Home Medication and medical testsAnalgesics Capsaicin cream: what is it, what is it for and how is it used

Capsaicin cream: what is it, what is it for and how is it used

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The pain of neuropathic or skeletal muscle origin may require the application of topical analgesic treatments that generate heat. Athletes frequently use these to treat muscle injuries.

Capsaicin cream is applied to relieve some pain, such as neuropathic pain, which has proven very useful. It can even be used before suffering an injury, especially when you are in training.

Keep reading this FastlyHealarticle to get all the information about what capsaicin cream is, what it is for, and how it is used correctly.

What is capsaicin cream?

Capsaicin belongs to the family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers. It is the active compound in hot peppers such as cayenne peppers, irritating and producing an intense burning in the mouth.

Among its properties are analgesic, antioxidant and anticancer properties. It works by inhibiting the production and accumulation of a peripheral nervous system neurotransmitter in the body, known as substance P, which is related to the perception of pain in the body.

When some pathologies are present in the body, such as osteoarthritis or diabetic neuropathy, substance P is released at the level of the joints or nerve endings of the skin, producing a painful and inflammatory response.

What is capsaicin for

Capsaicin cream is used to treat pain due to its analgesic effect in the following cases:

  • Diabetic neuropathy: this alteration occurs when there is neurological damage due to diabetes since the peripheral sensitivity of people who suffer from this disease is affected. It is characterized by severe pain in the extremities.
  • Neuropathic pain: many pathologies generate this alteration, especially postherpetic neuralgia, popularly known as shingles, caused by the herpes zoster virus. This pain is caused by lesions of the central or peripheral nervous system.
  • Osteoarthritis or arthritis: is produced by a degeneration of the articular cartilage, which generates joint pain and inflammation. Both arthritis, an inflammatory process, and osteoarthritis correspond to a degenerative condition of the cartilage, both of which cause joint pain.
  • Low back pain: This condition is also known as low back pain, characteristic of the lower back. It can cause functional limitations, but it is reversible with treatment. This affects the muscles and ligaments.
  • Mastectomy: involves the total or partial removal of the breast. It is a surgical procedure that is performed preventively and curatively in cases of breast cancer, which generates a lot of pain and can be treated with capsaicin.
  • Complex pain cases such as complex regional pain syndrome: it is a chronic pain caused by trauma, heart attack, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or surgeries. This type of alteration is associated with inflammation or injury of the peripheral nerves. It is also characterized by pain in the extremities.

Due to its anticancer effect, it is used in cancer diseases, specifically in myeloid leukemia, where it acts by slowing down the reproduction speed of cancer cells. Myeloid leukemia is an acute or chronic malignant disorder that causes damage to blood precursor cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets. This disease is characterized by the decrease in the production of these cells, which are later replaced by cancer cells, producing alterations in the immune system and vascular disorders.

Due to its antioxidant effect, it is helpful to prevent the formation of blood clots that affect the body. Capsaicin acts as a natural blood thinner.

How to use capsaicin cream

The use of capsaicin cream (topical use) relieves pain in the following cases:

  • Osteoarthrosis or rheumatoid arthritis: can be used in both children and adults in the affected area to relieve pain. It is applied 4 times a day depending on the intensity of the pain.
  • Muscle or bone injuries: in case of pain such as low back pain, sprains, a trauma in the area of ​​pain. Capsaicin is given 3 to 4 times during the day in both adults and children.
  • Neuropathy: in cases of neuropathic pain resulting from a disease such as diabetes, it can be applied to the painful area until the discomfort ceases.
  • Mastectomy: used postoperatively to relieve pain. It can be applied 4 to 5 times a day for 4 weeks in the operated area.

Contraindications of capsaicin cream

The use of capsaicin cream should be used with caution if you have any of these conditions:

  • Allergy or sensitivity to the active ingredient of the drug.
  • In children under 2 years of age, the effect it can cause is unknown.
  • Patients were allergic to peppers.
  • In people who have an open wound or with loss of tissue.
  • If burns or injuries are evident in the area where it will be applied.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • When there are skin lesions caused by skin diseases such as dermatitis.

Finally, if you present pain, the ideal is to go to your trusted doctor. He will tell you if you need the administration of capsaicin cream to relieve pain.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Capsaicin cream: what it is, what it is for, and how it is used, we recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests.

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