Liz deSousa for Byrdie
When a new pimple takes up residence on our face, we tend to rush towards the best and fastest path to clear it up, open to trying new products and treatments in the name of calming our cmplexion. However, sometimes there's a trusty ingredient that has been sitting right under our noses—and has been for ages. Enter calamine lotion.
If you’ve ever used the thick pink cream, you likely associate it with remedying mosquito bites and rashes from poison ivy. The anti-inflammatory properties that make it a go-to for itchy bumps have transitioned into it sometimes being recommended for acne, too. But does it work on reducing breakouts? We asked top dermatologists Shari Marchbein, MD, Morgan Rabach, MD, and Joshua Zeichner, MD, to weigh in on using calamine lotion as a spot treatment.
Keep reading to learn more about calamine lotion for acne.
Meet the Expert
- Shari Marchbein, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist.
- Morgan Rabach, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at LM Medical in New York City.
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist.
What Is Calamine Lotion?
The formula is actually quite simple—and a true skincare OG. “Calamine lotion is a combination of zinc oxide (the same stuff found in diaper creams and sunscreen) and iron oxide (used to stop itching),” explains Marchbein. It imparts a cooling sensation as it dries, helping to soothe irritated skin even further.
Calamine Lotion
Type of Ingredient: Anti-itch medication and astringent
Main Benefits: Heals the itchiness and discomfort that comes with minor skin conditions like bug bites, sunburn, and poison ivy.
Who Should Use It: Anyone looking to soothe minor skin conditions.
How Often Can You Use It: Apply to affected areas every six to eight hours as needed.
Works Well With: For best results, calamine lotion should be used on its own.
Don't Use With: Calamine and zinc oxide lotion have not been found to interact with drugs or topical ingredients. However, as with any skin treatment, it's best to consult a doctor before using calamine for acne to ensure that no potential interactions can occur.
Past generational use of calamine lotion on acne may have been more so out of convenience than efficacy. Calamine lotion dates back centuries—in fact, according to Rabach, the "old school salve was one of the earliest creams we had for the skin," she explains. "Back then, we didn’t have all the good creams and medications that we do now, so people used calamine on everything,” Rabach says of the cream’s illustrious history. “It really doesn’t work as well as other over-the-counter medications that are readily available for acne, like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol,” she notes.
Benefits of Calamine Lotion for Acne
While calamine lotion might not address the root causes of acne, it could potentially treat the symptoms of a blemish (read: redness and a raised bump).
“There are reports of calamine lotion helping to treat acne," explains Zeichner. "It may be helpful in treating red, angry pimples because of its astringent properties in drying out the pimple itself." As a more effective measure, though, Zeichner recommends traditional acne treatments that contain ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Rabach mirrors these sentiments: “Zinc oxide has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and may be helpful in calamine lotion if applied on active pimples (ones that are inflamed and filled with pus),” she notes, but it’s simply not as scientifically effective as other over-the-counter medications, so it’s best reserved as a last resort (think: your go-to spot treatment just ran out).
Potential Side Effects
The biggest potential side effect of using calamine lotion for acne is skin irritation in localized areas. For those affected, this will look like a red and itchy rash that can spread into a larger allergic reaction.
How to Use
If you do choose to try calamine lotion for acne, Zeichner recommends using it as a mask to spot-treat. Due to the telltale pink hue, it’s best used at home (but do as you please, of course). In terms of makeup application, though, unlike more modern spot treatments, this isn’t one you can pop your concealer on top of, so we recommend applying before bedtime.
If the pink, drying consistency of calamine lotion is making you think of popular spot treatments like Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion, you're right in that you'll find it in these bottles—however, these types of products also contain “a ton of other anti-inflammatory ingredients like sulfur, niacinamide, lycine, and vitamin E,” Marchbein says, explaining that it’s all of these ingredients together, not calamine alone, that makes it such a beloved product.
The Final Takeaway
Dermatologists won't recommend calamine lotion as a first, second, or third line of defense (or reactive treatment) against acne, but they say it likely won’t hurt either. But in today's skincare landscape, there are simply better options. Let’s dive in.
Though calamine lotion is drying—a hallmark of spot treatments—dermatologists are quick to point out that it won’t proactively address any of the underlying causes of acne, which are often “hormonal with a combination of inflammation, [P. acnes] bacteria, and clogging of pores,” Marchbein says.
Still, it’s worth keeping a bottle of the old-school pink potion around. “Calamine can help dry out itchy blistering skin disorders like insect bites, bee stings, jellyfish stings, poison ivy, poison oak, and chickenpox,” explains Rabach. So while it might not reduce the lifespan of your pimple, it's a worthwhile mainstay for other skin issues.
