Using Penetrex Balm comfortably and safely
Penetrex Balm is for the skin only, applied in a thin layer on clean, unbroken skin. Because balms with menthol and methyl salicylate are strong and fragrant, a few simple habits keep them comfortable.
How do I use a menthol and methyl salicylate balm comfortably?
Use it on the skin only, in a thin layer, on clean and unbroken skin, and wash your hands afterwards. The same habits apply to the whole category of balms that contain menthol, methyl salicylate, camphor, alcohol and plant oils.
Why does a balm need a safety page at all? Because the ingredients that make it feel good are strong ones. Menthol gives the cool first touch, methyl salicylate the gentle warmth, and eucalyptus, lavender and camphor the fresh scent. Strong sensations are lovely when you use a thin layer in the right place. A few simple habits make sure they stay lovely.
What are the everyday safety habits for Penetrex Balm?
Skin only
Penetrex Balm is a balm for external use. It goes on the skin over areas such as the knees, back, shoulders and neck. It is never swallowed, and it does not go anywhere near the mouth.
Unbroken, calm skin
Wait until a cut, a scratch, a graze or irritated skin is back to normal before you use the balm on that spot. Menthol and alcohol on broken skin simply feel too strong, and there is no need for that when calm, unbroken skin is a few centimetres away.
Away from eyes, lips, nose and other delicate areas
Keep the balm away from your eyes, lips, the inside of your nose and other mucous membranes. These areas are far more sensitive than the skin of a knee or a shoulder. If the balm touches one by accident, rinse the area gently with plenty of clean water.
Wash your hands after each use
Menthol and plant oils stay on the fingertips. A quick wash with soap and water protects your eyes, and it takes ten seconds.
A thin layer is enough
More balm does not give a better result, it only gives a stronger sensation. Take the amount you need, spread it, press it lightly and stop there.
How do I do a patch test?
Apply a very small amount of balm to a small area of skin, wait, and watch. It is the easiest way to learn how your skin feels about a new fragrant product, and it takes two minutes.
- Wash and dry a small area of skin, for example the inside of your forearm.
- Apply a very small amount of balm and leave it on.
- Wait a while. If the skin stays comfortable, go ahead and use the balm as usual.
- If the skin turns red, itchy or uncomfortable, wash the balm off with mild soap and water and stop using it.
A patch test is especially useful if your skin reacts to perfumes, essential oils, strong soaps or other scented creams. It is a good habit with every new balm, not just this one. Our guide on how to read a balm label shows how to spot the fragrant ingredients before you begin.
Should I cover the area or add heat?
It is more comfortable not to. Do not wrap the area tightly and do not place a heat pad or hot water bottle on top of the balm. A balm that already has a cool and a warm sensation feels stronger under a bandage or a source of heat, and the result is rarely pleasant.
Loose clothing over the area is perfectly fine. After a hot bath or shower, let the skin come back to normal temperature before you apply the balm, so the warm feeling stays gentle.
Who should not use a salicylate balm, and who should ask first?
Methyl salicylate belongs to the salicylate family, which also includes aspirin. That is why the standard advice for any balm containing it is the same.
People allergic to aspirin or salicylates
If you are allergic to aspirin or other salicylates, a balm with methyl salicylate is not for you. Please ask a doctor or pharmacist before you use it.
People sensitive to strong plant scents
If eucalyptus, lavender, camphor or other strongly scented products have made your skin red or itchy in the past, do the patch test or ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before you start. It is the standard advice for external balms with methyl salicylate, and your own circumstances are best judged by someone who knows them.
Children
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using a balm like this on a child. Never apply it near the face of a baby or a small child, and keep the tube out of their reach.
Blood thinners, kidney or stomach conditions
If you take blood-thinning medicines, or if you live with a kidney or stomach condition, ask a doctor or pharmacist before you begin. A short conversation gives you a clear answer for your own situation.
Asking is easy in Kenya: a pharmacist at your local chemist is usually happy to answer a quick question over the counter, and many people use the minute while collecting other items.
What if my skin does not feel comfortable?
Wash the balm off with mild soap and water and stop using it. Do this if the skin turns red, itchy or uncomfortable; the feeling usually fades once the balm is off.
