CryoDerm in Victoria: Cold vs. Heat, How to Use It, and Where to Get It
Patients keep asking us about CryoDerm, and several have told us they couldn’t find it anywhere in Victoria. We carry it at Diversified Health Clinic on Fort Street. Here’s what it is, how to choose between Cold and Heat, and how to get the most out of it.
What is CryoDerm?
CryoDerm is a topical pain reliever that you rub or roll onto sore muscles and joints. It is made for clinics, so you’ll mostly find it through chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists rather than at the drugstore.
It comes in two versions:
- CryoDerm Cold Therapy cools the skin. Its active ingredient is 10% menthol, with arnica, boswellia, eucalyptus and peppermint oil, and MSM added.
- CryoDerm Heat Therapy warms the skin. It uses menthol and camphor (3.85% each) with a small amount of capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot.
Both are free of dyes, parabens and silicone.
Our clients love it because the main ingredients are natural ingredients, so it makes it less chemically-based than some of the competitors on the market. It also dries quite quickly, and leaves behind less of a “greasy” feel after application. 
How does it work?
Menthol switches on the cold-sensing nerves in your skin. That strong cooling signal competes with pain signals from the muscle or joint underneath, so the ache feels quieter. Capsaicin in the Heat version works the same way with warming nerves.
It gives temporary relief. It doesn’t fix what’s causing the pain, but it can make it easier to move, stretch and do your exercises, and that’s often what helps you recover.
Cold or Heat: which one should I use?
| If your pain is… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A fresh strain or sprain, or a joint that feels hot or swollen | Cold | Cooling feels better on irritated tissue |
| Sore after a workout, a run or a long day | Cold | Clean, fast cooling that doesn’t feel greasy |
| Stiff, tight muscles like neck and shoulders, or a stiff lower back in the morning | Heat | Warmth helps tight muscles feel looser |
| Ongoing achy joints | Either | Try both and use the one that feels better |
Not sure? Ask your practitioner at your next visit. They can tell you which suits your injury.
Which format is right for me?
| Product | Best for | Price $24.99 |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Therapy roll-on (3 oz) | Small areas. |
