ActiPatch® vs Pain Relief Creams like Icy Hot, Biofreeze, and Voltaren
By Electrome Corporation · Published October 21, 2026
Pain relief creams and gels work at the skin and wear off, so labels have you reapply them several times a day. ActiPatch® has no drug ingredient, no smell, and no residue. It keeps delivering therapy for as long as you wear it.
No reapplying, no residue
ActiPatch®
No drug, smell, or residue. Works through thin clothing for hours.
Creams and gels
Applied to skin several times a day. Some contain drugs with label limits.
How do pain relief creams work?
Menthol and camphor rubs such as Icy Hot and Biofreeze create a cooling or warming feeling on the skin. Lidocaine creams numb the skin. Diclofenac gel such as Voltaren is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) absorbed through the skin. Each has label limits on how often to apply it and where.
Brand names mentioned here are trademarks of their owners, who are not affiliated with ActiPatch® or Electrome.
Where does ActiPatch® come out ahead?
No reapplying, washing hands, or greasy clothes. ActiPatch® works through a thin layer of clothing and runs for hours on a single press of the button.
No drug ingredient, so there is no dosing limit and no risk of a drug reaction from the device. It has no medicinal smell, so you can wear it at work, in bed, or out in public.
Can you use both?
Use any cream as its label directs. ActiPatch® contains no drug, so it adds no drug interaction. Keep the loop off broken or irritated skin, and do not cover a cream if its label says not to bandage or wrap the area.
What does the research show?
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in people with knee osteoarthritis (Bagnato and colleagues, Rheumatology, 2016), the study reported a difference in pain outcomes between active and sham devices. Individual results vary.
ActiPatch® is FDA-cleared (510(k) K192234) for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. It has no drug ingredient, and you wear it for hours at a time right over the sore area.
Who should not use ActiPatch®?
Do not use if you have a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other active implanted metallic or electronic device.
Do not use if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Not for use by or on children under 17.
Do not use for sudden or unexplained pain, or if the cause of the pain is unknown. Not for pain deep in the body such as the chest or stomach, and not for cancer-related pain.
The device is not sterile. Do not place it in direct contact with open wounds.
Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. If you are under a doctor's care, consult your doctor before use.
Read the supplied package insert before use.
Frequently asked questions
Is ActiPatch® better than Icy Hot?
They work differently. Icy Hot creates a cooling or warming sensation on the skin and needs reapplying. ActiPatch® is a drug-free wearable that delivers therapy for hours without reapplying.
What is a drug-free alternative to Voltaren gel?
Voltaren gel is an NSAID medicine. ActiPatch® is a drug-free device for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Ask your clinician before stopping a medicine you were advised to use.
Is there a pain relief option with no smell?
Yes. ActiPatch® has no cream, scent, or residue. You wear it over the sore area, including through thin clothing.
Primary sources
Educational information only. ActiPatch® is FDA 510(k) cleared (K192234) for over-the-counter (OTC) adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Read the package instructions and consult a clinician about persistent or worsening pain.