Menthol is one of the few chemicals that naturally activate TRPM8 and gives a unique cooling sensation, making it a popular compound to include in mints and gum. When the protein detects that the temperature of a certain area is dropping, it is able to adjust its shape to allow calcium ions to enter the nerve cell and give you the sensation of “feeling” cold. TRPM8 is a cold-sensing receptor protein that allows your body to naturally detect changes in temperature.
#ICY HOT PAIN RELIEF CREAM SKIN#
The reason that menthol feels cold when applied to the skin is not because the chemical actually lowers the temperature of your body, but because it activates a protein called TRPM8. It’s a compound derived from peppermint, eucalyptus and pennyroyal herbs which gives it its trademark “cooling” properties.
Menthol is one of the most common chemicals used in topical pain relief.
Let’s break down these chemicals a little bit to see exactly what they’re doing when they’re applied to your skin. Typically, the “stronger” the relief, the higher the concentration of menthol and methyl salicylate. The exact dosage of the chemicals depends on the product you purchase varying anywhere from 2.5% menthol to 30% methyl salicylate. Menthol and methyl salicylate cool the skin and then capsaicin irritates it on a minor level, causing it to feel warm. Icy Hot products are made up of a combination of active ingredients including menthol, methyl salicylate, and capsaicin (a compound found in chili peppers). In this unbiased, clinical review, we’re going to look at the research and science behind Icy Hot and determine if it actually has any merit for people who deal with back pain.įirst off, let’s begin by determining exactly what IcyHot is. Icy Hot has even created some commercials that target that demographic specifically.īut do the actual benefits of the product really live up to all the marketing hype? With their steady popularity, Icy Hot and similar topical products have piqued the interest of people who struggle from frequent back pain. The brand offers a wide variety of creams, sleeves, sprays and patches that claim to dull your pain by cooling down the affected area and then “relax it away” through heating properties. Icy Hot is one of the most popular pain-relieving brands in the world today, selling over $270 million worth of products each year.
0 kommentar(er)
