9 Calamine Lotion Uses (and When Not to Use It) (2024)

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 are zinc oxide and 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.

Heat Rash

Heat rash is an itchy, prickly rash that is caused by excessive sweating. The rash looks like a group of small, discolored (a change in skin tone that can be purple, gray, red, or brown), raised bumps. Heat rash can happen anywhere on the body but is commonly seen on the neck, upper chest, groin, elbow creases, and under the breasts. It is more common in the humid summer months.

Calamine lotion can be used to soothe the itchiness and warmth associated with heat 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.

Bug Bite Itch

One common use of calamine lotion is to relieve bug bite itch. 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 the bug bite. If it does not improve within seven days, contact a healthcare provider.

Poisonous Plant Rashes

A rash caused by exposure to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac can leave an very itchy and painful rash. Calamine lotion is a useful treatment due to its anti-itch, cooling, and drying properties. It will relieve the itch, pain, and oozing associated with the rash.

Chickenpox and Shingles Symptoms

An infection of the varicella-zoster virus 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 causes shingles (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.

Hives

Hives are 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 useful treatment for hives as it soothes itching and redness and provides a cooling effect.

Scabies

Scabies is a skin condition caused by a mite that burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. Symptoms of scabies include intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. Calamine lotion may help relieve the itching temporarily, but treatment with a prescription cream, lotion, or pill will be needed to get rid of the scabies mites.

Acne

Acne is caused by sebum (the oil that helps keep skin from drying out) and dead skin cells clogging the pores, which leads to lesions, commonly called pimples or zits. Calamine lotion has drying properties, so it may help as a spot treatment to dry out pimples.

However, it won't prevent future breakouts, and excess drying can cause irritation and make acne worse, so calamine lotion should be used sparingly.

Swimmer's Itch

Swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasitesfound in fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans).

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 for sunscreen due 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 an open wound or 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:

• Clean the skin with soap and water; allow time for the skin to dry.
• Thoroughly shake the calamine lotion bottle.
• Apply the lotion using a cotton ball or soft cloth.

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.