Nobinobi Salonsip FIT patches look similar, but the four versions are not just different scents. Regular FIT, alpha and H use glycol salicylate; EX switches to indomethacin and has stricter age, asthma and continuous-use restrictions. H also needs special care around bathing and added heat.
I'm Irene, a Taiwan-born pharmacist licensed in Japan, currently working in a Japanese drugstore. When choosing a patch, I start with who will use it and the ingredient restrictions, then consider warmth, cooling and scent. That order is especially useful for this family.
Sources checked on 14 October 2026 (Japan time). This guide covers the Japanese 10 × 14 cm Pokeship packs: regular FIT, FIT alpha (α), FIT H and FIT EX. Other sizes and F-series products are outside this comparison.
Choose by formula before sensation
- Prefer an odourless cooling patch: alpha is the maker’s odourless option and has no menthol active ingredient.
- Prefer a lightly scented cooling option: regular FIT is the glycol-salicylate version.
- Prefer warmth: check H’s heat and bathing rules first, and do not use it on a bruise or sprain until swelling has subsided.
- Considering EX: confirm age 15 or older, no asthma history and no allergy to this product or its ingredients before considering its separate indomethacin formula.
Four versions at a glance
The table compares labelled application frequency per day, not a maximum number of patches across the body. All patches here measure 10 × 14 cm. EX is for ages 15 and older; the other three give parental-supervision instructions without a numerical minimum age. That absence does not establish suitability for every child.
| Version / Japanese shelf name | Sensation and scent | Daily application | Japanese OTC class | Pack counts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular / のびのびサロンシップフィット | Cooling, lightly scented | 1–2 times | Class 3 | 10, 20 or 40 |
| Alpha / フィットα | Cooling, odourless | 1–2 times | Class 3 | 10 or 20 |
| H / フィットH | Warming, lightly scented | 1–2 times | Class 3 | 10 or 20 |
| EX / フィットEX | Cooling, lightly scented | At most twice; age 15+ | Class 2 | 10 or 20 |
The active ingredients really do change
All amounts below are grams per 100 g of the medicated plaster, matching the Japanese labels. They are concentrations, not the amount in one patch or a daily dose. Follow the age and application limits above; larger numbers across different ingredients do not rank overall effectiveness.
| Active ingredient, per 100 g plaster | Regular | Alpha | H | EX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glycol salicylate | 2 g | 2 g | 2 g | Not included |
| l-Menthol | 1 g | Not included | 1 g | 1.2 g |
| Tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) | 1 g | 1 g | 1 g | Not included |
| Capsicum extract | Not included | Not included | 0.3 g | Not included |
| Indomethacin | Not included | Not included | Not included | 1 g |
Regular, alpha and H list muscle pain and fatigue, bruises, sprains, stiff shoulders, lower-back pain, joint pain and chilblains. EX lists lower-back and joint pain, muscle pain, tendon-sheath inflammation affecting the hand or wrist, elbow pain such as tennis elbow, bruises, sprains and shoulder pain accompanying stiffness. These label differences do not mean a patch can identify the cause of unexplained pain.
H: bathing and extra heat need special care
- Do not heat the patched area with a heated table, electric blanket or similar source.
- Remove H at least one hour before bathing. After bathing, wait about 30 minutes before applying it.
- If your skin is sensitive, do not keep reapplying H to the same spot.
- For a bruise or sprain, use H only after swelling has subsided. Warmth is a sensation preference, not a reason to ignore swelling or worsening pain.
EX has its own exclusions
Do not use EX if you are under 15, have ever had asthma, or have had an allergic reaction to this product or its ingredients. Do not use it continuously for two weeks or longer. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or registered medicine seller before use if receiving medical treatment, pregnant or possibly pregnant, or with a medicine-allergy history. Pregnancy is a consultation condition in this EX label, not an invitation to self-select it.
All four exclude the eye area, mucous membranes, eczema, irritated skin and wounds. EX also excludes athlete’s foot, ringworm and pus-producing affected areas. For all four, a history of medicine allergy calls for consultation before use. No numerical child minimum on regular/alpha/H should be read as “safe for babies”; ask with the child’s age and exact product.
Applying and storing the patch
- Confirm the name, suitability and intact skin; clean the affected area before application.
- For EX and sensitive skin, the label directs a small test piece about 1–2 cm square on the inner arm for at least half a day before use, checking for rash, redness, itching or irritation.
- Remove the liner and apply at the labelled frequency. The brand’s liner design opens by gently pulling the patch sideways.
- Reseal the original pouch firmly after taking a patch out to prevent drying. Store in a cool place away from direct sunlight and children.
When to stop
All four say to stop and consult if symptoms have not improved after 5–6 days. Stop sooner for skin reactions: regular/alpha/H list rash, redness, itching, contact irritation and pigmentation changes; H also lists pain. EX lists rash, redness, itching, swelling, stinging, heat, dryness and irritation. EX’s two-week restriction is not permission to wait two weeks when the five-to-six-day stop rule already applies.
Looking for the smaller Salonpas family instead? See my Salonpas comparison. Salonsip FIT and Salonpas are different product families; use the complete name rather than treating every Hisamitsu patch as interchangeable.
