What is calamine?
Calamine topical (for the skin) is used to treat itching and skin irritation caused by chicken pox, insect bites or stings, measles, eczema, sunburn, poison ivy, and other minor skin conditions.
This medication may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about calamine?
Calamine is an anti-itch medication that works by causing a cooling sensation as it evaporates on your skin. Calamine also dries oozing or weeping from minor skin irritation.
Before you apply this medication, wash the skin area with soap and water and then dry it thoroughly.
Apply calamine directly to the skin and rub in gently, allowing the medicine to dry on your skin. You may also use a cotton ball to smooth the medicine onto your skin. Calamine may leave a thin film on the skin as it dries. You may cover the treated area with loose clothing, but calamine can stain fabrics it comes in contact with.
This medication can be applied 3 to 4 times each day.
Call your doctor if your skin condition does not get better after using calamine regularly for 1 week. Contact your doctor at any time if your symptoms get worse.
Calamine can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea if it is swallowed. Call your doctor or a poison control center right away if anyone accidentally swallows this medicine.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using calamine?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have any allergies. Do not use calamine if the product contains any ingredient you may be allergic to.
Call your doctor if your skin condition does not get better after using calamine regularly for 1 week. Contact your doctor at any time if your symptoms get worse.
It is not known if using calamine while you are pregnant will be harmful to the unborn baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known if calamine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.