Can you use icy hot while breastfeeding? (2024)

Can you use icy hot while breastfeeding? Is it safe? Will it harm my baby?

There is not a whole lot of research on this topic, but what is available suggests that it is probably okay to use icy hot while breastfeeding. Icy hot is a topical cream that is applied to the skin and contains methyl salicylate, which is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It is absorbed through the skin and enters the bloodstream.

Methyl salicylate can be passed from mother to baby through breast milk, but it is not likely to cause any harm to the baby if used at the recommended dosage.

That said, it’s always best to check with your healthcare provider before using any medication (including icy hot) while breastfeeding.

We also explain some of the precautions, side effects, and other drug interactions to be aware of further down.

What is Icy Hot?

Icy Hot is a topical anesthetic that relieves pain through cold sensations. It works by blocking nerve signals that transmit pain. Icy Hot can help relieve itching caused by eczema and reduce swelling and redness.

Icy Hot is used to treat minor burns, muscle aches, sprains, strains, bruises, insect bites, sunburns, rashes, and shingles.

Icy Hot works in two ways:

1. By reducing inflammation
2. By numbing the skin

The product name “Icy Hot” came from the original inventor’s daughter’s nickname for it.

Is Icy Hot Safe To Use While Breastfeeding?

‘Icy Hot’ contains menthol, eucalyptus oil, camphor, salicylic acid, methyl salicylate and phenol. These chemicals are safe to use while breastfeeding.

However, it’s important to use caution when applying icy hot to your skin.

Make sure to avoid putting icy hot on areas where your baby might come into contact with the cream, and wash your hands thoroughly after applying it.

That means you probably don’t want to put it on your breast itself or nipples, because it will directly get into your babies mouth when they next breastfeed. If you insist on putting it onto your breast area or close by then, let it soak in for a couple hours and wash off any left over Icy hot residue thoroughly with soapy water to ensure its completely removed before breastfeeding.

While there are no reports of harm from using Icy Hot during pregnancy, you should avoid using products containing menthol, camphor, salicylates, phenols, and eucalyptus oils.

If you experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, or abdominal cramps, stop using Icy Hot immediately. Seek medical attention if you notice signs of toxicity.

Benefits of using Icy Hot

It reduces inflammation by cooling your skin. When applied topically, it causes blood vessels to constrict, which helps reduce pain.

There are several studies showing that itchy skin conditions like eczema can benefit from use of Icy Hot.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy found that topical application of Icy Hot relieves itching caused by contact dermatitis. Another study showed that applying Icy Hot helped reduce swelling and redness caused by poison ivy.

Some of the benefits of Icy Hot include:

• Relieves Pain

• Reduces Swelling

• Reduces Inflammation

• Improves Healing

Icy Hot also has anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it can help with conditions like arthritis, backaches, and other types of joint pain

How to use Icy Hot cream

Icy Hot Extra Strength is a topical pain reliever used to relieve muscle aches and pains. This product contains menthol crystals combined with camphor oil.

Menthol is known to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Camphor is a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

• Wash your hands before applying the cream and avoid contact with eyes, mouth and mucous membranes.
• Apply 2 times per day directly to affected area.
• If you are pregnant, nursing or under 18, consult your healthcare provider prior to use.
• Do not apply over large areas of skin.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Store at room temperature.
• Use within 14 days of opening.

How Long Does Icy Hot Take to Work?

Icy hot is one of the most popular topical analgesics used to relieve minor aches and pains. However, it doesn’t always work as fast as you’d like.

The active ingredient in Icy Hot is lidocaine, a local anesthetic that numbs the skin. This makes it great for relieving minor aches and pains such as muscle cramps, headaches, and sore muscles. But how long does it actually take to start working?

When testing 10 different brands of Icy Hot against each other, a small amount was added to the forearm and waited 30 minutes. Then the skin temperature was measured using a ThermoScan thermometer and repeated the test three times over the course of a week.

It was found that some brands took up to 20 minutes to begin cooling the skin. Others didn’t even reach room temperature within 60 seconds. So what gives? Well, there are several factors at play here.

Firstly, the concentration of lidocaine varies across brands. Some contain just 2% lidocaine while others use 5%. Secondly, the ingredients that make up the base of the product vary too. For example, some bases include glycerin, propylene glycol, and water, while others use polyethylene glycol 400.

And finally, the size of the crystals matters. Smaller crystals mean less surface area, making it easier for the molecules to diffuse into the skin.

So next time you’re buying Icy Hot, look for a brand that contains 5% lidocaine and smaller crystal size. You’ll feel the difference immediately.

Icy Hot Precautions

A recent study found that menthol does not cause harm to babies exposed via breast milk.

However, it is important to note that there are still some unanswered questions regarding how much exposure is too much.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends against the use of topical products containing menthol because of possible risks to both mother and child.

