Have you ever experienced a joint injury, back pain, or nerve pain that was so unbearable you can’t even sleep? Later when you applied some of the creams that your health provider recommended or prescribed you found it even more difficult to sleep with because of the heating therapy it produces? The good news is that many methods will allow you to sleep with these ointments or patches.
Everyone experiences sprain, injury, nerve pain, or a simple joint pain caused by arthritis or some other chronic condition at some point in their life. However, treating that pain is not always easy, because many treatment options are not suitable for everyone and may even come with some side effects.
Nevertheless, a lot of people loved the pain-soothing mechanism of Hisamitsu’s Salonpas, which has various benefits on joint pain and other painful conditions on the skin, as confirmed by numerous studies. However, a lot of people are not sure whether they can sleep with Salonpas or not, and whether it’s even safe to sleep with it.
There are not many answers regarding that question, and if you’re reading this article, you probably figured out the same. Don’t worry, we wrote this article specifically for people who suffer from joint and nerve pain intending to help them sleep with Salonpas on effortlessly.
Continue reading through this article to learn more about what Salonpas is, and how it can help you relieve your pain. We’ll also answer your confusion on whether you can sleep with Salonpas on or not. Lastly, we’ll cover up some tips and tricks on sleeping with Salonpas without a problem.
What is Salonpas?
Salonpas refers to a group of pain-relieving medications manufactured and developed by Hisamitsu. It is available in a range of products such as creams, gels, skin patches, and lotions. It’s worth mentioning that this is a topically-applied medicine, which means that you shouldn’t ingest or inhale it.
Like most topical ointments used for joint and nerve pain, Salonpas gets warm. It provides a hot therapy that warms up the skin and the affected joint, nerve, tendon, or lower back. It’s used mostly to treat minor aches such as minor injuries, bruising, sprains, or backache.
However, health experts also recommend it as a treatment for arthritis as it can result in relieving the burning and painful symptoms, at least temporarily. As the pharmacists and doctors recommend, it should be used regularly for better results and of course, more long-lasting results.
As mentioned above, there are different versions of this medicine. Some use it as a cream or gel, which is gently rubbed across the affected skin and then massaged into it for a few minutes for a deeper and long-lasting effect.
Given that it gets hot, and can make your hands feel quite hot also, it’d be good to apply it using a tissue, a cotton swab, or even a specially-designed glove that can help with the application. If you decide to not use any of the help, you should thoroughly wash your hands after the application, as touching your skin, face, or eyes can result in unpleasant burning.
If you’re feeling a sprain or nerve pain in your wrist, palm or fingers you can still apply the creams and ointments. It’s still worth noting that you should wait with washing your hands and save it for at least 30 minutes so that the ointment can take the effect properly.
With patch is a bit different. You have to apply it to the part of the body that is affected and keep it warm until it starts working. It’s worth noting that you shouldn’t use the patch on cuts or burns, as that can potentially worsen your situation and cause you to feel sick.
There’s no official statement on how long you should use Salonpas, in any form. Some health experts say that it can take up to a month or even two to see the visible effects of using Salonpas in the sense that the pain will be reduced and that you’ll move and sleep easier. But, nothing is guaranteed.
Salonpas medical forms are approved as OTC (over-the-counter) medicines by FDA. You can get it prescribed by your healthcare provider, or you can buy them on your own in a pharmacy. If you opt for the latter option consult your doctor and pharmacist.
Can You Sleep With Salonpas On?
Now, to the most important question – can you sleep with Salonpas on? Yes, you can absolutely sleep with it. The manufacturer, Hisamitsu said in a statement to LA Times that it’s absolutely safe to sleep with Salonpas on and that it is designed to be used before bedtime so that you can be in a resting position while using it.
The spokesperson also added that the patch is effective after being used with a shower and that in addition to that, it can be used with infrared and UV lamps for more effectiveness.
Most people shouldn’t face any problems with using Salonpas to sleep, especially if they have a habit of sleeping shorter than 12 hours, which most people do after all. They’re thin and stretchable, so even if you’re a restless sleeper who tosses and turns the whole night, the patch won’t come off.
There are different types of Salonpas patches. However, most of the patches can be worn between 8 and 12 hours which is more than enough to meet the sleeping needs and habits of most people. You’ll not only have enough time to sleep with it, but also relax and stretch for a few more minutes or even hours before taking it off.
It’s worth noting that you shouldn’t apply more than three patches the same day if you plan to sleep with it, as it can cause the skin to feel burnt and irritated and have some unwanted reactions. Unlike the ointments that can be used without a limit, Salonpas patches shouldn’t be used for more than three days in a row.
While nothing too bad will happen if you wear the patch for more than 12 hours throughout the night, you may feel discomfort in your skin in the form of stinging and burning. Your skin may be red, irritated, and likely with a rash. Less severe consequences include the patch either sticking to the skin so strongly that you’ll face difficulties taking it off, or come off on its own.