With any balm that contains menthol, methyl salicylate and plant oils, these are the signals worth noticing: redness, itching, a burning feeling that does not fade, or a rash where the balm was applied. Take them as a message from your skin and rest the area. If the feeling does not settle, or you notice swelling, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.
When should I get medical help instead?
A balm is a pleasant, simple part of your day. It is not a way to deal with something serious. Please seek medical help if:
- the discomfort is severe;
- it lasts for a long time and does not ease;
- it comes with swelling, fever or numbness;
- you are not sure what is causing it.
In those cases, see a doctor and tell them which products you have been using.
Penetrex Balm, 50 g, KES 5,990. Name and phone number, a confirmation call, payment on delivery.
How do I store the tube, and who keeps it?
Close the cap after each use, store the tube away from direct sun and heat, and keep it out of the reach of children. A bedroom drawer or a cupboard shelf is ideal; a car dashboard in the Nairobi sun or a window sill in Mombasa is not.
Do not swallow the balm. It is for external use only. If a child swallows some by accident, contact a doctor straight away and take the tube with you.
Where can I read more about the ingredients and use of Penetrex Balm?
The Penetrex Balm ingredients page shows every name printed on the carton, the methyl salicylate page explains the warming ingredient in plain words, and the how-to-use page walks through the five steps of application. If you are still deciding, the frequently asked questions answer the quick ones.
Penetrex Balm is a balm for external use, not a medicine, and it does not replace medical treatment. If you take regular medicines, keep taking them as your doctor advises, and talk to a doctor or pharmacist about anything that worries you.
Safety questions, answered
Is Penetrex Balm safe to use?
Penetrex Balm is made for the skin only, and like any balm with menthol, methyl salicylate and plant oils it is most comfortable when you follow a few simple habits: a thin layer on clean, unbroken skin, away from the eyes and lips, with clean hands afterwards. If you are unsure about your own situation, ask a doctor or pharmacist before you start.
What side effects should I look out for with a balm like this?
With any balm that contains menthol, methyl salicylate and plant oils, the thing to watch for is skin that turns red, itchy or uncomfortable. If that happens, wash the balm off with mild soap and water and stop using it. If the feeling does not fade, or you notice swelling, a rash that spreads or any other change that worries you, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.
Who should not use a balm with methyl salicylate?
People who are allergic to aspirin or other salicylates should not use a balm that contains methyl salicylate. Anyone who has ever reacted to a strong plant scent should do a patch test or ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
Can I use Penetrex Balm if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Please ask a doctor or pharmacist before you start. Methyl salicylate and strong plant oils are the reason for this standard advice for balms, and your own situation is best judged by someone who knows it.
Can children use Penetrex Balm?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using a balm like this on a child, and always keep the tube out of the reach of children. Never apply it near a small child’s face.
What if I take blood-thinning medicines or have kidney or stomach conditions?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before you begin. Salicylates are a family of ingredients that deserve a conversation with a professional when you take blood thinners or live with kidney or stomach conditions.
How do I do a patch test?
Wash and dry a small area of skin, such as the inside of your forearm. Apply a very small amount of balm and leave it on. Wait a while and watch the skin. If it stays comfortable, you can use the balm as usual. If it turns red, itchy or uncomfortable, wash it off with mild soap and water.
What should I do if the balm gets in my eyes?
Rinse the eye gently with plenty of clean water. If the eye stays uncomfortable, speak to a doctor or pharmacist. To avoid this, wash your hands after every application.
Can I put a hot water bottle or a tight bandage over the balm?
No. Keep the area uncovered or under loose clothing. Heat and tight wrapping on top of a balm with menthol and methyl salicylate make it feel stronger and less comfortable.
When should I see a doctor instead of using a balm?
See a doctor if your discomfort is severe, lasts for a long time, or comes with swelling, fever or numbness. A balm is a comfort for the skin and a pleasant part of your day. It is not a medicine.
How should I store Penetrex Balm?
Keep the cap closed, store the tube away from direct sun and heat, and keep it out of the reach of children. Do not swallow the balm.
Penetrex Balm, 50 g tube, KES 5,990. An operator confirms your order by phone and you pay on delivery.