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Health
First Aid and Emergency Health Care
Soft Tissue Injuries
How to Wash Icy Hot off Download Article Co-authored by Jonathan Frank, MD and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: July 24, 2025 Fact Checked
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How to Wash Icy Hot off Quickly
|
How long does Icy Hot take to wear off?
|
Is using too much Icy Hot dangerous?
|
How to Prevent Future Irritation
|
Video
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Expert Interview
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Warnings
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Jonathan Frank, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Jonathan Frank is an Orthopedic Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation. Dr. Frank's practice focuses on minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow. Dr. Frank holds an MD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He completed an orthopedic residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Hip Preservation at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. He is a staff team physician for the US Ski and Snowboard Team. Dr. Frank is currently a scientific reviewer for top peer-reviewed scientific journals, and his research has been presented at regional, national, and international orthopedic conferences, winning several awards including the prestigious Mark Coventry and William A Grana awards. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 164,023 times.
Icy Hot is great at tackling muscle aches and pains, but what about when it hurts more than it helps? If you applied Icy Hot and it’s itching or burning, getting it off quickly is probably your top priority. In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to wash Icy Hot off fast for instant relief. We’ll also share some safety information and general facts about Icy Hot to prevent irritation in the future.
Things You Should Know
Wash Icy Hot off quickly by using soap and warm water. If that doesn’t help, dip a cotton ball in olive oil and use it to neutralize the Icy Hot.
Icy Hot usually lasts for 2 to 3 hours.
Using too much Icy Hot can have adverse effects, so be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package.
Limit applications to 3-4 times daily. Avoid putting Icy Hot on sunburned or irritated skin.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
How to Wash Icy Hot off Quickly
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Wash the area with warm, soapy water. Use warm, not hot, water, to quickly rinse off the Icy Hot. Add soap to fully remove the product and get it off your skin.[1]X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlusCollection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
Hot water opens up your pores, which can cause more pain and irritation. Stick to lukewarm water to remove Icy Hot quickly without any pain.
Some people have had success with dipping a cotton ball into olive oil and rubbing it over the affected area to neutralize the Icy Hot. While this isn’t an expert-backed method, rubbing olive oil onto your skin won’t make the pain worse, so it’s worth a try if soap and water doesn’t work.
Similarly, some people use petroleum jelly to neutralize the burning sensation of Icy Hot after they’ve washed it off. If you’re still feeling pain after washing off Icy Hot, put a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto your skin.
Advertisement Section 2 of 4:
How long does Icy Hot take to wear off?
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Icy Hot usually wears off after 2 to 3 hours. Since you can reapply Icy Hot 3 to 4 times per day, the effects will only last a few hours at a time. If you’re wearing an Icy Hot patch, the effects will last for 8 to 12 hours.[2]X Expert Source Jonathan Frank, MDSports Orthopedic Surgeon & Joint Preservation SpecialistExpert Interview [3]XResearch source
Section 3 of 4:
Is using too much Icy Hot dangerous?
Download Article
Using too much Icy Hot for long periods of time can be dangerous. While adding too much Icy Hot to your skin once or twice is fine, using a lot of Icy Hot for long periods of time can give you adverse effects. When you use too much Icy Hot, your body absorbs a lot more of the medicine inside than you need, which can lead to poisoning.
Since Icy Hot is a topical medication, swallowing it is very dangerous. If you or your child have swallowed Icy Hot, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Advertisement Section 4 of 4:
How to Prevent Future Irritation
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1 Apply a thin layer of Icy Hot 3 to 4 times per day. Always read the instructions on your Icy Hot, and follow the directions carefully. Spread a thin layer of Icy Hot on your skin, and rub it in until it’s fully absorbed. Don’t use Icy Hot more than 3 to 4 times per day.[4]XResearch source
2 Avoid using Icy Hot on sunburns or irritated skin. If your skin is already red, rashy, or irritated, Icy Hot will only make it worse. Only use Icy Hot on clear skin that isn’t sunburned to avoid any pain.[5]XResearch source
Try to avoid using Icy Hot after a hot shower, too. Since hot water opens up your pores, applying Icy Hot right afterwards can be too much for your skin, which can cause irritation.
