I hurt my back yesterday and am having to wear these patches to ease the pain. I’m curious about how they work. How do they alternate between hot and cold?
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Can you share the brand or details about then specifically? Do you mean something chemical like icy hot?
That would help us know exactly what you are talking about
The chemical that makes icey hot and it’s counterparts work is methyl salicylate and menthol. You may recognize one of those words or more.
The first thing that acts is the menthol. Menthol stimulates the nerves we use to detect cold things. This is what gives peppermint or spearmint it’s cool feeling on your tongue. No actual change in temperature on your skin happens.
The methyl salicylate is similar to aspirin in its structure and when absorbed it causes the blood vessels to dialate. This promotes blood flow to the area which makes the skin feel warm. Especially when contrasted with the cooling effect of menthol. The increased blood flow also helps with muscle repair.
So step by step. You’ve applied the cream and the active ingredient hits your skin. The menthol is absorbed immediately and makes your skin feel cold. The methyl salicylate is absorbed and slowly dialates the tiny blood vessels in your skin. As the blood vessels near the application open up, hot blood flows to the area making the skin feel warm.
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