Topical Pain Relief: A Practical Starting Point

Topical analgesics are applied to the skin for local symptom relief. Products that look similar may use different active ingredients, so the Drug Facts label matters more than marketing language.

Start with the active ingredient

Menthol and camphor appear in topical analgesic products. Other topical categories may use ingredients such as capsaicin, lidocaine or topical NSAIDs. They should not be assumed interchangeable simply because they are applied to the skin.

Then consider format and directions

Liquids, gels, creams, roll-ons and patches differ in application. Compare the labeled use, active ingredient, directions and warnings for the specific product.