3 Don’t use other topical medicines when using Icy Hot. Other topical medications can have adverse effects when mixed with Icy Hot. If you’re using a topical medication on your skin, talk to your doctor before using Icy Hot.[6]XResearch source
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Warnings
In rare cases, Icy Hot can cause chemical burns. If your skin is red, blistered, or rashy for more than a day, make an appointment with your doctor. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about healing injuries, check out our in-depth interview with Jonathan Frank, MD.
Co-authored by: Jonathan Frank, MD Orthopedic Surgeon & Joint Specialist This article was co-authored by Jonathan Frank, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Jonathan Frank is an Orthopedic Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation. Dr. Frank's practice focuses on minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow. Dr. Frank holds an MD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He completed an orthopedic residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Hip Preservation at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. He is a staff team physician for the US Ski and Snowboard Team. Dr. Frank is currently a scientific reviewer for top peer-reviewed scientific journals, and his research has been presented at regional, national, and international orthopedic conferences, winning several awards including the prestigious Mark Coventry and William A Grana awards. This article has been viewed 164,023 times. 16 votes - 78% Co-authors: 4Updated: July 24, 2025 Views: 164,023 Categories: Soft Tissue Injuries
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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Reader Success Stories
Kim M.
Sep 14, 2023
"I took a shower after using icy hot and didn't know why it hurt so bad! I'll never take a hot shower after putting it on again!!"..." more
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Yes No Did this article help you? Say thanks with a small tip. $1 $3 $5 Leave a Tip Support our mission to help everyone in the world learn how to do anything. Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jonathan Frank, MD Orthopedic Surgeon & Joint Specialist 16 votes - 78% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: July 24, 2025 Views: 164,023
Kim M.
Sep 14, 2023
"I took a shower after using icy hot and didn't know why it hurt so bad! I'll never take a hot shower after putting it on again!!"..." more Share yours!
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Co-authored by: Jonathan Frank, MD Orthopedic Surgeon & Joint Specialist This article was co-authored by Jonathan Frank, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Jonathan Frank is an Orthopedic Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation. Dr. Frank's practice focuses on minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow. Dr. Frank holds an MD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He completed an orthopedic residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Hip Preservation at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. He is a staff team physician for the US Ski and Snowboard Team. Dr. Frank is currently a scientific reviewer for top peer-reviewed scientific journals, and his research has been presented at regional, national, and international orthopedic conferences, winning several awards including the prestigious Mark Coventry and William A Grana awards. This article has been viewed 164,023 times. 16 votes - 78% Co-authors: 4 Updated: July 24, 2025 Views: 164,023 Categories: Soft Tissue Injuries 
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Wash the area with warm, soapy water. Use warm, not hot, water, to quickly rinse off the Icy Hot. Add soap to fully remove the product and get it off your skin.[1] 
Icy Hot usually wears off after 2 to 3 hours. Since you can reapply Icy Hot 3 to 4 times per day, the effects will only last a few hours at a time. If you’re wearing an Icy Hot patch, the effects will last for 8 to 12 hours.[2] [3] 
Using too much Icy Hot for long periods of time can be dangerous. While adding too much Icy Hot to your skin once or twice is fine, using a lot of Icy Hot for long periods of time can give you adverse effects. When you use too much Icy Hot, your body absorbs a lot more of the medicine inside than you need, which can lead to poisoning. 
1 Apply a thin layer of Icy Hot 3 to 4 times per day. Always read the instructions on your Icy Hot, and follow the directions carefully. Spread a thin layer of Icy Hot on your skin, and rub it in until it’s fully absorbed. Don’t use Icy Hot more than 3 to 4 times per day.[4] 
2 Avoid using Icy Hot on sunburns or irritated skin. If your skin is already red, rashy, or irritated, Icy Hot will only make it worse. Only use Icy Hot on clear skin that isn’t sunburned to avoid any pain.[5] 
3 Don’t use other topical medicines when using Icy Hot. Other topical medications can have adverse effects when mixed with Icy Hot. If you’re using a topical medication on your skin, talk to your doctor before using Icy Hot.[6] Advertisement 
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