Japanese Drugstore Recommendations • Try These Japanese Household Medicines From Kinkando
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Find our list of Japanese household medicine recommendations from Kinkando, a Japanese brand with a hundred years (or so) of expertise, and an unshakeable reputation for topical skin treatments.
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Kinkando: A Reputation for Everyday Household Medicines, Built on a Century of Experience
When an itchy bug bite is driving you crazy, or an ache in your back and shoulders just won’t go away, what do you reach for? In much of the world the go-to treatment is some cooling product like “Tiger Balm,” but in Japan, it’s tradition to go grab the Kinkan. This topical pain-killing anti-itch and anti-inflammatory product developed by Kinkando has been a reliable OTC choice and a medicine cabinet staple for almost 100 years.
Kinkan is a consistent seller in Japan, but its origins are actually somewhat international. Kinkan’s development was actually undertaken in Keijo, modern-day Seoul, when Kinkando’s founder Eiji Yamazaki established his laboratory there and started on the long process of trial and error to perfect the formula. The name “Kinkan” actually means “golden headdress” (金の冠), inspired by the golden artifacts that were being excavated in Gyeongju, Korea at the time. Yamazaki started by naming his laboratory “Kinkando,” and then went on to name his new household medicine “Kinkan,” turning it into the company’s flagship product.
Aside from their best-known product, Kinkan, over the years Kinkando has used their expertise to develop a variety of OTC medicines, hygiene products, and cosmetics. So today we’re combing through the Kinkando lineup to put together a Japanese drugstore shopping list of useful everyday pharmaceuticals and other medicine cabinet basics!
① Kinkan, Kinkando’s Star Product (2nd Class OTC)
Kinkan is Kinkando’s most celebrated product, and it was originally researched and developed as a topical medicine for burns, which is why it first became widely known in Japan as a first-aid essential when it was used to treat burns during the fires of WWII. In modern times one of the most common uses for Kinkan is to calm itchy bug bites, but Japanese people expect a lot from it, using the product on itchy skin, stiff shoulders, back pains, sore bruises, and even sprains. That’s a total of six different uses, making it convenient to have on hand throughout the summer and beyond. These days Kinkan is a beloved medicine cabinet basic found in households all around Japan, and it comes in three different sizes to meet different needs: a large 120ml bottle for the whole family, a medium-sized 55ml bottle, and a convenient 20ml size that’s easy to throw in your bag just in case.
Directions/Dose
Apply topically to affected skin as needed, multiple times a day. (This pharmaceutical product is for external use only; be careful not to get any in your eyes or mouth. After application, allow the product to fully dry before covering the skin.)
Product Details
Kinkan 120ml
Kinkan 55ml
Kinkan 20ml
② The Shimajiro Skin Treatment Series
Kinkan HI HI Lotion (3rd Class OTC) & Kinkan HI HI Cream (3rd Class OTC)
These products are our top recommendations for anyone looking for topical medicine to soothe a baby’s sensitive skin! The Shimajiro Skin Treatment Series is a collection of pharmaceutical products for the skin, featuring the popular character Shimajiro (from the Japanese educational children’s show “Kodomo Challenge”) on the packaging!
Kinkan HI HI Lotion (3rd Class OTC) and Kinkan HI HI Cream (3rd Class OTC) are both nonsteroidal treatments effective on a variety of skin problems, including rashes, inflammation, sores, heat rash, itchy skin, bug bites, chilblains, and hives. The products can be used on children as young as just a month old, and since there’s both a thicker cream and thinner lotion form, you can choose the version that works best on your child’s skin!
Directions/Dose
Apply to affected skin as needed, multiple times a day.
(This pharmaceutical product is for external use only; be careful not to get any in your eyes or mouth. If symptoms do not improve after the use of this product for 5~6 days, please discontinue use and consult a physician, pharmacist, or registered sales clerk.)
Product Details
Kinkan HI HI Lotion 50ml
Kinkan HI HI Cream 15g
Anti-Itching Patches α (3rd Class OTC)
Another part of the Shimajiro Skin Treatment Series, these anti-itch patches have been all the rage recently. Kinkando’s Anti-Itching Patches α can be used by kids and adults, both effective and easy to use on bug bites, itchy spots, and chilblains. They’re definitely a must-have during summer outings, especially for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors! Plus, since the patches feature cute illustrations of Shimajiro, they’re a great choice to bring back from Japan for anyone who can appreciate souvenirs that are both fun and functional.
Directions/Dose
Remove the backing from the path, and apply to affected skin, multiple times a day if necessary.
