When it comes to keeping your skin looking healthy and blemish-free, makeup artist and model Carly Hobbs says she swears by calamine lotion. “As soon as I see a blemish or spot on my clients, I slather on a light dab and it calms everything down,” she says. “It’s also an easy fix for that time of the month when you get a little blotchy.”
Calamine lotion is an over-the-counter medication with anti-itch properties and has been around for centuries. It contains a mixture of mostly zinc and iron salts, and it has antiseptic and astringent properties. It also helps dry out oils and prevents infections.
It is used to treat mild itching caused by conditions like sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy or oak, and scabies (a condition caused by small mites). It can help relieve itching associated with other itchy skin conditions, including psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
The lotion has no severe side effects, but it can stain fabrics when it dries, and it’s not meant to be applied to your eyes, nose, mouth or genital areas. It is also not recommended to use it while pregnant or nursing. If you experience a severe allergic reaction to the lotion, seek immediate medical attention.