Comprehensive medication guide to Outgro Pain Relief including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
Outgro Pain Relief is an OTC product and is not covered by standard health insurance plans. It is eligible for FSA and HSA purchase under the CARES Act (2020) without a prescription, providing an effective 20–35% tax savings for eligible account holders.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$9.99–$15 retail for a 0.31 fl oz bottle; generic benzocaine 20% topical is available at most pharmacies for $5–$10. No GoodRx-type discount card significantly changes pricing at the retail level for this OTC product.
Medfinder Findability Score
35/100
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Outgro Pain Relief is an over-the-counter topical medication made by MedTech Products Inc. Its active ingredient is benzocaine 20% w/v — an ester-type local anesthetic that temporarily blocks nerve endings in the skin to reduce pain and itching. The product comes in a 0.31 fl oz (9.3 mL) bottle with a built-in brush applicator for easy application to the foot.
Per its current FDA-compliant labeling, Outgro Pain Relief is indicated for the temporary relief of pain and itching of minor skin irritations of the toes, heels, arch, and ball of the foot, and for skin irritation from tight-fitting shoes. Despite its name suggesting it helps with ingrown nail growth, it is not FDA-approved for ingrown toenail treatment per the agency's 1993-1994 final monograph ruling.
Inactive ingredients include alcohol, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, and PEG-400. The product is extremely flammable due to its alcohol content.
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Benzocaine is an ester-type local anesthetic that works by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels in sensory nerve endings. These sodium channels are required to generate the electrical signals (action potentials) that nerve fibers use to transmit pain signals to the brain. When benzocaine blocks these channels, the nerve endings cannot fire — and the sensation of pain is temporarily eliminated.
The effect is localized to the area of application and begins within 1–2 minutes. Duration is approximately 10 minutes per application, which is why the product can be used up to 3–4 times daily. The mechanism is completely reversible — once benzocaine is metabolized and cleared, sodium channel function returns to normal and sensation is restored.
Importantly, benzocaine only blocks pain signals — it does not soften or modify the nail, treat inflammation, or address the root cause of an ingrown toenail. This is why the FDA found it insufficient for ingrown toenail treatment and why patients with recurring or infected ingrown toenails should seek podiatric care.
20% w/v — topical liquid
0.31 fl oz (9.3 mL) bottle with brush applicator. Apply to affected area up to 3-4 times daily.
Outgro Pain Relief has largely disappeared from major retail pharmacy chains. Walgreens has discontinued the product from its online platform and stores. CVS and Rite Aid do not reliably stock it. The product is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list — rather, it has undergone a retail-level discontinuation driven by regulatory history, small market size, and the availability of FDA-approved alternatives.
It can still be found at regional grocery store pharmacies (Hy-Vee, Reasor's), on Amazon from third-party sellers, and via Instacart delivery from select local store partners. Availability is inconsistent and can change without notice. The UPC for the 0.31 oz bottle is 75137053110, which can help pharmacy staff do a quick inventory lookup.
The fastest way to find Outgro in stock near you is to use medfinder — a service that calls local pharmacies to check which ones have your medication in stock and texts you the results. This saves hours of calling around and eliminates wasted trips.
Outgro Pain Relief is an OTC medication — no prescription or clinical recommendation is required. Any adult can purchase it without seeing a doctor. However, healthcare providers frequently counsel patients on foot care products and should be familiar with Outgro's regulatory history and safety profile.
For patients with persistent or recurring foot pain, the following providers are most commonly involved:
Podiatrists (DPM): Primary specialists for ingrown toenails and foot conditions; can perform nail avulsion procedures
Primary care physicians (MD/DO): Can evaluate foot pain, manage minor conditions, and refer to podiatry
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants: Can evaluate and treat minor foot conditions
Pharmacists: Important OTC counseling role — can help patients find therapeutic equivalents and screen for drug interactions
Telehealth options are available for OTC counseling and for conditions that don't require hands-on examination. For infected or severe ingrown toenails, in-person care with a podiatrist or physician is typically necessary.
No. Outgro Pain Relief is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. Benzocaine — the active ingredient — is an OTC topical anesthetic with no abuse potential or addiction risk when used as directed on external skin surfaces.
No prescription is required to purchase Outgro Pain Relief. Any adult or caregiver can buy it directly at retail without a doctor's visit. There are no quantity limits, refill restrictions, or prior authorization requirements associated with purchasing this OTC product.
Most people tolerate Outgro Pain Relief well when used as directed. Common side effects are mild and localized:
Temporary stinging or burning at the application site
Mild redness
Localized skin irritation
Serious side effects (seek emergency care immediately):
Methemoglobinemia — Pale, gray, or blue skin/lips/nail beds; shortness of breath; confusion; rapid heart rate; fatigue. Symptoms appear within minutes to 2 hours. Over 400 cases reported to FDA since 1971.
Severe allergic reaction — Hives, swelling of the face/lips/throat, difficulty breathing
Higher-risk populations include patients with pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, G6PD deficiency, pyruvate kinase deficiency, history of methemoglobinemia, elderly patients, and children under age 2 (contraindicated).
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Dr. Scholl's Ingrown Toenail Pain Reliever
Sodium sulfide 1% gel — the only FDA-approved OTC ingredient for ingrown toenail pain. Available at most major pharmacies. Best choice for ingrown toenail discomfort.
Dermoplast
Benzocaine 20% + menthol 0.5% spray — same active ingredient as Outgro in a larger-volume spray format. Widely available at most pharmacies.
Generic Benzocaine 20% Topical
Store-brand benzocaine 20% topical liquids or gels at CVS, Walmart, and similar retailers. Therapeutically identical to Outgro at a lower cost.
LMX 4 (Lidocaine 4%)
OTC amide-type topical anesthetic cream. Alternative for patients with ester anesthetic sensitivity. Provides longer-lasting numbing (30-60 minutes vs ~10 minutes for benzocaine).
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Nitroglycerin / Nitrates
majorSignificantly increases the risk of methemoglobinemia. Major interaction — consult pharmacist or physician before using benzocaine if on nitrate therapy.
Dapsone
majorAdditive risk of methemoglobinemia. Moderate-to-major interaction depending on doses and patient risk factors.
Other topical anesthetics (lidocaine, prilocaine)
moderateCombined use increases total anesthetic absorption and additive methemoglobin risk. Avoid concurrent use on the same or nearby skin areas.
Sulfonamide antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole)
moderateMay increase methemoglobin formation in combination. Monitor for methemoglobinemia symptoms.
Outgro Pain Relief is a long-established OTC product that has seen its retail availability dramatically shrink in recent years. The current formula — benzocaine 20% w/v — provides temporary topical numbing for minor skin irritations of the foot. While it remains a product that many longtime users swear by, its regulatory history (no FDA approval for ingrown toenail use) and limited retail presence have contributed to its near-discontinuation from major pharmacy chains.
For patients who need benzocaine 20% topical for minor foot skin irritation, generic equivalents are widely available and cost less. For ingrown toenail pain specifically, Dr. Scholl's Ingrown Toenail Pain Reliever (sodium sulfide 1%) is the FDA-approved standard of care. Persistent or infected ingrown toenails warrant a podiatrist visit.
If you still need to locate Outgro Pain Relief or another hard-to-find medication near you, medfinder calls pharmacies in your area to check which ones have your medication in stock and texts you the results.
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