Article: Learn How to Spot These Dangerous Chemicals in Pain Relief Products
Learn How to Spot These Dangerous Chemicals in Pain Relief Products
As the demand for clean and natural wellness products grows, so does people’s awareness about ingredients. Not every pain relief ingredient is created equal.
Consumers are paying closer attention to ingredient labels, and for good reason. Harsh ingredients can irritate your skin and cause more problems down the road. That’s the last thing you want when you’re looking for natural pain relief.
Learn which ingredients are the worst offenders and how you can replace them with natural pain relief products.
Why Ingredients Matter in Pain Relief Products
Some conventional ingredients are harsh and irritating. Pain relief salves, creams, and rubs rely on skin absorption to work. Unfortunately, many of the most common ingredients cause unwanted side effects.
Choosing cleaner, more holistic formulas helps you avoid skin problems and get the pain relief you deserve. Ingredients matter, and so does your comfort.
Chemicals Commonly Found in Conventional Pain Relief Products
These are common ingredients in store-bought pain relief products. Learn why they often do more harm than good and how to spot them on ingredient labels.
Artificial Fragrances
Chemicals that are used to create artificial fragrance can trigger skin irritation and sensitivities.
Many companies are not transparent about which fragrances they use. On an ingredient label, artificial fragrance may be listed as just “fragrance” or “parfum.” Some synthetic fragrances have long chemical names.
The label may even say “unscented,” but this doesn’t mean there are no fragrance chemicals in the product. Many companies still use a blend of chemicals to mask the smell of the product.
Harsh Preservatives
Preservatives are used in commercial pain relief products to extend the shelf life. However, harsh preservatives can cause skin reactions and unwanted health effects.
Preservative chemicals can disrupt your skin’s natural balance of good and bad bacteria. In more severe cases, you may end up with a rash or contact dermatitis.
Formaldehyde is a common byproduct of topical preservatives. It’s been ruled a carcinogen (cause of cancer) and can cause skin sensitivities.
Avoid products that contain preservatives like parabens, benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, triclosan, and zinc pyrithione.
Petroleum-Based Ingredients
Petroleum is a common ingredient in thick creams and balms. For some folks, heavy petroleum-based formulas can be too occlusive, meaning they block the pores. This allows acne-causing bacteria to build up, which causes breakouts and other skin reactions.
Synthetic Dyes & Fillers
Companies often add chemicals that change the color, weight, or feel of the product. Synthetic dyes and filler ingredients are added for appearance, and they don’t do anything to improve the product’s function.
It’s difficult to nail down exactly which ones cause specific skin sensitivities, especially when the label isn’t transparent. Because of this, you may be facing unnecessary skin irritation. There’s no need for dyes or fillers in good pain relief products.
What to Look For Instead
Now you know what to avoid. What should you replace these products with for the best chance at pain relief?
Full-Spectrum Hemp Extract
Full-spectrum hemp extract combines the full power of all the ingredients in the hemp plant. Hemp extract has been used for pain and inflammation for many years, and it’s all natural.
CBD & CBG
CBD and CBG are natural cannabinoids found in hemp plants. They help with pain, discomfort, skin sensitivity, itching, and inflammation when applied topically. These are great natural additions to any pain relief formulation.
Botanical Ingredients
Botanical ingredients are plant-based, meaning they come from nature. Plant-based formulas harness the natural power of plant compounds, which have been used for thousands of years in healing remedies and concoctions.
Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is a natural antibacterial agent that soothes your skin and promotes healing. It’s an ideal alternative to the harsh preservatives and chemicals that many formulas use to keep products fresh.
Why BirchTree Focuses on Clean Ingredients
At BirchTree Hemp, we take a holistic approach to wellness. You can achieve comfort and natural pain relief with gentle, hard-working formulations. Our products are free from irritating, harsh chemicals and filler ingredients.
We blend the power of hemp-based ingredients with other botanicals to support your health and well-being. Our bioactive hemp salve is a particularly good option for fast pain relief.
FAQs
What ingredients should I avoid in pain relief creams?
Avoid harsh or synthetic chemicals that aren’t necessary in pain relief products. It’s a good idea to ditch products that contain parabens, synthetic dyes, artificial fragrances, and harsh preservatives.
What does full-spectrum hemp extract mean?
Full-spectrum hemp extract contains all of the terpenes and cannabinoids present in the hemp plant. Pain relief products work best when all of the hemp plant compounds can work together, as they do in nature.
Why are more consumers choosing plant-based pain relief products?
Consumers want more holistic, gentle products to achieve daily pain relief. Clean ingredients have become a strong focus, since many people struggle with skin sensitivities. If you don’t want to risk your health and wellness, clean, natural products are your best bet.
Shop BirchTree Hemp topicals for pain relief.
Get the natural pain relief you deserve. We provide clean, natural hemp topicals for pain without any of the bad stuff. Shop our natural pain relief rubs today.
