Articles
Arthritis pain: Treatments absorbed through your skin
What are topical pain medications?
What types of ingredients are used?
How well do they work?
Are there topical pain products available by prescription?
Content
How do pain medicines that go on the skin work?
Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Capsaicin
Other topical arthritis products
How well do topical products work?
Are they safe to use?
What types of ingredients are used?
How well do they work?
Are there topical pain products available by prescription?
Content
How do pain medicines that go on the skin work?
Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Capsaicin
Other topical arthritis products
How well do topical products work?
Are they safe to use?
What are topical pain medications?
Topical pain medications are absorbed through your skin. The most common varieties are creams or gels that you rub onto the skin over your painful joints. Some come in a spray or a patch that sticks to your skin.
Because the ingredients are absorbed through the skin, most topical pain medications are best used on joints that are close to the skin's surface, such as the joints in your hands and knees.
