I would not buy this product, again.

I had chicken pox when I was in my 20s. As a result, my skin flares up during the most inconvenient times. I have a rash on my stomach, legs, and now upper arms. In the winter it gets worse due to the lack of humidity. At the time, my doctor recommended Zostrix and it helped. I continue to use it because it helps to calm down the inflammation. Plus, I like the way it feels, nice and warm. Just a warning - Take out your contacts BEFORE putting this on. (Only happened the one time but I learned my lesson!)

I was amazed that this stuff actually seems to work! I have bad lower back pain and I'm not sure what causes it. Arthritis? Slipped joints? I don't know. But this stuff actually reduced the pain a good amount. I've always been suspicious of topical products that are supposed to cure something that is more than skin deep, but this really does. I'm not sure if I pulled my back or what. But it was a little freaky to feel no pain in a spot where I felt like if I moved around too much it might cause more damage. But as long as I kept in mind that I still probably shouldn't move too much it was definitely a relief to get rid of the pain for many hours at a time. The only bad thing is that it really made my skin burn. And I don't have super sensitive skin. But here's what happened. I'd put Zostrix on, then I'd put my clothes on over it. It seemed like the minute the air was cut off to the area that it really started burning. While sitting in my office chair it felt exactly what it would feel like if your chair were heated. And in fact, if your chair were super over heated! Also, when showering it burns too. Another reviewer said that was a good feeling, but for me it wasn't. It was jarring. When water hits the area it's more like a sting. Oh and speaking of showering... apparently this stuff can't be washed off! That was annoying too. Because I got some on my hands and then on my face when I scratched my face. Everything it touches starts to burn! But you don't really feel it on your finger tips. So you can get it on your fingers without realizing it and then touch something else and suddenly that something else is burning! And no amount of washing with soap would make it go away!!!! VERY ANNOYING. The stinging sensation would last for some time too... like a couple of hours. BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU APPLY IT NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BURN! I began to apply it, following the recommendation of another reviewer here, with disposable rubber gloves. That helped a lot. But even if you touch the portion of your clothing that may have touched your skin where Zostrix is applied, that will put a little bit on your fingers. And you may not feel it right away. But then when you touch your face with your fingers, you'll definitely feel it! In the end my conclusion was this... I'm not sure it's really worth it. Because it does remove the pain, but at a pretty high cost. A cost of a different kind of pain! So, if you just have to get rid of your pain for awhile and don't mind exchanging it for a different pain, then by all means, this is a great product. Because it will get rid of your underlying pain. At least it did for me. But in the end I was just swapping one pain for another. Which sometimes you might want to do if you just get so tired of the original pain. I would say try it though, because your skin might be different. And you'll only know by trying.

I normally use the Extra Strength Zostrix and this is the first time I've used the regular. It works so well. I do however put it on using a disposable glove. You will find that the area treated will feel warm when you shower and that is comforting too. I've recommened Zostrix to several of my friends and they too say it works great. The other plus is there is no smell

I have suffered for a few years with tremendous coldness and pain from peripheral neuropathy in my feet, due to damage from diabetes. When I would skate as a child, my toes would feel frostbitten when coming in from the cold. This is the same feeling that I experience today. This cream was recommended by a podiatrist and along with medication is the only thing that helped relieve my constant pain and numbness where my toes feel cold all the time. This ointment with a capaisin level dosage of 0.025 is just right rather than the other medications with capaisin at a much higher level which cause side effects. I used it for one or two weeks for its full potency to be reached. This worked well for me when I used it 1-2 times per day but when I used it for 3-4 times per day, this was too strong of a dose for my toes. I use this ointment along with medication and at bedtime use a heating pad at a very low level. Without this ointment and medication, I was unable to sleep at night.

I buy this when I can find it on sale, because it works better than others that I've tried. I only wish it didn't cost so much!

I suffered for many years with tremendous pain from peripheral neuropathy in my feet, due to damage from diabetes. This cream was recommended by a well-known neurologist and is the only thing that helped relieve my constant pain. You need to use it for one or two weeks for its full potency to be reached. There are problems with it sometimes - you don't want to get it in your eyes and you want to keep your feet dry (sweating causes them to burn horribly). This is the only thing that helped me - it definitely kept me from losing my mind! Once I got my blood glucose under really good control I didn't need it anymore, but I would urge people with neuropathy to try it. Editor's note: doctor's recommendation is based on customer experience, and has not been independently verified by the drugstore.com website.

2 days before Thanksgiving, I overdid it and put my sciatica out again. Leg pain was unbearable. Skelaxin, Talwin, and Zanaflex only put a dent in my pain. I recieved a sample of Zostrix in the mail. I put it on my legs and lower back 4 times a day yesterday, and 4 times today. For the first time in weeks, I am as close to pain-free as it is possible to get with my condition. This stuff is a miracle. I just wish it was prescription, or a little less expensive. It is however, worth every penny, and it does work!!!