Skin Matters: A Review of Topical Treatments for Chronic Pain. Part Two: Treatments and Applications

• Published in: Pain and therapy Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 33 - 50
• Main Authors: Peppin, John F., Albrecht, Phillip J., Argoff, Charles, Gustorff, Burkhard, Pappagallo, Marco, Rice, Frank L., Wallace, Mark S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cheshire Springer Healthcare 01-06-2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pain Medicine; Review; Topical diclofenac; Capsaicin; Rational topical polypharmacy; Topical ketamine; Topical clonidine; Topical opioids; Human immunodeficiency virus neuropathy; Chronic pain; Neuropathic pain
• ISSN: 2193-8237; 2193-651X
• DOI: 10.1007/s40122-015-0032-z

In Part One of this two-part series, we discussed skin physiology and anatomy as well as generalities concerning topical analgesics. This modality of therapy has lesser side effects and drug–drug interactions, and patients tolerate this form of therapy better than many oral options. Unfortunately, this modality is not used as often as it could be in chronic pain states, such as that from neuropathic pain. Part Two discusses specific therapies, local anesthetics, and other drugs, as well as how a clinician might use specific aspects of a patient’s neuropathic pain presentation to help guide them in the selection of a topical agent.