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 main 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 is also used to dry weeping or oozing blisters and acne abscesses.

In 1992 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised that there was no proof the main ingredients in calamine (zinc oxide and ferric oxide) had any real therapeutic effect on rashes and itching, and predicted that calamine was destined to become the “dinosaur” of dermatology. However, many sources continue to recommend Calamine lotion:

• California Polytechnic State University
• University of Arizona
• University of Illinois at Urbana
• University of Houston
• Columbia University
• University of West Georgia
• University of Virginia