Salonpas in Japan: Standard, Ae, EX or EX Warm?

Choose Salonpas by who will use it, then compare ingredients, patch size and feel. Children under 11 and anyone who has ever had asthma must not use EX or EX Warm. Standard is worth comparing if you prefer a beige, flexible patch; Ae offers a small regular size, larger sizes and a perforated option. Before choosing either EX version, check whether its indomethacin formula is suitable for you.

I’m Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. This guide separates four formulas so you can identify the right options on the shelf before comparing patch sizes and pack counts.

This article covers products sold in Japan, checked on October 11, 2026. Salonpas has other ranges too; the focus here is Standard, Ae, EX and EX Warm. Follow the local label for products bought in other countries.

Start with your needs

The EX versions have specific age, asthma-history and duration restrictions, explained below. If you are pregnant or might be pregnant, consult a doctor or pharmacist before using any of these four products. If you are receiving treatment or using other pain medicines, ask them to check those too.

Identify the four boxes

Standard: no Ae or EX in the name

The full Japanese name is サロンパス, called Standard here. Its beige, rounded-corner patch measures 4.6 × 7.2 cm. The official product listing includes 40-, 80- and 120-patch packs. It is a Japanese Class 3 OTC medicine.

Standard has more methyl salicylate and less menthol by concentration than Ae, and no camphor. A larger number for one ingredient does not establish which complete formula will work better for you.

Ae: look for the letters Ae

The full Japanese name is サロンパスAe. Regular patches measure 4.2 × 6.5 cm, with 140- and 240-patch packs listed. Ae is a Japanese Class 3 OTC medicine. Its base contains an absorbent polymer that takes up perspiration.

Ae also comes in medium, large and perforated options. See the size table below before treating different pack counts as different formulas.

EX: look for EX and 3.5% on the black-and-gold box

The full Japanese name is サロンパスEX. Patches measure 5.4 × 8.56 cm, with 20-, 40- and 60-patch packs listed. EX is a Japanese Class 2 OTC medicine, described by the manufacturer as flexible and lightly scented.

Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. Check age, asthma and allergy history before choosing it, and follow its own application frequency.

EX Warm: look for 温感 on the box

The full Japanese name is サロンパスEX温感. Patches also measure 5.4 × 8.56 cm, with 20- and 40-patch packs listed. It is a Japanese Class 2 OTC medicine.

Capsicum extract adds a warming sensation to the EX ingredient combination. Do not use this version on a bruise or sprain while swelling remains. It also has specific bathing and heating precautions.

Packaging can vary between batches. Check the full product name and instructions on your own box.

How the ingredients differ

These amounts are per 100 g of medicated adhesive, not the amount in each patch.

• Methyl salicylate and indomethacin provide pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, with different product instructions and precautions.
• Menthol and camphor contribute local sensory effects, including cooling. Feeling cooler is not a measure of stronger pain relief.
• Vitamin E acetate supports local blood circulation.
• Capsicum extract produces warming stimulation, with additional bathing and heating precautions for EX Warm.

Standard and Ae are labelled for stiff shoulders, lower-back pain, muscle pain and fatigue, bruises, sprains, joint pain and chilblains. Both EX versions are labelled for shoulder pain associated with stiffness, lower-back, joint and muscle pain, tenosynovitis affecting the hand or wrist, elbow pain, bruises and sprains. Seek medical advice for unexplained or worsening pain.

Ae sizes and the perforated option

The perforated version’s Japanese name is 穴あきサロンパスAe. These Ae options have the same active-ingredient concentrations. A bigger patch is not permission to leave it on longer, and ventilation holes or an absorbent base cannot guarantee freedom from skin reactions.

Ae lists natural rubber among its additives. If you have reacted to rubber or adhesive patches, show the box to a pharmacist before use. Do not assume the other versions use the same base.

How to apply them and when to stop

For all four products, stop and consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC medicine seller if symptoms have not improved after 5–6 days. Take the box with you.

Standard and Ae

• The Japanese directions say to apply several times daily to the affected area. Clean the skin first. People with sensitive skin should avoid repeatedly applying patches to the same spot.
• Do not use around the eyes, on mucous membranes, eczema, irritated skin or wounds.
• Consult before use if you have a history of allergies to medicines or other substances. Children need parental supervision. The Japanese label gives no numerical minimum age; that does not establish suitability for babies or very young children.
• Stop immediately and seek advice with the box if rash, redness, itching, dermatitis, pigmentation or peeling develops.

EX and EX Warm

• Do not use if you are under 11, have ever had asthma, or have had an allergic reaction to the product or its ingredients. The asthma restriction is not limited to asthma triggered by pain medicines.
• Children aged 11 and older still need parental supervision. Consult before use if you are receiving medical treatment, pregnant or possibly pregnant, or have a history of allergies to medicines or other substances.
• Remove the plastic backing and apply to clean skin no more than twice daily. This is an application-frequency limit, not a statement that the maximum is two patches a day.
• Do not use around the eyes, on mucous membranes, eczema, irritated skin, wounds, fungal infections such as athlete’s foot or ringworm, or areas with pus.
• For sensitive skin, the label advises testing a small piece approximately 1–2 cm square on the inner arm for at least half a day, checking for redness, itching or irritation before use. People with sensitive skin should also avoid repeated application to the same spot.
• Stop immediately and seek advice with the box for rash, redness, swelling, itching, stinging, a burning sensation, dryness or dermatitis. EX Warm also lists pain.
• Do not use continuously for 2 weeks or longer. If symptoms have not improved after 5–6 days, stop and seek advice as explained above. Do not wait until the two-week limit.

Three extra rules for EX Warm

1. Do not heat the patched area with an electric blanket, heated table or similar device.
2. Remove it at least 1 hour before bathing. Wait about 30 minutes after a bath before applying it. Use too close to bathing can cause strong irritation.
3. For bruises or sprains, wait until swelling has subsided before using it.

Common questions

How many hours can I leave one patch on?

The Japanese instructions do not provide one shared wear-time limit for these four products. Follow your own box and ask a pharmacist if it is unclear. Do not transfer an eight- or twelve-hour rule from an overseas product or another brand, and remove the patch if your skin becomes uncomfortable.

Does the warming version work better?

Warmth is one preference to consider. EX and EX Warm have the same indomethacin concentration; added capsicum extract does not establish superior pain relief. Suitability and whether the area is still swollen matter too.

Can I use them with other pain medicines?

Tell a pharmacist which oral medicines, patches and topical products you use so they can check the combination. These are medicines, even though they are applied to the skin.

Before comparing pack counts, check the user, affected area, formula, size and feel. If you are also considering round patches, see the ROIHI-Tsuboko comparison.

Sources

This guide provides general selection and usage information; it does not replace individual medical advice or the product instructions.

• Hisamitsu: Standard product information and official product PDF
• Hisamitsu: Ae product information and official PDF covering regular, medium and large sizes
• Hisamitsu: Perforated Ae product information and official product PDF
• Hisamitsu: EX product information and official product PDF
• Hisamitsu: EX Warm product information and official product PDF
• Salonpas: Ae sizes and packs and EX and EX Warm sizes and packs
• Hisamitsu: Product FAQ, including pregnancy
• Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Registered Seller examination guide, Chapter 3, local sensory ingredients; Pharmaceutical Society of Japan: Indomethacin

Product-identification photos: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical, official brand website. Each caption links to its source page. Rights belong to Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical.