Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHeat RashBug Bite ItchPoisonous Plant RashChicken Pox and ShinglesHivesScabiesAcneSwimmer’s ItchSunscreenWhen to AvoidHow to Apply
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Heat Rash
Bug Bite Itch
Poisonous Plant Rash
Chicken Pox and Shingles
Hives
Scabies
Acne
Swimmer’s Itch
Sunscreen
When to Avoid
How to Apply
Calamine lotion is an over-the-counter medication that treats several skin conditions like bug bites, poison ivy, and heat rash.
The primary ingredients of calamine lotion arezinc oxideand ferric oxide. It is the ferric oxide that gives the lotion its characteristic pink color. Avoid using calamine lotion if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, have open sores on the skin, or if your condition is worsening.
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Calamine lotion can be used to soothe the itchiness and warmth associated withheat rash.When the water from the lotion evaporates from the skin, it causes a cooling sensation.This is one of the reasons why calamine lotion is useful for heat rashes.
Where Not to Apply Calamine LotionCalamine lotion is a topical lotion, meaning it should only be placed on the skin. Do not apply it anywhere inside the body. This includes the inside of the mouth, eyes, ears, vagina, and anus.Avoid getting calamine lotion close to the eyes and mouth when using it on the face.
Where Not to Apply Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion is a topical lotion, meaning it should only be placed on the skin. Do not apply it anywhere inside the body. This includes the inside of the mouth, eyes, ears, vagina, and anus.Avoid getting calamine lotion close to the eyes and mouth when using it on the face.
Calamine lotion is a topical lotion, meaning it should only be placed on the skin. Do not apply it anywhere inside the body. This includes the inside of the mouth, eyes, ears, vagina, and anus.
Avoid getting calamine lotion close to the eyes and mouth when using it on the face.
One common use of calamine lotion is to relievebug biteitch. When applied over the bug bite, calamine lotion provides anti-itch and cooling properties.
Bites from bugs like mosquitoes,gnats, bed bugs, fleas, and chiggers, can be treated with calamine lotion to relieve the itch. However, additional measures will be needed to get rid of fleas and bed bugs to prevent recurring bites and itching.
Apply calamine lotion several times a day over thebug bite. If it does not improve within seven days, contact a healthcare provider.
Poisonous Plant Rashes
Chickenpox and Shingles Symptoms
An infection of thevaricella-zostervirus causes chickenpox (varicella). The virus will remain dormant in the body and can reemerge later in life. If the virus reactivates later in life, it causesshingles(herpes zoster).
Shingles causes a painful rash, while the chickenpox rash is an uncomfortable itch. A healthcare provider can prescribe treatments to lessen the symptoms of the conditions. Over-the-counter medicine with calamine lotion will soothe the itchiness and calm the irritation.
Hivesare discolored, itchy rashes that form in groups. There are many causes for hives, and it’s best to contact a healthcare provider if you cannot determine the cause of your hives.
Calamine lotion is a usefultreatment for hivesas it soothes itching and redness and provides a cooling effect.
However, it won’t prevent future breakouts, and excess drying can cause irritation and make acne worse, so calamine lotion should be used sparingly.
Symptoms can include tingling, burning, or itching of the skin which calamine lotion can help to relieve.
Calamine Lotion as Sunscreen
One of the primary ingredients in calamine lotion is zinc oxide, an effective physical, or mineral,sunscreen.Calamine lotion may not be a first choice forsunscreendue to the pink color, but it can be used to protect the skin against the sun’s damaging rays.
When to Avoid Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion is considered to be a very safe over-the-counter medication. It is approved for use in infants and children. However, with any medication, there are times when it needs to be avoided, such as if you are allergic to its ingredients.
Do not use calamine lotion on anopen woundor broken skin. It should only be used on the skin.
If your condition worsens or does not improve in seven days, contact a healthcare provider for further guidance.
How to Apply Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion is not as straightforward to apply as other lotions. Calamine lotion is a shake lotion, meaning it needs to be shaken before use. This ensures the contents are well mixed before applying. Here are the steps to apply calamine lotion:
Calamine lotion can be applied several times a day and used as needed. The lotion can be left on the skin overnight.
Store calamine lotion at room temperature; do not refrigerate.
Summary
Calamine lotion is an over-the-counter medication used to relieve itchiness and provide a cooling sensation to the skin. It can also be used as sunscreen. Do not use calamine lotion on open skin or apply it inside the body. If your skin condition worsens or does not improve within seven days, contact your healthcare provider.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illnesses.NHS.Heat rash.Joy N.Calamine lotion.JSSTD. 2022;4:83-86. doi:10.25259/JSSTD_77_2021National Library of Medicine.Calamine - calamine and zinc oxide lotion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scabies.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About swimmer’s itch.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illnesses.NHS.Heat rash.Joy N.Calamine lotion.JSSTD. 2022;4:83-86. doi:10.25259/JSSTD_77_2021National Library of Medicine.Calamine - calamine and zinc oxide lotion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scabies.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About swimmer’s itch.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illnesses.NHS.Heat rash.Joy N.Calamine lotion.JSSTD. 2022;4:83-86. doi:10.25259/JSSTD_77_2021National Library of Medicine.Calamine - calamine and zinc oxide lotion.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scabies.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About swimmer’s itch.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heat stress - heat related illnesses.
NHS.Heat rash.
Joy N.Calamine lotion.JSSTD. 2022;4:83-86. doi:10.25259/JSSTD_77_2021
National Library of Medicine.Calamine - calamine and zinc oxide lotion.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: overview.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scabies.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Acne.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About swimmer’s itch.
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