If you suffer from arthritis, chances are that you want to find targeted pain relief. Affected joints can throb and ache especially in weather that is cold or damp. Arthritis cream can be a great way to bring about temporary relief. Because arthritis cream uses medicinal ingredients to provide relief it is important to know about them so that you can avoid drug interactions or allergic reactions.

Arthritis cream is often divided into hot creams and cooling creams. This can be great since different types of arthritis need different care regimens and using the wrong product can make your condition worse.

Rheumatoid arthritis comes as a result of the immune system turning against the body and attacking the joints. There is a lot of heat in the joints as well as swelling and pain. Using a product which increases the heat in the joints may meant that your symptoms become worse not better.

Osteoarthritis does not cause the same heat and inflammation. This is because osteoarthritis is caused by a breakdown in cartilage. Osteoarthritis usually develops as a result of repeated joint use or advanced age although some athletes may develop arthritis in their joints at an earlier age. Joints may feel better as a result of using creams which heat the joints.

The cooling creams will use salicylate (an aspirin derivative) or menthol to soothe and calm joints down. These are great for rheumatoid arthritis. You also need to make sure that you do not use a product with salicylate in it if you are allergic to Aspirin or related products.

Arthritis creams which heat the skin and the joints can be a great relief to people suffering from arthritis. They often used capsaicin, the ingredient which gives chillies their heat, to warm tissues and ease pain.

Rubbing any cream or lotion in will help increase blood flow to the area. This can help tissues drain more fluids and relieve swelling. As well, the body heals itself through blood and so increasing circulation can help you heal yourself even if the product you are using has no medicinal content in it. You may even want to try plain, unmedicated massage cream before you move on to one of the arthritis creams on the market.

Arthritis sufferers who are on specific drug therapies should always make sure to talk to their doctor or a pharmacist before adding any medicines or products to their care regimen. This is because the skin can absorb medications and you want to make sure that there will not be any bad reactions between your cream and the other medications you are using. Finding a way to ease your pain and discomfort can be a valuable tool to managing your disease.