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Home » Acne » How to Use Calamine Lotion for Acne

How to Use Calamine Lotion for Acne

Published January 5, 2018 Last Updated April 2, 2019 By Lori Ryman 75 Comments

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

I never knew calamine lotion worked so great for healing acne! After learning how to use calamine lotion for acne, I gave it a try and it really helped heal my breakouts faster and prevent new ones.

How I Use Calalmine Lotion for Acne to heal breakouts and prevent acne

Stubborn acne is one of the most annoying things because it is so unpredictable! Nothing is worse than waking up with a painful pimple. Luckily I found an easy, natural fix to stubborn blemishes. I began to use calamine lotion for acne. It is cheaper than continuously buying over the counter acne treatments, and it works great!

My mom was the first one that told me about using calamine lotion for acne breakouts a few months ago. She recommended it after it helped her acne rosacea. I typically use bentonite clay face masks and several other natural remedies for acne, but wanted to give the calamine lotion a try. My acne has been a little bit worse recently. I’m not sure what has been causing the breakouts. It may be a combination of hormones, changes in diet, or lack of sleep.

How Does Calamine Lotion Help Your Skin?

Using calamine lotion for acne is great fix because the active ingredient is zinc oxide, which is great for your skin in multiple ways. Zinc oxide makes your skin healthier overall by acting as a broad spectrum sunscreen, keeping moisture locked into the skin, evening out overall skin pigment and preventing aging! With regular usage of calamine lotion, you can reduce the appearance of scars and dark spots. The zinc oxide works to repair the damaged tissue, rejuvenating your skin. Using calamine lotion for acne is a one-stop-shop!

When you use calamine lotion for acne, you’ll notice an improvement in your skin after just one application. I noticed that the pimple I applied it to was less red and reduced in size the next morning after I used it.

The calamine lotion helps dry and heal pimples without causing irritation.

Different Ways I Use Calamine Lotion for Acne

There are a few different ways I like to use calamine lotion for acne. As a preventative measure, I use it under my makeup. The moisturizing properties keep my skin hydrated all day long as well as providing a nice base for my makeup. The barrier of calamine lotion between my skin and makeup prevents the makeup from clogging my pores and causing more breakouts.

I love using calamine lotion as a moisturizer because it prevents bacterial infections and improves healing of the skin. Thus reducing the appearance of breakouts. Using calamine lotion for acne is beneficial also because it acts as an anti-inflammatory. If you have any irritated or painful pimples it works wonders! The zinc oxide works to soothe your irritated skin while clearing it up.

If you suffer from deep, cystic acne then calamine lotion can work to bring your impurities out. I just take a finger-tipped size amount and put it on the spots that are most troublesome. I usually let it sit on my skin for at least three hours or overnight before washing it off. This same technique can be used to treat any dark spots or acne scars that pop up too. Just be sure if you’re fighting dark spots or scars to do this regularly.

How to Use Calamine Lotion for Acne

What you need:

  • 1 bottle of calamine lotion

Instructions:

  1. Wash your face to remove any makeup and/or other products you’ve applied. I use the oil cleansing method with jojoba oil to wash my face and remove makeup.
  2. Apply a small layer of calamine lotion to breakouts or over your whole face. I use my fingers to apply the calamine.
  3. Leave it on your skin for at least a few hours, preferably overnight.
  4. Wash off (I use the oil cleansing method with jojoba oil again to wash the calamine lotion off)
  5. Optional: Apply moisturizer. My two favorite moisturizers for acne prone skin are jojoba oil and hempseed oil.

*See how to do the oil cleansing method in my post.

Tips for Using Calamine Lotion for Acne

Before I apply the calamine lotion I like to apply a warm, damp towel to my face. This works to open my pores and bring impurities to the top layer of skin. This makes it easier for the lotion to fight any impurities.

I always make sure to blend the lotion our really well if I am using it under my makeup or just as a moisturizer. Calamine lotion can make your skin really white, but this is nothing a little blending can’t fix.

Using calamine lotion for acne is more cost effective than my previous acne treatments. It provides way more benefits for my skin than any other spot treatment or acne cream I’ve used!

How to Use Calamine Lotion for Acne Breakouts - I apply calamine lotion to my breakouts to help reduce redness, size and inflammation

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Filed Under: Acne, Natural Skin Care

About Lori Ryman

Lori Ryman, BS, MS, has been dedicated to researching natural alternatives for the past 15 years. Lori has a background in research methods, health, and nutrition. She started with an Interest in natural alternatives to improve her own health and she continues to share natural DIY projects, recipes and natural alternatives with millions of viewers on treasuredtips.com.

