Menthol: Clinical Ingredient Profile

Overview

Menthol is a natural compound derived from peppermint and other mint oils. It is widely recognized for its cooling sensation and is commonly used in topical analgesics and cosmetic products.

Clinical Evidence

Enhanced in vitro permeability of curcuminoids

Research has shown that menthol-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) can significantly enhance the permeability of curcumin, a compound with therapeutic potential. This study demonstrated that optimized HDES systems achieved superior curcumin permeation compared to conventional formulations, highlighting menthol's role in improving transdermal delivery (Enhanced in vitro permeability of curcuminoids).

Erythema ab igne from topical patches

Another study reported cases of erythema ab igne induced by menthol-based topical analgesic patches, indicating potential adverse effects associated with menthol use in certain formulations (Erythema ab igne induced by menthol-based topical analgesic patches).

Treatment of Grover's disease

While not directly related to menthol, a case report on Grover's disease highlighted the importance of understanding skin conditions that may be influenced by topical treatments, including those containing menthol (Successful treatment of Grover's disease with upadacitinib).