Should You Use Calamine Lotion for Acne?

When a zit takes up residence on our face, we tend to rush towards the best and fastest path to clear it up, open to new products and treatments in the name of restoring a clear complexion. Though, sometimes we'll learn that a trusty method 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? We asked top dermatologists to weigh in on using calamine lotion as a spot treatment.

Keep reading to learn more about calamine lotion for acne.

What Is Calamine Lotion?

The formula is actually quite simple—and a true skincare O.G. “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.

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).

Side Effects of Calamine Lotion for Acne

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 Calamine Lotion for Acne

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.

Products with Calamine Lotion

mGanna Natural Calamine Clay Powder $7.00

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This clay helps soothe and firm skin while also having anti-aging benefits. It's a relaxing way to incorporate the ingredient into your routine.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion $17.00

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Mario Badescu is a household name for a reason—particularly this Drying Lotion. Used as a spot treatment, it targets spots and blemishes without overwhelming skin, thanks to its inclusion of calamine lotion.

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.