They recommend using over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or oxycodone/acetaminophen combination tablets.

Icy hot is not recommended for people who are allergic to any ingredients found in the product. If you experience any side effects or problems when using this product, stop using it immediately and consult your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about prescription medication options if you’re having severe pain.

Icy Hot (methylsalicylate and menthol) Side Effects

Icy Hot is a topical pain reliever used for temporary relief from muscle aches and pains. This product contains methyl salicylate and menthone. These ingredients are known to cause skin irritation and burning sensations.

Methyl Salicylate, the active ingredient in Icing Hot, is used as a topical treatment for pain relief and inflammation. It works by blocking nerve endings from transmitting painful signals to the brain. Methyl salicylate can cause skin irritation.

It’s been around since the 1950s and is commonly found in over-the-counter products like BenGay, Tiger Balm, and Vicks Vapor Rub.

Wintergreen oil, another common ingredient in Icy Hot, is often added to cough syrups and throat lozenges because it helps reduce coughing and sore throats. However, some people are sensitive to wintergreen and experience a rash or hives when exposed to it.

Menthol is known to cause nausea and vomiting in some people. Eucalyptus oil is thought to stimulate uterine contractions and induce labor. Camphor is associated with headaches and dizziness. Salicylic acid can irritate skin and eyes.

Phenol is toxic and can damage the liver.

Use Caution If You Are Pregnant Or Nursing. Icy Hot contains menthol, a substance that can cause irritation to sensitive areas like eyes and nose.

If you experience any of these side effects and notice any redness, swelling, itching, peeling or blistering of the skin, stop use immediately and consult a doctor immediately.

Adverse reactions from taking prescription medications can also be reported to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Call the FDA MedWatch hotline at 1-800-Fda-1088 or visit the FDA MedWartch website.

Which drugs or supplements interact with methyl salicylate and menthol?

Methyl salicylate and Mentol topical products should be used with caution with blood thinners like warfarin, NSAIDs and steroids due to increased likelihood of bruising and bleeding resulting from methyl salicylate which acts like aspirin and can affect blood clotting.

There are many drugs or supplements that interact with methyl saliclyate and menthol. Some examples include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, vitamin e, ginger, green tea extract, and more.

Icy Hot Products

There are many different kinds of products available for treating joint pain and inflammation. Some are better suited for certain conditions or situations.

If you’re looking for something else to use with Icy Hot, there are plenty of options. You can make ice packs out of it, apply it directly to skin burns, or even use it as a hair treatment.

Icy Hot Patch with Lidocaine Patch

The Icy Hot® patch helps relieve pain quickly and effectively without causing irritation. This product contains lidocaine, a topical anesthetic used to numb areas of the body where pain occurs. The active ingredient in Icy Hot®, menthol, provides cooling relief while the lidocaine numbs the area. Both ingredients provide fast, effective pain relief including for arthritis.

People suffering from arthritis, sports injuries, and minor aches and pains use Icy Hot® products regularly.

They find that this treatment works better than traditional analgesics such as aspirin and acetaminophen because it doesn’t irritate the skin.

Icy Hot Cream

The cold weather is here, and it’s not just about snowflakes falling outside. Your hands are getting cold too. You want to warm up, but you don’t know what else to do. If you’re looking for something that won’t hurt your wallet, try some Icy Hot® Cold Soothing Relief™.

This soothing topical cream contains menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil. Menthol cools while camphor calms. Eucalyptus oil relieves pain and reduces inflammation.

Peppermint oil provides relief without causing drowsiness. All three ingredients work together to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

Icy Hot Spray

Icy Hot Spray is a topical numbing agent that works by blocking nerve impulses, which reduces the perception of pain.

Icy Hot Spray is one of many products that use capsaicin, a chemical found naturally in chili peppers. Capsaicin acts directly on the nerves to reduce the perception of pain. It doesn’t numb the area where the pain is coming from; rather, it blocks the transmission of pain signals along the nerves.

You can buy Icy Hot Spray over the counter at most pharmacies.

However, some people find that the burning sensation caused by the application makes it difficult to sleep. For those people, there are several options.

First, you can purchase a small bottle of Icy Hot Gel, which contains less capsaicin. Second, you can mix up a solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and Icy Hot Spray.

Finally, you can make your own version of Icy Hot Spray by mixing together a few drops of peppermint oil and a few drops of Icy Hot Spray.

Icy Hot Gel

One of the most popular treatments for bumps and swelling is ice packs. Ice packs work well because they reduce swelling and help relieve pain.

However, they aren’t always convenient. You can buy ice packs at stores, but you must keep them in mind while traveling or you’ll end up carrying around several bags of ice. If you’re looking for something better, check out Icy Hot Gel.

