Calamine
Calamine, also known as calamine lotion, is a medication made from a combination of powdered zinc oxide and 0.5% ferric oxide (Fe2O3) that is used to treat mild itching. It benefits sunburn, insect bites, allergenic irritation, and other mild skin conditions, and may also help dry out secretions resulting from skin irritation. Its name comes from calamine, a historic name for the zinc ores smithsonite and hemimorphite. Calamine is applied to the skin as a cream or lotion. The lotion has been in use since 1500 BC and is now produced with additional ingredients such as phenol and calcium hydroxide. Calamine is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is sold over the counter as a generic medication. Side effects may include skin irritation. It is considered to be safe in pregnancy.
 A puddle of calamine lotion next to a pink plastic bottle | |
| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| zinc oxide | astringent |
| ferric oxide | antipruritic |
| Clinical data | |
| Pronunciation | KAL-ə-mine[1] |
| Other names | Calamine lotion |
| License data | |
| Routes of administration | Topical |
| ATC code | |
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Calamine, also known as calamine lotion, is a medication made from a combination of powdered zinc oxide and 0.5% ferric oxide (Fe2O3)[2] that is used to treat mild itching.[3][4] It benefits sunburn, insect bites, allergenic irritation, and other mild skin conditions,[5][6] and may also help dry out secretions resulting from skin irritation.[1] Its name comes from calamine, a historic name for the zinc ores smithsonite and hemimorphite.
Calamine is applied to the skin as a cream or lotion.[3] The lotion has been in use since 1500 BC[7] and is now produced with additional ingredients such as phenol and calcium hydroxide.[2][8]
Calamine is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[9] It is sold over the counter as a generic medication.[6] Side effects may include skin irritation.[5] It is considered to be safe in pregnancy.[5]
Medical uses
[edit]Calamine is used to treat itch,[3] as from sunburn, insect bite, poison ivy, poison oak, and other skin irritants.[5][6] The FDA recommends applying topical over-the-counter skin products such as calamine to absorb skin weeping caused by poisonous plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, although the FDA advises a cold water compress and topical corticosteroids to treat pain and itch they cause.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Calamine (topical) medical facts from Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
- ^ a b Braun-Falco O, Plewig G, Wolff HH, Burgdorf W (2012). "Topical Therapy". Dermatology (2nd ed.). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1724. ISBN 9783642979316. Archived from the original on 2016-12-29.
- ^ a b c British National Formulary: BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 801. ISBN 9780857111562.
- ^ World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 303. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
- ^ a b c d "Aqueous Calamine Cream BP - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ a b c Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 191. ISBN 9781284057560.
- ^ Darnton-Hill I, Ahmed F, Samman S (2016). "The impact of micronutrients on inflammation and health in low-and middle-income countries.". In Bendich A, Deckelbaum RJ (eds.). Preventive Nutrition: The Comprehensive Guide for Health Professionals (5th ed.). Springer. pp. 597-644 (608). ISBN 9783319224312. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30.
- ^ Ma JK, Hadzija B (2012). "Rheology in Pharmacy". Basic Physical Pharmacy. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 327. ISBN 9780763757342. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30.
- ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ^ "Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants". U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Consumer Updates. 9 June 2021 [Originally posted c. June 2009, since updated but advice unchanged]. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009.
External links
[edit]- "Calamine". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022.