Lori’s research for posts is based on peer reviewed evidenced-based research. Lori is a published author in a peer reviewed research journal. Her work has been covered by MSN, The Huffington Post, wikiHow, The New York Times, and many more.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Olaide

    March 10, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    I started using the calamine lotion for my face reaction yesterday I hope in 7days I get good results.

    Reply
  2. Jackline Ayesiza

    March 8, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    I have recently tried using Calamine lotion on my face dark spots and it has done wonders within 3 days using it overnight. Thanks for the blog.
    Cheers.

    Reply
    • Lori

      March 16, 2019 at 1:12 pm

      So happy to hear it has helped!

      Reply
  3. Omolanke

    March 1, 2019 at 10:51 am

    Tnk for the reminder on calamine lotion am trying it out now will let u know if it works for me

    Reply
    • Lori

      March 12, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      Good luck 🙂

      Reply
  4. Nitasha

    February 11, 2019 at 2:03 pm

    Calamine lotion definitely did work on my severe chicken pox scars . Another thing which does work on scars & toning the skin is ordinary cold milk or yoghurt . Leave 1 tbsp for the face and neck for 15 minutes before you wash it off or on areas which have scars . Honey ,lemon juice & red sandalwood powder also works well .

    Reply
    • Lori

      February 20, 2019 at 3:34 pm

      Glad to hear that it has helped you too!

      Reply
    • Subhajit

      April 2, 2019 at 11:35 am

      How many days it took to clean up black spots due to chicken pox?
      I am also having scars for pox…

      Reply
      • Nitasha

        April 2, 2019 at 3:03 pm

        You need the Caladryl lotion (which comes in a glass bottle ) . Takes about 3 to 4 months for the scars to fade away . It can be applied on the entire facial region & not the spots alone.

        Reply
  5. Anonymous

    February 5, 2019 at 3:11 am

    I Have Black Spots All Over My Face Caused By Pimples,can Calamine Lotion Realy Work

    Reply
  6. Virgie Williams

    January 28, 2019 at 12:23 am

    I have a vectibix rash on my face, chest, and back and calamine lotion seems to work well but it is hard to get it off. I can’t rub or use a wash cloth on my face as the skin is very sensitive and tends to bleed with pressure. Do you have any recommendations on how to gently get it off?

    Reply
    • Lori

      February 3, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      When I use the calamine lotion for my acne, sometimes it can be hard to remove. I do use the oil cleansing method often. So, I apply jojoba oil or hempseed oil to my skin, then wipe it off with a warm wet washcloth.

      Reply
  7. Sahar

    January 15, 2019 at 10:06 am

    I bought already calamine lotion yesterday after I read those comments two days ago and I am going to give it a try…
    Thanks Lori

    Reply
    • Lori

      January 24, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      Hope it helps you!

      Reply
  8. Anonymous

    December 23, 2018 at 7:18 am

    Hey. Can I use it every day?

    Reply
    • Lori

      December 31, 2018 at 3:59 pm

      Yes, I use calamine every day when I get bad breakouts.

      Reply
  9. Durga

    December 3, 2018 at 12:17 am

    Can I apply calamine on whitehead

    Reply
    • Lori

      December 8, 2018 at 3:23 pm

      Yes, it has helped my blackheads and breakouts.

      Reply
      • manqoba

        January 30, 2019 at 2:46 pm

        i have terrible blackheads and im trully tired of them

        Reply
  10. SCIENTIA

    November 12, 2018 at 3:58 am

    Calamine lotion can cure chicken pox correctly .

    Reply
  11. natural home remedies

    October 26, 2018 at 4:26 am

    Hello Lori,
    This calamine tip and cleansing my face with jojoba oil is really working. and thanks to you now my skin is very much clear than earlier and I feel happy to see it.

    Reply
    • Lori

      November 9, 2018 at 12:54 am

      Yay! That’s fantastic!

      Reply
  12. Doug

    October 25, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    My wife is going through chemotherapy and had a terrible outbreak of cystic acne – literally overnight – on her face, neck and chest. I found your blog while searching for natural remedies and went and bought some calamine lotion. It gave her immediate relief from the swelling and the itching, and her skin has calmed down noticeably. It’s a challenge to get it off with such sensitive skin but I saw your suggestion of hempseed or jojoba oils so I’m off to get one of those. Thank you for the great post and helpful advice Lori!

    Reply
    • Lori

      November 9, 2018 at 12:53 am

      So happy to hear it has helped her skin!

      Reply
  13. CG

    October 21, 2018 at 10:01 am

    I’ve suffered with acne since my teens. I am now in my 50’s. Acne has been a major issue through my years. Very discouraging. I still get the occasional breakout and my face has a terrible texture that I know I’ll have for the rest of my life. I’ve tried many many products for my face. I just now learned of Calamine Lotion for acne and scars. Is this really true??? I would try almost anything to help with the past acne scars. Any suggestions? Thank you for the awesome article on Calamine Lotion. I’m anxious to give this a try.

