Capsaicin topical and Burning: What Users Say (Page 3)

• DRP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2021

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "Used on my torso to relieve pain post-shingles virus. It burned so badly that I considered going to the hospital! After 6 hours, 2 showers, and what felt like worsening pain, I soaked the area in dishwashing liquid, which has relieved the burning marginally! Would not recommend, nor will I use again!"

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2021

Capsaicin topical for Pain "I was prescribed Gabapentin at high levels, Naproxen, and Celebrex for pain and was not working so well. I asked the doctor for a prescription for Zostrix HP 0.075 topical cream for compressed nerve in my hip, which had caused numbness and hot shooting pain on the outer leg above the knee. The first time I applied it, yes, there was some burning, but the secret is to use a very little amount. After the second application, the burning was less. This stuff is amazing, it works as described. Nerve pain in my leg reduced by 60% by the second day! Now I can sleep and enjoy the whole day pain-free! Note: wear gloves to apply and use 4 times a day, the longer you use the cream, the less pain you're in! Yes, I would highly recommend this for nerve pain and muscle and joint pain! Finally, something that works!"

• Boo...
• September 18, 2019

For Pain "My GP told me to use this, so I put it on this morning before work. It was fine. Went in the shower and now my knee is badly burning and really red. Tried everything to stop it, but it is still burning. Will never use this again."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2018

For Pain "I like it, it burns, but that is nothing compared to back pain, which can be crippling. It does not stop pain, I found, it's just nice to have my brain focus on something else as well as back pain. Pain from this cream is like sunburn, and I recommend not wearing tight clothing over the area, as it seems to sweat and get hotter, unless it's just me who gets that."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2019

Capsaicin topical for Pain "I applied to my neck for pain. It did get rid of the neck pain, but I think that’s because the burning feeling of the medication masked the pain. I felt like my neck was severely sunburned. I was camping, and the burning started when I went outside in the Texas heat. It felt fine inside. Wash your hands. I got some on my nose and eye when I rubbed it. That was pretty bad."

• Zos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2022

Capsaicin topical for Osteoarthritis "Started using it for my knees. Use gloves when you put it on. I did not feel a thing (no burning or stinging) when I started using it. Then I put my knee brace on and my knees started heating up. Felt great. Use very little. Expensive $25 for a tube. It is worth it."

• EUG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "Have arthritis in both feet and applied capsaicin cream this morning. My feet are now worse than ever. I appreciate the burning sensation due to application, but it's like someone had a blowtorch on my feet. I'm afraid I'd rather suffer the pain of arthritis than use this product. I'm in more pain now with burning. Sorry, but not for me. My feet are on fire, so how does that substitute arthritic pain? Not good. Pain killer? More of a pain maker."

• Sea...
• May 8, 2019

For Peripheral Neuropathy "Doctor prescribed for post-shingles pain, put cream on my rash and thought I was dying. My skin burned so badly, turned red for hours, and I washed it off almost immediately. Pain was way worse after putting on the cream than before, would not recommend."

• Bra...
• August 23, 2021

For Pain "NEVER EVER!!! I worked a double, and my BF told me he would rub my feet because I had to be back to work in a few hours. He used the capsaicin HP cream, and the fan was blowing on them, so it wasn’t bad. 5 AM I got ready and left for work. I started walking in and was feeling very warm feet, then hot, hot, hot. 2 hours in, it felt like my legs and feet were cooking in hot oil. My whole body started trembling from the intense pain. I literally took my shoes and socks off and got into the mop sink to relieve some pain. Didn’t help. I walked barefoot through a parking garage (could barely walk) and had to call him to come get me. We had to throw my new shoes and socks away. Soaked in vinegar, Dawn, alcohol, cornstarch, baking soda, Desitin, the burn won’t stay away, comes back every time I put socks or shoes on. We threw away the cream! NOBODY should ever get into that stuff."

• jmb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2021

For Pain "Put a small amount on the base of my thumb for arthritis pain (recommended by my doctor). Seemed fine at first. Six hours later, it feels like my hand is on fire. Also bumped my neck with my hand, and that area started burning as well as having a red area much larger than what I touched. Cold and aloe did nothing to help it feel better. It's now 12:30 a.m., and I am in terrible pain (I have a pretty high pain tolerance if that tells you anything) and have to be up at 4:00 a.m. for work. I honestly don't know how I can keep using this to 'get used to it.' The pharmacist was so helpful... not. She said not to use cold if that makes it worse... wow. I will never use this again ($12 down the drain) and never recommend it. I don't do reviews, but knew I had to for this. I hope it helps someone making a decision to try it or not. I wish I would have researched first, but figured if my doctor recommended it, then it would be a good option."

• MyA...
• October 7, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "I recommend this product if you have pain. I would like to say that this is the best of two evils because it burns at the start when you first start to use it. It is really important to read the instructions to use it properly. But nice to relocate the pain a little. For my part, the product works very well. However, if you do not have major pain, the product will be worse for you. Anyway, a great product to measure your pain level."