(This pharmaceutical product is for external use only. Please thoroughly wipe off damp or sweaty skin before application. Please do not apply patches continuously to the same spot for a long period of time.)
Product Details
Anti-Itching Patches α 48-piece
③ Kinkan PVA EX Gel, for a Clean, Smooth Feel (2nd Class OTC)
If you’re searching for an effective ointment that works on particularly bad itches or irritation, but you can’t stand the sticky feeling of most products and just want something that glides onto the skin, then we recommend Kinkan PVA EX Gel (2nd Class OTC). This product combines a total of 11 active ingredients, and among them, PVA (prednisolone valerate acetate) is a steroid specifically developed to be effective where it’s needed, and then safely break down inside the body. This ointment can be used on a wide variety of skin conditions (eczema, dermatitis, heat rash and other rashes, bug bites and other itches, hives) and the gel texture doesn’t get sticky, so it’s great to have around for the upcoming summer.
Directions/Dose
Apply to affected skin as needed, multiple times a day.
(This pharmaceutical product is for external use only; be careful not to get any in your eyes or mouth. If symptoms do not improve after the use of this product for 5~6 days, please discontinue use and consult a physician, pharmacist, or registered sales clerk.)
Product Details
Kinkan PVA EX Gel 20g
④ The Nikipa! Series, Made to Match Your Skin’s Needs
Nikipa! (Cosmetic) & Nikipa! Hydro Patch (Cosmetic)
In recent years, patch-type products have become a popular quick fix for breakouts, but if you want a patch to match your particular skin type and skin troubles, we recommend Kinkando’s Nikipa! line. Nikipa! patches are ultra-thin and transparent, but they’re also water-resistant thanks to their urethane base, and the patches come loaded with moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), and hydrogenated retinol. At only 0.05mm thick, Nikipa! patches are subtle and tend to blend into the skin, but you can also apply your makeup right on top! Nikipa Hydro Patches, on the other hand, are especially good for dry spots thanks to a combo of three hydrating ingredients, vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), and teatree oil, and a special moisture-retentive hydrocolloid construction. All of this works together to bring moisture to your skin, right where you need it!
Directions
Apply directly to areas of concern after cleaning and thoroughly drying the skin.
(Please do not apply makeup to the skin underneath a patch, as this may cause the patch to come off easily. When removing a patch, peel it slowly from the skin. If the patch does not come off easily, wet the area before peeling off the patch.)
Product Details
Nikipa! (36-piece, 10mm 12-piece, 12mm 24-piece)
Nikipa! Hydro Patch (32-piece, 10mm 20-piece, 12mm 12-piece)
Nikipa! Premium (Cosmetic) & Nikipa! Hydro Patch Premium (Cosmetic)
Basic Nikipa! patches already help to prevent acne scars and protect skin from irritation with their moisturizing ingredients, but the product line also includes two premium versions, Nikipa! Premium and Nikipa! Hydro Patch Premium. The formulas for both of these premium patches contain a whopping 20 different ingredients to keep skin bright, clear, and moisturized, including sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) and niacinamide. Nikipa! premium is made from ultra-thin and water-resistant urethane, which can be worn under makeup, while the Nikipa! Hydro Patch Premium’s hydrocolloid construction helps it stay on the skin even while you sleep, making the patches a convenient part of any nighttime skincare routine. Both types come in packages with plenty of patches, so they’re a great buy for yourself or a skincare-loving friend.
If you’re concerned about using the patches on sensitive skin, all four varieties of Nikipa! have been patch-tested! (Of course, this is not a 100% guarantee that the patches will not irritate the skin for all users.)
Directions
Apply directly to areas of concern after cleaning and thoroughly drying the skin.
(Please do not apply makeup to the skin underneath a patch, as this may cause the patch to come off easily. When removing a patch, peel it slowly from the skin. If the patch does not come off easily, wet the area before peeling off the patch.)
Product Details
Nikipa! Premium (60-piece, 10mm 36-piece, 12mm 24-piece)
Nikipa! Hydro Patch (56-piece, 10mm 32-piece, 12mm 24-piece)
A Kinkan Japanese Household Medicine List for the Whole Family
From dependable old Japanese household medicine favorites to skin treatments for kids, smooth and comfortable gel ointments to skin patches that can be used in all kinds of ways, Kinkando makes the kinds of products you’ll want to stock up on to fill your medicine cabinet back home. So next time you’re in Japan, stop in at a nearby drugstore or the closest Don Quijote, to pick up enough of Kinkando’s uniquely Japanese household medicines and cosmetic products for the whole family!
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