Calamine lotion can help relieve the itching, stinging, and burning sensations that often occur with minor skin conditions. Its uses include treating sunburn, acne, and insect bites.
In this article, we discuss the main uses of calamine lotion, how to use it, and the possible side effects.
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What is calamine lotion?
Calamine contains both zinc oxide and ferric oxide. These active ingredients give calamine lotion its medicinal properties.
People typically use calamine lotion to treat minor skin conditions that result in itchiness or weeping. It is available over-the-counter (OTC) as a lotion or cream.
Calamine lotion uses
People may use calamine lotion to relieve the symptoms of various skin-related issues. We look at some of its key uses below.
Sunburn
Sunburn occurs when UV radiation penetrates the skin, resulting in skin damage. It causes symptoms such as soreness, tenderness, itching, skin peeling.
Calamine lotion can help relieve the itching and peeling associated with sunburn. The water content in calamine lotion may also provide a cooling sensation as it evaporates.
While calamine lotion may relieve sunburn symptoms, it is important to note that any sunburn can cause long-term skin damage and speed up skin aging. It also increases a person’s risk of skin cancer.
Acne
Acne is a skin condition that occurs when tiny holes in the skin, called pores, become blocked by sebum or dead skin cells. Sebum is the oily substance that the skin produces to keep itself hydrated.
Once a pore becomes blocked, bacteria can colonize it, causing inflammation. This inflammation can lead to pimples or spots.
Many people use calamine lotion to reduce the size of acne lesions. Calamine lotion is an astringent, which means that it can shrink body tissues, such as the skin.
However, as a result of this property, calamine lotion can also cause the skin to become dry or irritated. This effect can make acne more visible, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. As a result, it is best to use it sparingly.
Insect bites and stings
Calamine lotion is a popular remedy for mild insect bites and stings. It can ease symptoms such as stinging, itchiness, swelling.
However, it is important to note that calamine lotion is not a sufficient treatment for bites and stings that are severe or venomous or could lead to disease. For example, calamine lotion will not prevent a person from contracting Lyme disease after a tick bite.
It is, therefore, important to seek medical advice about any insect bite that could come from a venomous or disease-carrying species.
Chickenpox.
Chickenpox is a disease that occurs due to the varicella-zoster virus. It causes itchy blisters to appear, which can spread across the entire body.
These symptoms typically appear before the rash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using calamine lotion to treat any itchiness. They also note that it is important to avoid scratching, as this can increase the chances of bacterial infection and the transmission of the virus to others. Keeping the fingernails trimmed can help minimize scratching.
People can also try bathing in cool water with some added baking soda, uncooked oatmeal, or colloidal oatmeal. Paracetamol, which is available OTC, is an option to help reduce pain and fever.
In adults, the varicella-zoster virus can cause shingles, for which people can also use calamine lotion to relieve itching.
Courtesy: WebMD
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