Pharmacy products for the summer first-aid kit

Are any of your customers taking a last-minute camping trip to the Poconos or booking a long weekend in the Adirondacks? Some may be planning to go biking, hiking, or swimming with the kids before the summer ends. Greater outdoor activity leads to a greater possibility of minor cuts, scrapes, bruises, bumps, bites, and burns. It’s not too late to consider some new first-aid items for your shelves.

Skin care

Whether it’s sunburn, poison ivy, or bug bites, these new products will soothe the pain and irritation for vacationers needing fast relief.

Image courtesy of Water-Jel Technologies

Water-Jel Technologies has a new spray formula for its Unburn Sunburn Relief bottle that is specially formulated for the treatment of sunburn pain. Its active ingredient of 2% lidocaine will cool and soothe sunburn pain quickly, the company states.

Image courtesy of Zanfel Laboratories

Zanfel Laboratories offers Zanfel Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Wash, a topical solution for the treatment of these irritants. The company claims that its product is the only one known to remove urushiol - the toxin responsible for the reaction - from the skin after contact is made. With use of the Zanfel wash, relief is just 30 seconds away.

Image courtesy of Hyland's

For those nasty mosquito bites, consider Hyland’s Bug Bite Ointment, a fast-acting product to relieve swelling, itching, and pain. Its base ingredient, citronella oil, is used to deter bugs from biting again. This homeopathic formula contains Apis Mellifica 3X HPUS for pain control; Calendula Officinalis 3X HPUS for healing the skin; Echinacea Ang 3X HPUS for pain control and swelling; Ledum Palustre 3X HPUS for pain control; and Urtica Dioica for itch relief.

Wound care

Image courtesy of Prestige BrandsTo soothe chafing and blistering, Prestige Brands has New-Skin Anti-Chafing Spray, which is a waterproof silicone-based formula for use under arms, on the groin, inner thighs, chest and nipples, and feet and heels. The no-touch spray creates a thin layer of protection that last more than four hours. Its active ingredients include isobutene, cyclopentasiloxane, trimethylsiloxysilicate, methyl trimethicone, cornstarch, and denatured alcohol. The company warns that this product is flammable, so it should not be used near fire or flame, or when the user is smoking.

Image courtesy of Prestige BrandsPrestige Brands also has Dermoplast Pain Relieving Antibacterial Spray for relief of itch and pain, and to fight infection from cuts, scrapes, bites, blisters, sunburns, and general burns. It contains benzocaine for pain relief and benzethonium chloride for prevention of infection.

Another protective product for wounds in hard-to-cover areas is Nexcare Liquid Bandage. This first-aid solution, designed to cover everything from small nicks to big abrasions, provides a waterproof barrier within 30 seconds. According to Nexcare, it’s ideal for protecting the skin from water and for promoting healing. The bandage contains no fragrance or preservatives, and is alcohol-free, so it doesn’t sting on application.

Image courtesy of Medline Industries

Curad offers a number of bandages for different kinds of wounds. Curad Non-Stick Pads are ideal for covering post-surgical wounds, wounds with light bleeding, burn wounds, and cuts and scrapes. The pads consist of perforated mylar film attached to a 100% cotton pad, which is highly absorbent and breathable.

Curad is also introducing its new Curad Camouflage Bandages in green camouflage and pink and blue camouflage colors for the adventurous wounded. In addition, Curad is offering its Green Camouflage Sports Tape in a roll. 

To cover up casts, bandages, or wounds and keep them dry in the shower, children and adults can use Curad Cast Protectors, which are easy to handle with one hand and do not require tape or straps. They are available for covering arms and legs. For scar treatment,

Curad Scar Therapy is formulated to help improve the appearance of raised, colored, and keloid scars. It can be used on scars that are either old or new, wherever they appear on the body. For good results, Curad suggests keeping the pads on for 12 hours daily and using for three to four consecutive weeks.

Image courtesy of Johnson & Johnson

For children’scuts, scrapes, and burns, Neosporin Wound Cleanser for Kids is designed to prevent infection. Containing benzalkonium Cl 0.13%, this no-sting, instant-foaming cleanser is ideal for kids two years of age and older. 

Neosporin NEO To Go! is a first-aid antiseptic and pain relief rolled into one, with benzalkonium 0.13% and Pramoxine HCl 1%. This non-aerosol spray is also indicated for the prevention of infection and for the temporary relief of pain fromcuts, scrapes, and burns.

Image courtesy of Johnson & Johnson

Pain relief

Try Sanofi’s Icy Hot SmartRelief, a possible answer to back pain that uses transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). According to the manufacturer’s website, TENS works by blocking pain signals with the use of gentle electrical pulses. The control unit is snapped on the application pad and applied to the area of pain. Then the TENS device is turned on for safe and effective pain relief. Individuals with a pacemaker, defibrillator, internal TENS device, or metal implanted device should not use the product. The device should only be used on the back, the company states.

Hisamitsu America Inc., a subsidiary of Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., has introduced its new Salonpas DEEP Relieving Gel for effective relief that lasts up to eight hours. The fast-acting topical analgesic contains camphor (3.1%), menthol (10%), and methyl salicylate (15%). It is indicated for sore muscles, back pain, joint pain, muscle strain, neck pain, arthritis, sprains, and bruises. Because the product is flammable, it should not be used near a fire or open flame. In addition, Hisamitsu America warns against its use on wounds or damaged skin, or with a heating pad or tight bandages. The product should be discontinued in the presence of rash, itching, or skin irritation, or if symptoms persist beyond seven days.