Codeine is an opiate used to manage mild to moderate pain severe enough to require an opioid. Codeine is a selective agonist for the mu opioid receptor and has an affinity to delta and kappa-opioid receptors. In some countries, this drug is regulated under various narcotic control laws, because its chronic use can cause physical dependence. In others, it is available without a medical prescription in combination with paracetamol.

Hydrogen peroxide has been used in medicine for more than 100 years. It is known in surgery as a highly useful irrigation solution by virtue of both its hemostatic and its antimicrobial effects. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It may also be used as a mouth rinse to help remove mucus or to relieve minor mouth irritation (e.g., due to canker/cold sores, gingivitis). This product works by releasing oxygen when it is applied to the affected area. The release of oxygen causes foaming, which helps to remove dead skin and clean the area. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent used in aqueous solution as a ripening agent, bleach, and topical anti-infective. It is relatively unstable and solutions deteriorate over time unless stabilized by the addition of acetanilide or similar organic materials.

Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used in a wide variety of cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component, preservative, solvent, and viscosity-decreasing agent. FDA agency approved benzyl alcohol for the treatment of head lice. The drug acts on head lice by inhibiting them from closing their respiratory spiracles, allowing the vehicle to obstruct the spiracles and causing the lice to asphyxiate.

Resorcinol is a benzenediol. Resorcinol is commonly used in hair dyes and acne medication. Resorcinol works by breaking down rough, scaly, or hardened skin. Resorcinol also disinfects the skin to help fight infection. Resorcinol topical (for the skin) is used to treat pain and itching caused by minor cuts and scrapes, burns, insect bites, poison ivy, sunburn, or other skin irritations. Resorcinol topical is also used to treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea, corns, calluses, warts, and other skin disorders. Resorcinol is included in the FDA final rule list of all permitted active ingredients for OTC topical acne products. Permitted combination active ingredient product - Resorcinol in 2 percent concentration in combination with sulfur in concentrations of between 3 and 8 percent. In oxidative hair dyes, resorcinol is regulated to 5% or below in practice, however, many manufacturers limit the level of free resorcinol in oxidative hair dyes to 1.25%. Resorcinol is limited to 0.5% in shampoos and hair lotions. Resorcinol is usually present in anti-acne preparations at a maximum concentration of 2%. The concentration of resorcinol can be much higher in peels, in some cases around 50%. Jessner’s solution (resorcinol in ethyl alcohol, 14% w/v; lactic acid, 14%; and salicylic acid, 14%) is commonly used in chemical peeling. A specialized medical use of resorcinol is in biological glues (gelatin–resorcinol–formaldehyde glue) for cardiovascular surgery, in particular aortic operations.

Methyl salicylate (or methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate), also known as wintergreen oil, is a natural product and is present in white wine, tea, porcini mushroom Boletus edulis, Bourbon vanilla, clary sage, red sage and fruits including cherry, apple, raspberry, papaya and plum. Methyl salicylate is topically used in combination with methanol and under brand name SALONPAS to temporarily relieves mild to moderate aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with: strains, sprains, simple backache, arthritis, bruises. The precise mechanism of action of methyl salicylate is not known, but there is suggested, that it cause dilation of the capillaries thereby increasing blood flow to the area.