Cooling effects of Deep Freeze Cold gel applied to the skin, with and without rubbing, to the lumbar region of the back

A topical agent Deep Freeze Cold Gel has been used in a study to objectively evaluate the degree and duration of cooling by application to the skin of normal volunteer subjects. The gel was applied to the forearm, and continuous monitoring of skin temperature was achieved by infra red thermal imaging in a thermally controlled laboratory. Two methods of application were used, applying a layer of gel to the skin, and rubbing a fixed quantity into a defined area of the forearm of the subjects. The temperature decrease from both methods did not reach statistical difference, although the treated area remained cold for longer using the layering application. A pilot study showed that the emissivity of the gel was high and close to that of the human untreated skin. Subjective assessments confirmed that the subjects experienced a comfortable level of skin cooling. Thermal imaging is a suitable technique for non contact and dynamic assessment of topical agents applied to the skin.