Icy Hot Cream: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Icy Hot Cream is an over-the-counter topical product containing menthol and methyl salicylate, used to relieve minor muscle and joint pain. It is applied to the skin for conditions such as arthritis, backache, muscle strains, sprains, bruises, and cramps. The cream works through a counterirritant effect, combining a cooling sensation from menthol with a warming sensation from methyl salicylate. It is intended for adults and children over 12 years, applied as a thin layer once daily.

What is Icy Hot Cream

Icy Hot Pain Relieving Cream is an over-the-counter topical cream that contains menthol and methyl salicylate. It is applied to the skin to relieve minor muscle and joint pain.

Icy Hot Cream uses

• Arthritis
• Simple backache
• Muscle strains
• Sprains
• Bruises
• Cramps

Benefits of Icy Hot Cream

• Provides temporary relief of muscle and joint pain.
• Helps with minor backache and muscle soreness.
• The cooling and warming sensation from menthol helps reduce discomfort.
• Temporarily relieves minor pain related to sprains and strains.

How Icy Hot Cream works

The menthol gives a cooling feeling that distracts from pain, and the methyl salicylate creates a warming feeling and increases blood flow to the sore area. Together these sensations, known as a counterirritant effect, make the pain feel less noticeable.

Icy Hot Cream dosage

For external use only. Apply a thin layer to the affected area and massage it into the painful area until it is fully absorbed into the skin. Do not use more often than directed, and leave time between applications. Wash your hands with soap and water right after applying, unless you are treating your hands. Do not bandage the area tightly or use it with a heating pad or a medicated patch. Avoid getting the cream in your eyes or on mucous membranes, and do not apply it to wounds or to broken, irritated, or damaged skin. Children 12 years and younger should not use this product unless a doctor says to. Adults and children over 12 years can use this product as directed.

Available forms and strengths

Icy Hot Cream is available in cream form.

Side effects of Icy Hot Cream

Common

• Burning
• Stinging or tingling sensation of the skin
• Redness or irritation where the medicine was applied

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Skin irritation
• Redness
• Very bad belly pain
• Throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds
• Black, tarry, or bloody stools
• Very bad dizziness or passing out
• Chest pain or pressure
• Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight
• Severe burns (in rare cases)

Warnings and precautions

• This product is for use on the skin only, not for internal use.
• Use the product only as directed on the label.
• Do not bandage the area tightly, and do not use a heating pad or medicated patch over the area.
• Keep the cream away from your eyes and from mucous membranes such as your mouth, nose, or genitals.
• Do not put the cream on wounds, or on skin that is broken, damaged, or irritated.
• A brief burning feeling may happen when you apply the cream, but it usually goes away within a few days.
• If you are allergic to aspirin or other salicylates, check with your doctor before using this product.
• Do not use this product with a heating pad, and do not use it at the same time as other topical pain relief products.
• Do not expose the treated skin area to heat or direct sunlight, and avoid applying the cream into skin folds.
• Keep this product out of the reach of children. If a child swallows it, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
• Only use this product on children aged 12 and older, unless the label specifically allows use in younger children.
• Avoid contact with the eyes, mouth, and mucous membranes.
• Do not apply to cuts, wounds, or damaged skin.
• Stop use if severe burning, redness, or irritation occurs.
• Do not use with a heating pad or a tight bandage.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a health professional before using this product.

Storage

• Store at 20–25°C.
• Keep in a cool, dry place.
• Avoid direct sunlight and excessive heat.
• Keep the tube or container tightly closed.
• Keep out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Stop using the product and call your doctor if your condition gets worse, if redness appears, if irritation develops, or if your symptoms last more than 7 days or come back after clearing up.
• Get medical help right away if you notice signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching, swollen or blistered skin, wheezing, chest or throat tightness, trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Get medical help right away if you have very bad belly pain, vomit blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or have black, tarry, or bloody stools.
• Get medical help right away if you have severe dizziness or fainting, chest pain or pressure, or signs of a stroke such as weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, balance changes, facial drooping, or blurred vision.

Alternatives

• Voltaren Gel
• Salonpas Cream
• Bengay Cream