Calamine lotion

Calamine Lotion

Calamine lotion (/kæləˈmaɪn/) is a type of topical medication used primarily to relieve itching and pain associated with minor skin irritations, such as poison ivy, sunburn, and insect bites.

Etymology

The term "calamine" is derived from the Latin 'calamina', which itself comes from the Greek 'chalcos', meaning copper. This is due to the presence of a copper-based mineral in the original formulation of the lotion.

Composition

Calamine lotion is composed of two main ingredients: zinc oxide and ferric oxide. The zinc oxide has a soothing effect and provides the lotion's signature pink color, while the ferric oxide has astringent properties that help to dry out weeping or oozing skin conditions.

Uses

Calamine lotion is used to soothe and protect the skin following minor skin irritations (e.g., insect bites, poison ivy, and sunburn). It is also used to relieve the discomfort of chickenpox and other viral skin conditions.

Related Terms

• Topical medication
• Zinc oxide
• Ferric oxide
• Chickenpox
• Sunburn
• Insect bites
• Poison ivy

See Also

• Antipruritic
• Astringent
• Dermatology

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Calamine lotion
• Wikipedia's article - Calamine lotion

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