• Pic...
• August 5, 2020

For Pain "Capsaicin is the worst cream ever! I have R.A. Haven't been able to get rid of pain in my arm and shoulder, not to mention the pain ran up my neck, so decided to try rubbing it in, and immediately it started to burn! It was like if someone threw hot oil on me. I could not get it off. I tried showering with cold water. I tried putting soap on it so I could wash it off. I tried aloe vera. Anything, the pain was not going away. I felt like I was burning. I do not recommend this to anyone."

• Ama...
• September 16, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "If I could post a picture of what this cream did to me! Picture the worst burning EVER! It took several wipes and a shower to get it off my back, and it still had bad pain from the middle to the tailbone area, which was red. I was in SO much pain from this medicine, it felt like my skin was on fire. I tried putting lidocaine spray on it, and the spray just melted onto my skin."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "I'm not sure it helped at all, but when I woke up in the middle of the night sweating, the burning sensation it caused was intense! Very painful. An ice pack helped, but I'm afraid to use it again after this."

• Bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2022

For Pain "I tried this capsicum .10 pain cream, CVS brand. Now my feet-specifically the tops of my feet and my toes' cuticles-have been burning 14/10, bad stinging, redness, and swelling. Wish I didn’t put that on my feet. It did not reduce any pain, it created inflammation, swelling, and has been causing severe pain for 3 hours. I used scrub gloves in the shower, so I assume the chili pepper got a deeper application than it was supposed to. They should have warnings on this. The tops of my feet and toes burning and stinging. I have used soap and cold water, milk, cold water bucket soak for hours, alcohol wipes, ice, cold water bottles. It hurts to walk, and my toes are visibly swollen. I would never use that again and wouldn’t want that to happen to another person. Used this 1-2 times ever."

• Cat...
• March 30, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "Put this on, and oh my goodness, it burned my skin. I tried to wash it off, and it burned worse... I kid you not! Nine hours after I had applied it, I was laying in bed on my husband's shoulder, and where my elbow was just touching my husband made his skin begin to burn... Nine hours later!!! Sheesh! Brutal!!!"

• Ouc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2022

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "Wow - horrible. I can’t believe that my doctor told me to use this. I have been in pain for hours. I cleaned this off about 8 minutes after applying, as I couldn’t stand it. It is still burning and made the shingles pain even worse than before I put it on. Absolutely awful!"

• ily...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "I have a bad knee that has been burning for a couple of days. I decided to try this and woke up 2 hours later, with a burning sensation. This sensation was so bad, I had to wake up and try to wash that area. Even after washing the area, the burning sensation continued. I would not recommend this to anyone."

• Agn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2021

For Pain "It did wonders for my shingles pain and now using it for plantar fasciitis. Yes, it did burn some, especially initially when my body would warm up (the intensity wears off, as the manufacturer says, with time). But it did completely redirect my attention from pain to warmth, which I found mostly pleasant. Also, it is great for plantar fasciitis (though not a cure)."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2021

For Pain "A great number of the users who reported persistent burning attempted to wash off the capsaicin cream with water. Since capsaicin is the 'hot' in hot chiles, this is definitely the wrong direction, as water will only spread the burn. Use dairy products (whole, if possible) or a neutral vegetable oil (capsaicin is soluble in oil)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2021

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "I overdid the first time I used it and, like others, experienced a very unpleasant burning feeling that I had to rub off in the shower with extra lubricant cream. Next time I used it, I was more cautious, applying small amounts, and it did relieve the pain, and the burning sensation was not unpleasant at all. However, its effect is not constant, sometimes it relieves pain, sometimes it doesn't. I use it every now and then."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2021

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "I overdid the first time I used it and, like others, experienced a very unpleasant burning feeling that I had to rub off in the shower with extra lubricant cream. Next time I used it, I was more cautious, applying small amounts, and it did relieve the pain, and the burning sensation was not unpleasant at all. However, its effect is not constant, sometimes it relieves pain, sometimes it doesn't. I use it every now and then."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2021

For Postherpetic Neuralgia "I am suffering from PHN. On Gabapentin, which has helped a little. Have terrible itching and burning on the side of my nose, under my eye, as well as my forehead and scalp. GP recommended Capsaicin. Applied it for the first time today, it did burn a bit, then the itching subsided. Works better than a lot of drugs I have tried, such as Tramadol, antihistamines, and codeine. Does not take the pain away completely but provides good relief from that horrible itching."

• Kwi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 26, 2021

For Pain "A very effective treatment for osteoarthritis, which I have in my fingers and thumbs. You have to ignore the burning that comes with it, as it's only temporary. It also might take a few days to take effect."

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2020

For Peripheral Neuropathy "If you have peripheral neuropathy or a small nerve fiber neuropathy, DO NOT USE capsaicin cream! Or use with caution! Pain was a 10 out of 10, and it only got worse over the hours. Pro tip: to neutralize, apply vinegar and then sour cream and let sit if you can. Then rinse off and apply again until you can manage with the burning. The only reason it somewhat worked is because I was in so much pain I didn’t feel my nerve or joint pain at the moment."