Calamine lotion is a topical lotion used for the treatment of mild itchiness and pain caused by skin irritations. It’s made from zinc oxide and iron(III)oxide and has a white, creamy appearance.
It works by blocking nerve signals in the affected area and it acts as an astringent to dry the oozing or weeping from poison ivy, oak or sumac. It can be used for chicken pox, insect bites, poison ivy, sunburns, windburns and many other skin conditions that cause itching.
In this post I will go over how to apply calamine lotion properly and some extra information on what it is and some extra uses.
If you have a skin irritation, you most likely need calamine lotion. Calamine lotion is a topical medication made from a mixture of zinc oxide and iron(III) oxide. It is usually used to treat itching, rashes and other minor skin irritations.
Calamine Lotion can be used by both children and adults. There are also pediatric calamine lotions that are especially made for children. Some common uses of calamine lotion include chicken pox, fever blisters and sunburns.
To use the lotion, first wash the area with soap and water and gently pat dry. Apply a small amount of calamine lotion to the affected area two or three times a day or as directed by your doctor or the package instructions. You can apply it with your fingertips or with cotton balls or swabs. Gently rub the lotion into your skin until it disappears. If you are using an aerosol spray form of this product, shake it well before using it, then spray about 6 inches from the affected area until a thin film appears, just like spraying deodorant on your armpits.”
Calamine lotion is a topical medication made from minerals found in the earth. It was the first effective treatment for chicken pox and poison ivy. The active ingredient in calamine lotion is zinc oxide, which reduces itching and tenderness. It also has a cooling effect, so it is also used to treat sunburns.
Calamine lotion can be found in most pharmacies, or you can order it online at amazon.com.
Calamine lotion is a pink liquid that has a thick consistency, like hand lotion. It should be applied directly to the affected area with the help of cotton balls or an applicator such as a Q-tip and then rubbed gently into the skin until it disappears.
While calamine lotion is typically used to treat chicken pox and poison ivy, some people use it on other skin conditions as well, such as cuts and scrapes (to help prevent infection), insect bites, prickly heat (a rash caused by sweat), hives (itchy welts), ringworm infections of the scalp or body (ringworm), dry eczema patches on hands, feet or other areas where moisture might be trapped under clothing (which might lead to infection).
Calamine lotion is not
Calamine lotion is an anti-itch medication made from zinc oxide and ferric oxide. It is often used to treat itching from chicken pox, insect bites and poison ivy. Calamine lotion is available in most drug stores as a pink liquid.
Calamine lotion can be applied directly onto the skin or it can be used on a cloth which is then placed on the skin. Reapply as necessary, usually four to six times a day. Keep calamine lotion out of eyes and open wounds. If you don’t have calamine lotion, oatmeal baths can also sooth and relieve itching.
Calamine lotion is a skincare product that soothes skin irritation, which is the reason it is used to treat chickenpox and sunburn. It’s also used for insect bites, poison ivy, and other minor skin conditions.
The Calamine lotion contains zinc oxide with a small amount of iron (III) oxide (ferric oxide). Zinc oxide is a white powder that is insoluble in water and has antibacterial properties.
Iron enhances the color of calamine lotion, but it can also cause skin irritation, which is why not all the products have it.
Calamine lotion dries out the skin and cools it down. This is due to the fact that it contains water and zinc oxide, which are both astringent. Astringents make body tissues contract and dry up secretions or bleeding.
Calamine lotion is a topical medication made from zinc oxide and iron(III) oxide. It is used to treat itching, minor skin irritations and rashes caused by insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, chicken pox and sunburns. Calamine lotion also comes in a cream form. The calamine in the lotion dries oozing at the site of poison ivy/oak/sumac rash.
Calamine lotion has been used medicinally since at least the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Roman emperor Nero (37-68 CE) reportedly used a mixture of goat’s milk, vinegar, and calamine to treat his skin diseases. In modern times, calamine was patented in 1890 as an anti-itch medication in the United States; it was later found to be effective for treating chicken pox symptoms in children.
Calamine may soon be available over-the-counter only by prescription or not at all due to new laws in California (Proposition 65). The FDA does not approve or regulate calamine as an over-the-counter drug because it has been on the market too long. For example, zinc oxide ointment was first approved by the FDA in 1948
Calamine lotion is a topical antipruritic (anti-itch) agent. It is composed of zinc oxide and about 0.5% iron(III) oxide (ferric oxide). The pink color derives from the ferric oxide component.
It is used to treat sunburns, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak and chicken pox.
Calamine lotion can be used as a drying agent against acne. It dries the skin out by sucking the moisture out of the lesion itself and any surrounding tissue, stopping the growth of bacteria in the process. It was once an ingredient in Calamine Cleansing Lotion but that product has now been discontinued as it contained alcohol, witch hazel and camphor and was not suitable for people with sensitive skin.