How Pain Relief Lotions Work

Topical analgesic lotions are often recommended by therapists and doctors in addition to other treatments. They provide relief and rest for sore thumb joints, and are especially effective on hands (where joints are located near the body's surface).

The three main types of topical analgesics for pain relief are counterirritants, salicylates, and capsaicin. Dromeo Pain Relief Analgesic is a combination product, which offers relief utilizing all three approaches at once.

An Arthritis Special Report by Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Alerts describes the three types of topical analgesics, as follows:

1. Pain Relief With Counterirritants

These pain relief preparations contain such ingredients as menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and turpentine oil. When applied to the skin over an affected joint, they mask pain by producing a warm or cool sensation. Counterirritants can be applied to the skin three or four times a day. A frequent side effect is reddening of the skin, which is harmless and temporary.

2. Pain Relief With Salicylates

Oral salicylates (aspirin) and topical salicylates, such as trolamine salicylate or methyl salicylate, reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting the release of prostaglandins. An analysis in the British Medical Journal concluded that topical preparations relieve pain more effectively than a placebo, but it is unknown how they compare with oral pain medications.

Salicylates can be applied to the skin up to four times a day. Because some of the medication is absorbed into the body, people who are sensitive to aspirin or other salicylates or are taking medication that might interact with them - for example, warfarin (Coumadin) - should use these creams with caution. If you experience any symptoms of salicylate toxicity, including ringing in the ears, blurred vision, and shortness of breath, you should report them to a doctor.

3. Pain Relief With Capsaicin

Perhaps best known as the compound that gives hot peppers their "bite," capsaicin reduces the amount of a neurotransmitter called substance P, which is thought to release inflammation-causing enzymes and possibly trigger pain impulses to the brain.

The ointment should be applied to affected joints three or four times a day. It usually takes one to two weeks for pain to diminish, although up to six weeks of treatment might be required for maximum benefit. Pain quickly returns after capsaicin is discontinued. Burning, stinging, and redness occur in 40% to 70% of people, but these side effects usually diminish after several days of use.

If You Use a Topical Treatment for Pain Relief

Topical treatments for joint pain relief are not dangerous and have few side effects, but some precautions apply. The medications are for external use only and should not come in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, or any open skin.

The products shouldn't be used more than three or four times a day and should be discontinued immediately if severe irritation develops. If symptoms do not improve after seven days, most manufacturers recommend discontinuing the product and seeing a doctor. In addition, many of the products come with warnings not to bandage or apply heat to a treated area.