rubefacient

{{short description|Substance for topical application that produces redness of the skin}}

A rubefacient is a substance for topical application that produces redness of the skin, e.g. by causing dilation of the capillaries and an increase in blood circulation. It has sometimes been used to relieve acute or chronic pain, but there is limited evidence as to its efficacy,Mason et al. 2004 [https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/328/7446/995.abridgement.pdf Systematic review of efficacy of topical rubefacients containing salicylates for the treatment of acute and chronic pain] BMJ 328:995 and as of 2014 the best evidence does not support using gels and creams containing rubefacients for this purpose.{{cite journal|last=Derry|first=S|author2=Matthews, P|author3=Wiffen, PJ|author4=Moore, RA|date=2014|title=Salicylate-containing rubefacients for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults.|journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=2014|issue=3|pages=CD007403|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD007403.pub3|pmid=25425092|pmc=6458007}}{{better source needed|date=November 2022|reason=Sources cover salicylates and nicotinate esters, but we use them here as if they cover a much wider range of types of rubefacient.}}