When your joints are painful or your muscles ache, topical painkillers -- those you apply to your skin-- may offer relief.You'll find many products for topical pain relief at your local drugstore.

The Best Topical Pain Relief Products Medically reviewed by Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC — Written by Ash Fisher — Updated on June 4, 2025 On this page ...

Topical rubefacients containing salicylates may be efficacious in the treatment of acute pain, such as sprains, strains, and sports injury, but they are only moderately to poorly efficacious in ...