Trolamine salicylate
Encyclopedia
Trolamine salicylate is an organic compound
which is the salt formed between triethanolamine
and salicylic acid
.
It is used as an ingredient in sunscreen
s, analgesic
creams, and cosmetics. The salicylic acid portion contributes to both the sun protection effect (by absorbing UVB
rays) and to the analgesic effect. The triethanolamine neutralizes the acidity of the salicylic acid. One benefit of this topical analgesic is that it has no odor, in contrast to other topical analgesics such as menthol
.
The US Food and Drug Administration
has not reviewed any of the over-the-counter products listed in the DailyMed database that contain trolamine salicylate. Also, the producers of trolamine salicylate products have not provided evidence to the FDA in support of claims that this chemical is directly absorbed through the skin into underlying tissue.. However, one study ("Effect of a Topical 10% Trolamine Salicylate Cream on Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness", Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 20(2), Supplement, #141 (1988)) reported that trolamine salicylate does penetrate into, and persist within, underlying muscle tissue. The test subjects used either the trolamine salicylate product or a placebo while engaging in an exercise regimen designed to induce muscle soreness. The experimenters observed that those using the trolamine salicylate product reported slower onset of soreness, reduced levels of soreness, and reduced duration of soreness as compared to those using the placebo.
All the trolamine salicylate-containing products listed in the two cited references are 10% solutions. Such products carry various brand names, and are marketed as topical analgesics for relief of temporary muscle soreness.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
which is the salt formed between triethanolamine
Triethanolamine
Triethanolamine, often abbreviated as TEA, is an organic chemical compound which is both a tertiary amine and a triol. A triol is a molecule with three alcohol groups. Like other amines, triethanolamine is a strong base due to the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom. Triethanolamine can...
and salicylic acid
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid, a type of phenolic acid and a beta hydroxy acid. This colorless crystalline organic acid is widely used in organic synthesis and functions as a plant hormone. It is derived from the metabolism of salicin...
.
It is used as an ingredient in sunscreen
Sunscreen
Sunblock is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn...
s, analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
creams, and cosmetics. The salicylic acid portion contributes to both the sun protection effect (by absorbing UVB
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
rays) and to the analgesic effect. The triethanolamine neutralizes the acidity of the salicylic acid. One benefit of this topical analgesic is that it has no odor, in contrast to other topical analgesics such as menthol
Menthol
Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
.
The US Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
has not reviewed any of the over-the-counter products listed in the DailyMed database that contain trolamine salicylate. Also, the producers of trolamine salicylate products have not provided evidence to the FDA in support of claims that this chemical is directly absorbed through the skin into underlying tissue.. However, one study ("Effect of a Topical 10% Trolamine Salicylate Cream on Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness", Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 20(2), Supplement, #141 (1988)) reported that trolamine salicylate does penetrate into, and persist within, underlying muscle tissue. The test subjects used either the trolamine salicylate product or a placebo while engaging in an exercise regimen designed to induce muscle soreness. The experimenters observed that those using the trolamine salicylate product reported slower onset of soreness, reduced levels of soreness, and reduced duration of soreness as compared to those using the placebo.
All the trolamine salicylate-containing products listed in the two cited references are 10% solutions. Such products carry various brand names, and are marketed as topical analgesics for relief of temporary muscle soreness.