Calamine cream and lotion

How does it work?

Calamine is a medicine traditionally used to relieve itching and soothe minor skin irritations.

It works by its counter-irritant effect. After application to the skin the calamine evaporates, which produces a cooling effect that helps distract you from the itch. This sensation also helps relieve sunburn.

Calamine lotions and creams also contain the active ingredient zinc oxide, which has antiseptic properties that help prevent infection from scratching.

What is it used for?

• Soothing itchy, irritated or sunburnt skin.

How do I use it?

• If you are using calamine lotion shake the bottle well before use, as the ingredients separate when the bottle is left standing.
• Dab the cream or lotion onto the affected area of skin using cotton wool.
• You can re-apply calamine as often as needed.

Warning!

• Calamine lotion and cream are for external use on the skin only. They must not be taken by mouth.
• Avoid getting the cream or lotion in the eyes.
• If your skin condition gets worse after using calamine, or if you develop a rash, stop using the preparation and speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
• You should not apply calamine cream or lotion onto the skin before an X-ray examination (including mammograms) because the zinc oxide in it may affect what shows up on an X-ray.

Not to be used in

• Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• There are no known harmful effects when this medicine is used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Skin irritation in people hypersensitive to any of the ingredients.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

This medicine is not known to affect other medicines.

However, if calamine cream or lotion are applied just before or after applying other medicated creams, ointments or lotions, they could potentially dilute the other medicated product. For this reason, you should try to leave a few minutes between applying calamine and other medicated skin products, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.