It will then begin losing consistency until it is no longer a cream. Icy Hot has one of the most extended shelf lives out of the topical analgesic pain relief creams because of its active ingredients and composition. However, some people report that Icy Hot even lasts past its expiration date, and it just gets more watery as time passes.
Pro Tip: To keep icy hot from getting watery, you can place the Icy Hot tube in the refrigerator and keep it firm for longer. Icy Hot No Mess has a shelf life of 3 years when bought early. It will stay strong and effective for this long while kept in a cool, dry location. However, if it is left out without proper packaging, it will lose effectiveness faster than 3 years. What differentiates the No Mess from the original in terms of longevity is that the No Mess needs extra care when storing.
It is not enough to keep Icy Hot No Mess in a cool and dry location. If it is exposed to air for some time, it will dry up and become ineffective earlier than the expiration date.
So make sure that the cap is kept tight. Bengay only has a shelf life of 12 to 24 months, depending on the product chosen. The most popular Bengay topical analgesic cream only lasts for 12 months before the active ingredients begin to lose effect. After these 12 months, it will also begin to lose viscosity and consistency. Bengay does not last as long as Icy Hot and, as such, should be finished faster than its competitor.
After a few years, the cream will dissolve into a watery gel with no effect or warmth anymore. Using expired analgesic ointment is not likely to bring you any harm; it will just have a weaker effect. Most over-the-counter medications do not actually expire as food or drink does.
Expired ointments simply lose potency over time until they no longer function. However, antibiotics or antifungal ointments should not be used past expiration because the lack of potency can be dangerous. Doctors say that expired ointment is not as dangerous as one would expect.
As it is medicinal in nature, it is a common misconception to think that it would be harmful when expired. The truth is, many pharmaceutical manufacturers place the expiration dates on ointments to signify when they will no longer be as effective. After the date, all bets are off. The stuff either works or it doesn't, but there is no assurance. Now as I tell you this, please realize I am referring to basic, general creams that you can buy over the counter, such as hydrocortisone, triple antibiotic ointment, arthritic and muscle ache rubs, anti-itch creams and anti-fungal products.
If you're only a few months past the date and the product looks normal, try it. If you are years beyond, it's worth the few dollars to get a fresh tube. Use common sense--if your cream has a funky odor, tainted color or change in appearance, toss it.
If it is dried out or has been exposed to heat or humidity, toss it. Prescribed creams are another story. If your doctor ordered something for you years ago, and you want to reuse it, get his approval first--there are certain prescription creams that shouldn't be used beyond their expiration date.
For example, the anti-cancer creams Efudex and Carac shouldn't be used beyond their expiration date. Neither should Aldara, which is for peri-anal and genital warts and is seeking FDA approval to treat skin cancer.
The New York City medical examiner's office ruled last week that year-old cross-country runner Arielle Newman died from an accidental overdose of methyl salicylate, the wintergreen-scented ingredient found in popular sports balms. To help ease exercise-related discomfort, the Staten Island teenager reportedly had been putting Bengay on her legs between running meets, while also using adhesive pads with methyl salicylate, an aspirin-like anti-inflammatory, and a third product, according to the Associated Press.
All of the products can be found as nonprescription items on drug store shelves. Methyl salicylate, or salicylic acid, is the active ingredient in creams such as Bengay, Icy Hot and Tiger Balm, as well as aspirin, and "is potentially harmful if it is overused," said Dr. An anti-clotting agent, salicyclic acid at very high doses "can cause internal bleeding, it can cause arrhythmias of the heart, it can cause problems in the liver -- there are any number of ways it can get to you," Varlotta added.
However, long-familiar brands like Bengay which first debuted in U. And while most people would definitely think twice about swallowing a fistful of aspirin or other OTC pills, people forget that creams carry dangers, too. And that maxim applies to creams just as much as it does to pills, she said. Her groups' statistics for show that 14 Americans died from skin exposures to some kind of toxic substance, although a breakdown on exactly which substances caused those deaths has not yet been compiled, Juris said.
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