View source for Calamine

: ''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]] (Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>). It is the main ingredient in '''calamine lotion''' and is  used as an [[antipruritic]] to treat [[sunburn]], [[eczema]], [[rash]]es, [[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 [[blister]]s and [[Acne vulgaris|acne]] [[abscess]]es.

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:

* [http://www.calpoly.edu/~hps/Selfcare/skin.htm California Polytechnic State University]
* [http://www.opa.medicine.arizona.edu/news/jul99/mspharm.htm University of Arizona]
* [http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/Handouts/chicken_pox.html University of Illinois at Urbana]
* [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:K5tURDq14ssJ:uh.edu/admin/hc/healthberry/Venatae_Venoms_Vipers.pdf+calamine+lotion&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=17&gl=us University of Houston]
* [http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2293.html Columbia University]
* [http://www.westga.edu/~health/formulary.shtml University of West Georgia]
* [http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_pediatrics/insects.cfm University of Virginia]

== See also ==
* [[Calamine (mineral)]], or hemimorphite, an ore of [[zinc]]

== External links ==
* [http://bulkpharm.mallinckrodt.com/_attachments/msds/C0181.htm Calamine MSDS]
* [http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/zinc.htm Introduction to zinc and its uses]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/1992/09/09/topi.php An Outdated Notion, that Calamine Lotion]

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[[Category:Antiseptics]]
[[Category:Alchemical substances]]

[[da:Kalamin]]
[[fr:Calamine (minéral)]]
[[he:קלמין]]
[[pt:Calamina]]
[[fi:Galmeija]]
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