Calamine is an effective treatment for the itching/irritated skin caused by Tinea Versicolor. Tinea Versicolor is a fungal infection of the upper layer of the skin. It’s not dangerous, but it can be annoying. So what is calamine, and how does it work?
Calamine lotion is a mixture of zinc oxide and a mild acid called ferric subsulfate. The zinc oxide soothes irritated skin and acts as an astringent, which means that it helps dry out weeping blisters. The ferric subsulfate helps kill bacteria in open sores.
A lot of people find that calamine works better than corticosteroids for itching caused by Tinea Versicolor, especially when combined with antifungal creams. If you’re interested in this topic, I suggest reading more about Tinea Versicolor on MayoClinic.com
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I have a skin condition called Tinea Versicolor. It’s very common and not dangerous, but it can be quite unsightly. It typically consists of white/tan/brown oval patches on your skin (and scalp!) that itch and burn. It’s caused by yeast overgrowth and is more prominent in the summer months.
I’ve tried a lot of different treatments for this condition with varying degrees of success. About a year ago I discovered that Calamine Lotion was an effective remedy for the itching/irritated skin caused by Tinea Versicolor.
The calamine lotion is cooling and soothing, plus it dries out the patches to the point where you don’t need to scratch which makes the problem worse. I’ve found that it works better than cortisone creams or even antibiotic creams (like Neosporin).
If you have tinea versicolor and are looking for an affordable over the counter treatment, Calamine lotion may be just what you need.
It is a well known fact that Calamine lotion is an effective treatment for itching/irritated skin. The main ingredient in Calamine is Zinc Oxide, which has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Tinea versicolor is caused by a fungus that lives on the skin naturally, but overgrows under certain conditions (e.g. increased sweating). It causes a pink to light brown rash that can be unsightly and itchy. While there are prescription medications available to treat tinea versicolor, many people prefer not to use them because they don’t like taking medication in general or they are afraid of side effects.
The good news is that Calamine is a gentle yet effective treatment for tinea versicolor and its symptoms. Some people recommend using it as part of their daily hygiene routine to prevent tinea versicolor from returning once it has been treated with prescription medication (e.g. an anti-fungal or steroid cream).
Tinea Versicolor is a skin condition that causes the appearance of discolored patches on your skin. Tinea Versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, is caused by a yeast infection of the upper layers of the skin. Tinea Versicolor can appear anywhere on your body, but is most common on your back, chest, neck and arms.
The discolored patches caused by Tinea Versicolor are itchy and can cause irritation. Calamine lotion can be an effective treatment for this itching/irritation.
Calamine is made up of zinc oxide and iron oxide. It works to treat itching because the calamine dries out the oozing or weeping caused by rashes and other irritations. When applied topically calamine will dry out weeping sores and then harden to form a protective layer over these sores. Calamine acts as an astringent as well so it will usually reduce swelling caused by chafing or excessive perspiration. The drying effect also helps to absorb excess oil from your skin which makes calamine a good treatment for acne. Calamine has been used to treat insect bites, poison ivy and other rashes, sunburns, eczema and chicken
Calamine lotion has been widely used as a treatment for skin diseases such as chicken pox and the skin irritation caused by Tinea Versicolor. It is an effective treatment because it is anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and astringent. Calamine lotion is widely available at pharmacies and drug stores.
What is Calamine?
Calamine is a combination of zinc oxide and iron oxide (1). For dermatological purposes, the zinc oxide in calamine acts as an astringent and the iron oxide gives calamine its pinkish color. Calamine is primarily used to treat itching from chicken pox or other viral infections, insect bites, sunburns, poison ivy/oak/sumac, eczema or other minor skin irritations (2). It’s also believed to have an anti-bacterial effect on the skin (3).
How does Calamine work?
Calamine works by forming a protective barrier over the skin that reduces itching (2). It also dries weeping blisters and oozing sores (3) which can be very helpful when treating Tinea Versicolor because when you are infected with tinea versicolor your body produces excess oil that causes oozing blisters
Tinea Versicolor is a common skin condition that occurs when a type of yeast called Malassezia grows out of control. The yeast can be found on normal skin, but is only a problem when it begins to grow rapidly and out of control. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it is most commonly found on the trunk, neck or upper arms.
The condition causes the skin to develop light-colored spots or patches. The spots are usually lighter than your natural skin color and may also be itchy and/or irritated. These spots may last for weeks, months or even years without proper treatment. As mentioned above, calamine lotion can be used as a topical treatment for the rash and itching caused by Tinea Versicolor. Calamine lotion is useful because it creates a protective coating over the affected area to provide relief from itching and irritation. This protective barrier can also help prevent scratching which may cause infection. Additionally, the lotion contains zinc oxide which helps dry blisters and oozing secondary to scratching caused by an allergic reaction to a medicated soap or shampoo.
Calamine is not effective at treating the yeast itself since it does not penetrate deep enough into the skin to reach the source of the infection. It should be used
Tinea Versicolor is a common fungal infection of the skin. It causes a rash that can be itchy and irritating, with small spots on the arms, neck, chest and back. Often sufferers will experience white patches that do not tan in the summer months, or become darker than surrounding skin in winter.
Most people are able to treat Tinea Versicolor at home with over-the-counter topical creams like Calamine or Hydrocortisone.
I’ve been using Calamine as an effective treatment for Tinea Versicolor for many years now, and I’ve put this site together to help others do the same. I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, but perhaps my experiences will be useful to some people.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave a comment on one of the articles or use the contact form.
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