calamine + zinc oxide: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Confirm symptoms are suitable for symptomatic topical treatment.
• Check for imminent X-ray imaging near the application area.
• Counsel about the fire hazard from fabrics contaminated with paraffin-containing cream.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to calamine, zinc oxide or any formulation excipient.
• Cetostearyl alcohol in the cream may cause local contact dermatitis.

Monitoring

• No routine laboratory monitoring is described.
• Review irritation, hypersensitivity, persistent or worsening symptoms, or features suggesting infection or a more serious dermatosis.

Clinical pharmacology

Calamine and zinc oxide act locally as mild astringents. Zinc oxide also has soothing, protective and mildly antiseptic effects. Pharmacokinetic information is unavailable in the selected product information.

Formulation and product differences

• The lotion is a shake-before-use suspension containing glycerol and phenol among its excipients.
• The cream contains liquid paraffin and cetostearyl alcohol; contaminated fabrics have increased flammability.
• Both formulations may interfere with X-ray images because they contain zinc oxide.