Whether you suffer from occasional or chronic pain, you know how difficult it can be to go about your normal day without any pain relief help. This can be even trickier if you have sensitive skin. Many topical pain relief options on the market can be harsh on the skin and may bother people who have sensitive skin. If this sounds like something you are struggling with, you’ve come to the right place! Today, we are listing the top 5 pain relief options for people with sensitive skin.
Take a hot bath
People have been taking hot baths to soothe pain for thousands of years, but it’s still as effective today! Hot baths are particularly great for people suffering from back and joint pain. The main benefit of a hot bath is that it relaxes otherwise tense muscles. When you hurt your back, the muscle tenses up and can cause painful back spasms. When soaked in hot water, your muscles start to relax and open up. This also encourages any buildup of lactic acid to move through your muscles. Lactic acid buildup can occur when there isn’t enough oxygen in the muscles. One way this can happen is when your muscles are tense post-injury or backache.
The ideal temperature of a hot bath is between 92-100 degrees fahrenheit. When you’re in the bath, make sure to massage out the painful areas of your body. This encourages blood flow to speed up healing time. For sensitive skin, you can also add in unscented epsom salts to help moisturize and soothe the skin. The length that you stay in the bath is totally up to you but try to stay in for at least 15-20 minutes. This allows enough time for the muscles to really relax. Depending on your level of pain and your lifestyle, you may want to take a hot bath 2-4 times per week to help reduce aches. Afterwards, make sure to stretch out your muscles. Because your muscles are relaxed and loose, stretching will increase your mobility and lessen the chances of another injury.
Massage
People usually think of massages as a way to simply unwind, but they actually have more therapeutic benefits than you may realize! If you are dealing with muscle pain or joint/tendon aches, a therapeutic massage may be the right pain relief option for you. In fact, a study done in 2014 found that getting a 60-minute massage 2-3 times a week relieved chronic neck pain better than no massage at all. This is because during a massage, the blood flow to your muscles is increased. This blood flow brings white blood cells to the affected area to help speed up the healing process of a sprain or strain quicker. It can also help to lower inflammation. Just like taking a hot bath, getting a massage also relaxes tense muscles which leads to a lower chance of muscle spasms.
Dealing with chronic or frequent pain can also take a huge toll on your mental health. And as you may know, your mental health and stress levels can directly affect the way the rest of your body feels. Feeling stressed frequently can lead to fatigue, tense muscles, lack of sleep, and even an affected digestive system. All of these issues can cause even worse chronic pain and the cycle continues. A regular massage can relax both the body and the mind for boosted pain relief and better sleep.
Meditate
As mentioned above, stress and other mental health factors can contribute to a boatload of issues that actually make managing your pain harder. While it’s not feasible to eliminate stress altogether, stress levels can be lowered through meditation. Meditation helps to fully clear your mind and push aside anything that may be bothering you, like your current pain levels. Regular meditation can also retrain your brain and increase your threshold for pain. While it takes discipline, meditation can be a great option for those with long term or chronic pain.
Pain relief patch
Traditional pain relief patches and creams can oftentimes be too harsh for sensitive skin. This is exactly why SinSinPas has just released their brand new AREX Gel Patches. These hot and cool pain relieving gel patches are made for those who need a gentler option for at-home pain relief. The new AREX Gel Patches provide long-lasting relief with both hot and cold effects to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Plus, it’s made specially with aloe vera which lessens the risk of skin irritation and soothes the affected area quicker. Like the traditional AREX Pain Relieving Patches, the new Gel Patches are made from a strong 4-way stretch fabric so you can go about your day without having to worry about it peeling off.
The AREX Gel Patches were made to reduce muscle and joint pain that can come from strains, sprains, arthritis, back and neck aches, and bruises. Unlike some other pain relief options, patches are made to target the affected area directly and are non-addictive to be safer for your body. If you are dealing with pain and have sensitive skin, the new AREX Gel Patches are the perfect option for you!
Exercise
When dealing with chronic pain, the last thing you may want to do is stay active. But inactivity can actually make pain worse and lead to other issues within the body. Stretching the body and gaining flexibility helps alleviate joint pain and lessen the risk of injury in the future. On top of that, regular exercise can also lower inflammation and increase mobility. Studies have even shown that working out can increase your pain tolerance over time, making chronic pain less debilitating. Like meditating and massages, exercising can also have a huge benefit on your mental health. This is because you produce endorphins and dopamine when you’re working out!
At the end of the day, if your pain persists and nothing seems to help, it’s never a bad idea to talk to your doctor. They will be able to provide you with a recommendation that will help lessen aches and pains without irritating your skin.