Calamine Lotion for Mosquito Bites

Calamine eases itching

Calamine lotion is a thick, pink lotion that has zinc oxide and iron oxide as its active ingredients. (Zinc oxide is also a common ingredients in sunscreens and in ointments that are intended to soothe diaper rash.) Calamine also has several inactive ingredients, including bentonite, calcium hydroxide (lime), glycerin and purified water. In other words, calamine is essentially a mixture of clay and water. Not coincidentally, clay is a traditional Native American remedy for the itching of mosquito bites.

Using Calamine Lotion to Ease the Itching of a Mosquito Bite

Method

• Dab some calamine lotion on the bite as soon as possible after receiving it.
• Repeat as needed.

Why It Works

The zinc oxide in Calamine is an antiseptic, and prevents infection from scratching a mosquito bite open. However, although the zinc oxide and iron oxide are listed as active ingredients on the labels of bottles of Calamine lotion, it may be that the real remedy lies in the major inactive ingredients, bentonite and calcium hydroxide. Many alternative practitioners believe that calcium bentonite clay has the ability to draw toxins, such as mosquito saliva, out of the body like a magnet.

Precautions

Calamine lotion should only be used externally, on the skin. It should be kept away from the eyes, mucus membranes in the nose, and open wounds. Check with a doctor before using Calamine lotion on a child under the age of 6 months.

In general, Calamine lotion is considered safe, but some people do have allergic reactions to it. Stop using Calamine lotion and call a doctor if you start to see signs of an allergic reaction. In addition, the fumes from Calamine lotion can cause shaking if large amounts of it are used in a room that is not well-ventilated.

More Remedies

• Click here to view all remedies for Mosquito Bites