From the Guidelines
Calamine lotion is not recommended for the treatment of pruritus due to the lack of evidence supporting its use. When considering the management of itching and minor skin irritations, it is essential to prioritize treatments with a strong evidence base. According to the British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the investigation and management of generalized pruritus in adults without an underlying dermatosis 1, calamine lotion is not recommended due to the absence of literature supporting its effectiveness in this context. In contrast, other guidelines suggest that cooling antipruritic lotions, such as calamine, can be soothing for urticaria 1, but this is based on lower-quality evidence (Quality of evidence III, Strength of recommendation A). However, when prioritizing the most recent and highest-quality study, the recommendation against using calamine lotion for pruritus takes precedence. Some key points to consider when managing itching and minor skin irritations include:
- Avoiding the use of calamine lotion for pruritus due to the lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness
- Considering alternative treatments with a stronger evidence base, such as topical doxepin or menthol, for the management of generalized pruritus
- Using cooling antipruritic lotions, such as calamine, with caution and only when recommended by a healthcare provider, as they may be soothing for certain conditions like urticaria.
From the Research
Uses of Calamine Lotion
- Calamine lotion is used to reduce skin irritation in children with cast immobilisation 2
- It is also used as an adjunctive therapy to mometasone furoate ointment in the treatment of infant eczema, showing effectiveness in reducing eczema area and severity index, lesion area, and pruritus severity 3
- Calamine lotion is a type of emollient that can be used for the treatment of childhood eczema, with studies showing that different types of emollients, including lotions, creams, gels, and ointments, are equally effective in treating eczema 4
- However, skin care interventions, including the use of emollients like calamine lotion, during infancy may not be effective in preventing eczema or food allergy, and may even increase the risk of skin infection 5
- Calamine lotion can be used as part of a treatment plan for eczema, which may also include topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and other therapies 6
Benefits and Drawbacks
- Benefits of using calamine lotion include reducing skin irritation and itching, and improving eczema symptoms
- Drawbacks of using calamine lotion include the potential for skin infection and other adverse reactions, particularly when used in infancy 5
- The effectiveness of calamine lotion in preventing eczema or food allergy is uncertain, and more research is needed to fully understand its benefits and drawbacks 5