Icy Hot Gel is an FDA approved topical gel that contains menthol and camphor. These ingredients provide cooling relief and help prevent further damage to the area. It is designed to be used on any part of the body including legs, arms, knees, elbows, hands, feet, ankles, and even toes.

It is safe to use anywhere on the body, even sensitive areas such as lips, ears, eyes, and genitals.

The cool sensation of Icy Hot Gel helps relax muscles and reduces inflammation. Because of this, it is often recommended for people suffering from muscle aches, sprained joints, and strained muscles. It is also great for treating burns, sunburns, bruises, cuts, scrapes, insect bites, and rashes.

You can purchase Icy Hot Gel online at Amazon.com.

Natural Pain-Relieving alternatives to Icy Hot While Breastfeeding

Icy hot is one of the most popular natural pain relief products used during pregnancy and nursing. But it doesn’t seem like it works very well while breastfeeding.

A recent study found that women who used Icy Hot during breastfeeding reported less discomfort compared to those who didn’t use it. So why do some moms still prefer Icy Hot over other alternatives?

Here are three reasons why you might want to consider trying another product instead of Icy Hot:

1. You don’t want to risk hurting your baby.
   While Icy Hot isn’t harmful to babies, it does contain alcohol. This ingredient can cause irritation to skin and eyes. If you notice redness, swelling, or blisters around your nipples, you should stop using Icy Hot immediately.
2. Your partner wants to help.
   If you aren’t comfortable asking someone else to hold down your breasts while you apply Icy Hot, ask your partner to help. He or she could even massage your chest while you wait for the cooling sensation to kick in.
3. You want to avoid side effects.
   Some people experience nausea, dizziness, headache, and heartburn when taking ibuprofen. However, these symptoms usually go away within a few hours. In contrast, Icy Hot can take up to 30 minutes to start working.

Natural Alternatives to Icy Hot

Badger Sore Muscle Rub

This natural muscle rub contains aloe vera, chamomile, lavender essential oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus, rosemary, ginger root, turmeric, and vitamin E. All ingredients are safe for use on skin.

The directions say to mix one part Badger Sore Muscle Rub with three parts water. Apply to affected areas twice daily. You can even add some honey to make it extra soothing.

Noxicare

Noxicare is a natural remedy that relieves pain caused by inflammation and swelling. It works by reducing the amount of chemicals that cause pain and discomfort.

This product is great for people suffering from chronic pain or arthritis. It provides relief without side effects. Noxicare is safe for children and adults.

Arnica Gel

Arnica is an herb that is widely known for relieving muscle and joint pain. There are several types of arnica gel that you can buy over the counter. These gels contain natural ingredients that help decrease inflammation and swelling. You can find arnica gel in pharmacies and online retailers.Traumeel

Traumeel is a popular remedy for arthritis. It contains natural ingredients like Arnica Montana, Chamomilla Recutita, Echinacia Purpura, and many others. It works well for people looking to avoid prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication.

Icy Hot in Pregnancy – Is it Safe?

There is no clear consensus on if you should use Icy Hot during pregnancy. Some women swear by it while others say it causes an allergic reaction.

The FDA says there isn’t enough evidence to determine whether or not Icy Hot is safe to consume when pregnant. However they do recommend avoiding exposure to methyl salicylate if you’re pregnant.

The concern with Icy Hot is that it can be absorbed by your bloodstream and pass into the fetus. Some of its main ingredients include methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil), menthol, camphor; all found in many over-the counter medications or supplements available at retailers today!

Icy Hot Ingredients

Icy hot is made up of both the active and inactive ingredients below.

Active Ingredients

• Menthol 10%: Menthol is a topical analgesic that provides pain relief.
• Methyl salicylate 30%: Methyl salicylate produces a warming effect for the purpose of relieving muscle pain in muscles and joints.

Inactive Ingredients

• carbomer
• cetearyl alcohol
• cetyl esters
• oleth-3 phosphate
• polysorbate 60
• stearic acid
• triethanolamine
• water

Wrapping up – Using Icy Hot While Breastfeeding

Icy Hot is a topical cream that should probably be avoided while pregnant. However, it is generally safe to use Icy Hot while breastfeeding. There are some side effects to be aware of so it’s important to use as directed on the packaging.

We would also caution against using it on or near your breasts while breastfeeding and not to use it directly on your baby.

There are a number of alternatives to icy hot that can be just as effective, such as using a heating pad or warm compress. If you’re looking for something with more of a cooling effect, you can try using a cold pack or ice pack.

Ultimately, it’s up to each individual mother to decide whether or not to use Icy Hot while breastfeeding. There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. On one hand, using Icy Hot can help relieve itchiness and swelling. On the other hand, some of the ingredients in Icy Hot can be harmful to both mother and child.

At the end of the day, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision and seek medical advice if needed. If you do choose to use Icy Hot while breastfeeding, be sure to use it sparingly and only as directed.

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