topic Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion? in Community Chat

Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Pearlee — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 04:12:43 GMT

I got a mosquito bite tonight which made me think how my mother used to put calamine lotion
on my mosquito bites when I was a little girl. I played outside so much in summer that I got lots of mosquito bites and had that awful pink chalky stuff all over me. The lotion definitely helped the itching but I hated the stuff.

Does anyone still use that?

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

EatWell — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 04:21:11 GMT

No.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

red&curly — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 04:35:36 GMT

Yes Pearley hello.Used it a month ago as I got poison ivy two different times.Cleaning out flower bed!
Not as I remember it.It was sooo runny .Kept running down my arms , legs, a big mess.Couldnt get it to stay on the areas affected.
Friend told me product to by for poison ivy.Still took forever to go away!
Have a good night

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

dimin — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 04:40:28 GMT

No but I've been thimking of it. I got a scar from a mosquito bite.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Kachina624 — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 04:48:09 GMT

I think cortisone creams and ointments are the new calamine lotion. They may or may not work better but at least they're not pink.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Katcat1 — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 04:52:36 GMT

Yes, it is actually in a product I have by Mario Badescu.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Pearlee — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 05:08:20 GMT

Hi @red&Curley. As I remember it, it goes on as you described it as a runny lotion. But you then have to let it dry and it's more chalky after it dries.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Dinaki — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 06:44:25 GMT

In Greece, we used to have a pain medication sold in kiosks, called Kalmalini.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Pook — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 08:18:52 GMT

Hated tat stuff! Now I just put a dab of tea tree oil on for things that Calamine was once used for.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

eadu4 — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 08:49:58 GMT

Yes we do at my house. We use the clear version not the pink stuff. My husband always gets poison ivy, poison oak or poison something each summer working in the yard. This year he got it bad. He usually winds up at the doctors (which he did this year) for a steroid shot and a weeks worth of steroids. We use calamine or Tecnu. It doesn't run down you or make a mess if you use some gauze and dab it on.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

AngelPuppy1 — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 09:43:44 GMT

Yes, I do. I used it not long ago when I happened to walk into something I shouldn't. It really helped soothe and calm my skin!

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Foxxee — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 10:11:22 GMT

I use a hairdryer. Before anyone calls me crazy, think about being so allergic to poison ivy and bug bites that keep you up at night for days and drive you crazy all day.

Oral antihistamines, calamine, and topical steroids didn't work.

Found this remedy on the internet after suffering from fire ant stings when I lived in Texas.

Someone suggested holding the hairdryer a few inches from the skin until the bite began itching a lot, a few seconds. As soon as it begins to hurt, remove the dryer, but who wouldn't do that anyway. For the more itchy bites, I had to repeat after about 5-10 minutes to get the itching to stop.

It worked so well, I had no itching up to 12 hours, then I repeat. There was only a little redness of the skin that went away in a few minutes, no burns.

There is an explanation for why it works, something about temporarily breaking the itch signal between the bite and the brain.

A few people I told about this were freaked out, but I guess it depends on how badly one suffers from itching. Of course, I tried it at my own risk. I could blame no one except myself if it caused skin burns, but it didn't when I followed these directions.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Biftu — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 10:23:44 GMT

Yes. A couple of summers ago I got poison ivy working in my yard. I tried it again and it helped the itch. As a little girl I was always covered in pink during the summer. I remember it being thick and very pink. This newer version wasn't as thick or quite as pink.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

violann — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 10:37:36 GMT

I had awful reactions to bites, stings, and poison ivy as a little kid, and I was PLASTERED WITH IT every summer from March 'till October.

I hated it worse than the itches, and I don't recall it ever making me feel better.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Diva on The Q — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 10:44:10 GMT

Yes! Still works like a charm.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 11:31:29 GMT

Yes....I tend to get poison ivy and other itchy things when I work in the yard. I think the poison ivy is now gone from the yard but there are a couple of plants that make me itch.

I did have a bad case of poison ivy a few years ago and found a gel product with granuales that you use in the shower to help stem the itch. I can't think of the name right now but it also worked really well.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

qualitygal — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 12:05:38 GMT

We have it in case of stings or hives.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

qualitygal — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 12:07:06 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I think cortisone creams and ointments are the new calamine lotion. They may or may not work better but at least they're not pink.

Ew pink makes me think of Pepto Bismol. Another golden oldie.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

goldensrbest — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 15:06:22 GMT

I had not used it for years,then came rashes i have been dealing with, been using it all the time.It works for me, i have had a tough time this summer with rashes, working in flower garden,around bushes.

Re: Does Anyone Still Use Calamine Lotion?

Peaches McPhee — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 12:49:03 GMT

I get big bites every year so I use calamine every year. I buy the clear type now, but I certainly remember the pink.