Children older than 12 are also allowed to sleep with Salonpas patches, in case they suffered a tendon or joint injury or are healing some time after a surgery that they had. The patches are not recommended for children younger than 12. However, children older than three can use the gel designed with Hisamitsu.
Tips to Sleep With Salonpas On
If you’re one of those people who want to sleep with Salonpas but didn’t know they can, or you already know you can sleep with Salonpas on but you want to make it more convenient and comfortable, check out our tips and tricks that will help you sleep easier with Salonpas on despite the heat and stinging sensation.
Take a Bath or Shower
As the Hisamitsu Spokesperson said for the LA Times, it’s best to take a warm shower or bath in the evening an hour or so before bedtime. This will relax your muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and of course, skin, allowing the patch to come naturally.
Given that the patches provide heat therapy for the affected joints and tendons, it’s a good idea to take a shower and bath because skin that is already warm or hot will speed up the absorption of the medicine contained in the Salonpas patch.
That way, it won’t feel like an insane pain and the patch will sit comfortably with the skin without irritating it or causing the patch. The stinging and burning sensation will be milder and will last longer.
Editor’s notes: Needless to say, taking a warm bath before bed will relax you and allow you to have an easier time falling asleep. If you manage to doze off relatively fast, you won’t feel the effects of the patch and you won’t wake up to toss, turn and scratch yourself over the night.
Use a Lamp
As mentioned earlier, just like the bath, using a lamp above the affected area after you applied the patch may speed up the absorption time of the medicine you want to use, and that way you’ll be able to fall asleep easier, and won’t feel pain or burning that is too annoying.
The tingling, stinging, and burning sensation can be quite annoying at the night. It makes you want to scratch yourself as the skin sweats and causes an itching sensation. Unfortunately, scratching can disrupt the way the patch lays onto the skin and not work properly.
Editor’s notes: You’re allowed to use infrared, optical light, or even a UV lamp, but if you choose to use a UV lamp set a small timer and only use it until the timer goes off so that your skin doesn’t burn even more.
Do Some Light Exercises
If you’re in a position to do so, you can do some light exercises at home or take early evening walks to stretch your legs. That way, your ligaments, and joints will stretch and move naturally so that they’re still warm when you apply the patch.
This may not be extraordinarily helpful, but it can speed up the application and absorption times which can help your injury heal faster. If you’re not in a position to take a walk due to an injury or recovery from a surgical treatment, you should refrain from anything that could be too strenuous for your joints.
Editor’s notes: If you want to apply a patch to the affected skin area, you should wait at least one hour after the exercise is over. Then it will be perfectly safe to place the patch over the area you want to keep warm.
Stick to a Sleep Routine
As health experts recommend, it’d be best to apply the patches every day at the same time, but not more than three days in a row. If you want to sleep with Salonpas on, you should adjust your sleep routine to the time you’ll apply your patch.
It’s unwise to apply it at different times every day and change your sleep routine for the sake of that. It’s important to maintain a healthy sleep cycle because it will help your joints heal and reduce the symptoms of arthritis regardless of whether you’re using the patches or not.
That said, make sure to apply the patch near the time you go to sleep, and try not to step away from your evening habit and routine while you take the Salonpas therapy. It may result in fatigue, and even sleep deprivation because of so much oscillation in treatment.
Editor’s notes: It’s worth noting that your healthcare provider may allow you to use the patches for more days than just 3. Make sure to consult with them and get the right advice about the therapy you’re receiving. Do what feels the most effective, and of course, the safest for you.
Adjust Your Environment
Of course, to get the best effects of Salonpas treatment during bedtime, you should ensure that your sleep environment is suitable for sleeping with Salonpas.
The same rules apply, you need to make sure that you’re sleeping on clean sheets and pillowcases, that your bedding is made out of cotton or some other breathable material and that your blankets are also breathable.
Don’t forget that the patches and your skin tend to heat up, which means that you may experience hot flashes or even sweat during the nighttime. Make sure that you’re sleeping in a cool, yet cozy environment that feels cuddly and comfortable.
Lastly, make sure that you’re using a pillow and a mattress with good temperature regulation so that you wouldn’t sweat profusely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleeping With Salonpas
If you still have concerns about sleeping with Salonpas on, here are frequently asked questions answered for you to help you understand how to use it.
Are There Salonpas Side Effects?
Just like every medicine, there are some side effects of Salonpas. They can include burning, stinging and other uncomfortable sensations from the heat therapy. Other side effects may occur if you’re allergic to chili pepper that is used to provide the hot therapy with patches. In rare situations it can cause an allergic reaction that causes cough, sneezing, watery eyes and suffocation symptoms.
How Many Salonpas Can You Use At Once?
Different prescriptions have different readings. Some experts suggest that you can’t wear more than three at once, while some other sources say that you shouldn’t take more than one at a time. It’s different for every type of the Salonpas patch, which is why it’d be the best to contact your healthcare provider.
Can You Shower With Salonpas Patch?
It’s not advised to shower with the Salonpas patch on. Instead, it’s recommended to apply it once you’re done taking a shower or bath.
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