.
• Do not bandage tightly or use with a heating pad.
• If you are prone to allergy from aspirin or salicylates, consult a doctor before using the formulations that contain methyl salicylate.
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All Icy Hot products say that they

are for adults and should not be worn by children under the age of 12 unless approved by the child's doctor.