Calamine

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For the mineral, see calamine (mineral), for other uses of the word, see calamine (disambiguation).

Calamine is a mixture of zinc oxide (ZnO) with about 0.5% iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃). It is the active ingredient in calamine lotion and is used as an antipruritic to treat sunburn, eczema, rashes, poison ivy, chickenpox, insect bites and stings. It is used as a mild antiseptic to prevent infections that can be caused by scratching the affected area. It can also be used to dry weeping or oozing blisters and acne abscesses.

[edit] See also

• Calamine (mineral), or hemimorphite, an ore of zinc

[edit] External links

• Calamine MSDS
• Introduction to zinc and its uses