Calamine Lotion for Rash

Calamine lotion is an over-the-counter (OTC) topical treatment (applied to the skin) that is used for soothing skin rashes and irritations. It helps to relieve symptoms, such as itchiness and irritation and dries oozing or weeping rashes.

This article covers what calamine lotion is, the conditions it treats, and how to use it safely.

Benefits of Calamine Lotion for the Skin

Calamine lotion is an inexpensive remedy for many types of skin rashes.

If it's not already in your medicine cabinet, calamine lotion can be easily purchased from most pharmacies, grocery stores, and online.

Some of the benefits of calamine lotion for the skin include:

• Soothing itching and irritation
• Drying out oozing and weeping caused by rashes like poison oak and poison ivy
• Providing a cooling sensation

Rash Warning Signs

Many rashes can be safely treated at home using home remedies and OTC medications. However, there are some circumstances in which it's best to consult a healthcare provider. This can keep the rash from worsening and causing scarring or an infection.

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience a rash plus any of the following:

• Fever of over 100 degrees F
• Pus or scabs
• Worsening itch, or itching that keeps you from sleeping
• Spreading of the rash to eyes, mouth, or genital area
• Widespread rash that covers over 25% of your body
• No improvement after a few weeks
  

Seek emergency medical help right away if you experience a rash plus any of the following:

• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing
• Swelling of eyes or lips
  

Generally, if you are concerned about a rash, seek help from a healthcare provider.

Common Types of Rashes and Conditions Treated

Some of the common skin rashes and irritations that calamine lotion can help relieve include the following:

• Poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac rash: These rashes are caused by oil from poisonous plants. Intense itching, red rashes, and blistering of the skin characterize them. Calamine lotion helps dry the oozing and weeping associated with these rashes.
• Insect bitesand stings: Calamine lotion helps reduce pain from fire ant stings. It's a second-line option for treating itchiness associated with mosquito bites, though there's little evidence that it's effective. Antihistamines and corticosteroids (steroids) are the recommended treatments for most insect bites.
• Sunburn: Sunburn can happen when skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. It's characterized by red, painful skin that feels hot. Sunburn can lead to blistering and peeling of the skin and is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. While the goal is to prevent sunburn from happening in the first place by using sunscreen, calamine lotion may help cool the skin if sunburn does occur.
• Allergic reactions: Calamine lotion is effective against severe drug reactions when used with steroids and antihistamines. It can also be used for allergic reactions, such as itching that can persist after a lice infestation has been treated.
• Contact dermatitis: This is a type of eczema that is caused by the skin's contact with an irritating substance (irritant). Calamine lotion helps reduce itching and dries oozing rashes.
• Chicken pox: Chicken pox is an infectious disease characterized by a blistering and scabbed rash. Since there are vaccines against this contagious viral rash, it isn't common anymore. If your child develops it, calamine lotion can help soothe the skin and tame the itch.

What Is Calamine Lotion?

Calamine lotion contains zinc oxide (a white powder often used in sunscreens) and ferric oxide.

Zinc oxide blocks the effects of histamine in the body. Histamine is a chemical that causes the hallmark signs of an allergic reaction—redness, swelling, and itching.

Calamine lotion has the following properties that help it to relieve itching and irritation:

• Astringent, meaning it dries out skin that is oozing or weeping
• Anti-itch, which is also called antipruritic
• Antibacterial, meaning it fights bacterial germs on the skin
• Skin-protective, meaning it protects injured skin from further damage

You may also see "calamine plus" lotions and sprays on your pharmacy shelf. In addition to calamine, these products usually include a topical pain reliever like pramoxine and a cooling agent like camphor.

Cooling agents are also very effective against itch by temporarily relieving it by providing a cold sensation to the skin.

How to Apply It Safely

There are a few tips to keep in mind when applying calamine lotion.

Here's how to apply calamine lotion effectively:

• Shake the bottle of calamine lotion so that it's mixed well.
• Clean the affected area with soap and water and allow it to dry.
• Apply a thin layer of calamine lotion evenly using a cotton ball or cloth.
• Allow the lotion to dry on the skin before dressing to prevent stains.

Calamine lotion can be applied to the skin as often as needed.

Stop using this product and call a healthcare provider if your condition worsens or if you've used this product for seven days and it hasn't helped.

Is Calamine Lotion Right for Me?

While calamine lotion is generally safe, a few precautions should be considered before using it.

Calamine lotion is designed to be applied to the skin, not ingested by mouth. Call a Poison Control center immediately if you or someone you know ingests calamine lotion. Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.

Calamine lotion is not recommended for children under age 2 unless they are under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Avoid applying it near the eyes or mucous membranes, such as the nose, mouth, and genitals.

You shouldn't use calamine lotion if you have allergies to zinc oxide, ferric oxide, or any of the following inactive ingredients that are found in the lotion:

• Bentonite magma
• Calcium hydroxide
• Glycerin
• Purified water

If you have sensitive skin, check the label of your product to ensure you can use each ingredient. Try to look for a calamine product labeled "fragrance-free" to minimize the risk of irritation.

Calamine lotion is not a good long-term strategy for people with dry skin because it can make it even more dry and cause more itchiness.

Alternative Treatments

Your healthcare provider may recommend calamine lotion for poison ivy, insect bites, or another itchy rash. Remember that there are plenty of other options if you don't want to use calamine lotion or it doesn't work for you.

Some of the additional treatments for rashes and skin irritations include:

• Corticosteroids (steroids): These may be applied to the skin (topical) once or twice a day or taken by mouth (oral). Some topical steroids, like hydrocortisone cream, are available OTC. Other topical and oral steroids require a prescription from your healthcare provider. Depending on how potent the steroid is, there may be limits on how long you should use it. For example, medium or high-potency (strength) topical steroids should only be used for up to 12 weeks.
• Antihistamines: This class includes sedating medicines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and less sedating ones like Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Claritin (loratadine). Antihistamines are a first-line treatment for hives (urticaria) with raised red welts.
• Natural remedies: These include colloidal oatmeal baths, aloe vera, witch hazel, German chamomile, and comfrey. While they are natural, these substances may not be safe for everyone. Therefore, before trying one, discuss all-natural and herbal therapies with a healthcare provider, pharmacist, or registered dietitian nutritionist. This will help minimize drug interactions and potential side effects.

Summary

Calamine lotion is a topical OTC remedy for itching and irritation associated with skin conditions like poison ivy, bug bites, and allergic reactions. It works by drying out oozing rashes, reducing itch, and cooling the skin.

Calamine lotion should not be ingested (taken by mouth) or used near the eyes, nose, mouth, or genitals.

If your rash worsens or does not improve after seven days of using calamine lotion, stop the treatment and consult your healthcare provider.

Alternatives include steroid creams and antihistamines.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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By Megan Nunn, PharmD
Nunn is a community pharmacist in Tennessee with 12 years of experience in medication counseling and immunization.

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