    Reply
    • Refilwe

      October 21, 2018 at 11:04 am

      Dermatologist

      Reply
    • Lori

      November 9, 2018 at 12:47 am

      My mom and I both use calamine for acne. It really does help our skin.

      Reply
  14. CG

    September 19, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Hi. I didn’t know Calamine lotion works on breakouts. That’s awesome. I recently used an acne skin care line that irritated my face. Very tight feeling, itchy and little red bumps that I’m not sure if its pimples. I needed relief so I read about applying calamine lotion on my face. I was blown away to learn it can be used on the face and it works on breakouts and scars. I’m definitely gonna give this a try. I’m in my 50’s and I’ve struggled with acne since my teens. What is the best cleansing and moisturizer for sensitive acne prone skin?? Thank you

    Reply
    • Lori

      November 8, 2018 at 11:55 pm

      I love using the oil cleansing method for washing my face. I use hempseed oil or jojoba oil as a moisturizer. They’re great for acne prone skin and non-comedogenic.

      Reply
  15. Anonymous

    September 3, 2018 at 6:04 am

    Which brand calamine lotion is best for acne and dark spots

    Reply
    • Lori

      November 8, 2018 at 11:39 pm

      Any brand should work that is just calamine lotion with no extra ingredients.

      Reply
  16. Linda Gallipo

    August 30, 2018 at 11:57 pm

    I had shingles 4 years ago and that was after my shingles shot. However my breakout was minor. I tried apple cider vinegar and all kinds of soothing creams and one day I reach for my calamine lotion that I recently purchased for a serious bug bite and oh my goodness I couldn’t believe the relief I got right off the bat. Well from that day on I used it faithfully and made my shingles go away by the 10th day of my onset. Now I use on my face as well. So if any of you out there need quick relief and recovery from shingles calamine lotion is the way to go.
    Linda k

    Reply
    • Lori

      November 8, 2018 at 11:35 pm

      I used it when I had shingles too! It really helped give me relief. Glad to hear it helped you too!

      Reply
  17. Charli Hall

    August 11, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    So I’ve been using calamine lotion for a few weeks to try to get rid of my scars and I’m not seeing any results. Do you have any suggestions for me to do?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      October 12, 2018 at 12:29 am

      Chamomile tea bags!!!

      Reply
    • Lori

      November 8, 2018 at 10:59 pm

      What kind of scars do you have – dark marks or deep scars? I’ve been really trying to treat my acne scars too!

      Reply
  18. Ayush

    August 11, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    I have apply it as a mask or as a cream

    Reply
  19. Banu

    August 5, 2018 at 10:42 am

    hi in my face one side dark spot doctor recommend calamine lotion can I apply one side r both the side. If I use mean my color become dark

    Reply
    • Lori

      November 8, 2018 at 10:52 pm

      Hi, are you using calamine lotion for acne or for another purpose?

      Reply
  20. Keira

    July 17, 2018 at 2:25 am

    i have been using lactocalamine for a week now. but more pimples are popping only on my forehead though. even though it claims to treat oily skin . my skin is getting more and more oily. should i stop using it. or??

    Reply
    • Lori

      July 31, 2018 at 2:05 pm

      How long do you leave it on your skin?

      Reply
  21. Joy-Rose

    June 8, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    I recently started using this product and the result was instant. I saw result the next morning. I use it as a overnight mask about twice weekly. Thanks for the post more people need to be aware of cheap alternative

    Reply
    • Lori

      June 24, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      Wow! That’s great! So happy it has helped.

      Reply
      • Leticia darand

        November 23, 2018 at 12:15 am

        Hi Could I use this product for dry skin?

        Reply
        • Lori

          December 2, 2018 at 3:10 pm

          Yes, I have dry skin and use it for my acne.

          Reply
  22. robin m

    May 24, 2018 at 8:41 pm

    I have oily skin and used to have uncontrollable cystic acne breakouts. I’m in my late 20s! I thought that was a teenage worry! Anyways, I’ve been using the Made from Earth Beetroot Mask and it drys out my oily skin to perfection and is reducing the inflamed angry look of my acne. My skin is also softer. I’m using this at least 2-3 times a week right now but once I’ve stopped breaking out I would do it once a week for oil control and rejuvenation.

    Reply
    • Lori

      June 7, 2018 at 5:03 pm

      Awesome! I’ve never tried that before.

      Reply
  23. Lina

    May 24, 2018 at 2:46 am

    How do you use it? It’s really watery so do you mix it with a moisturizer or apply moisturizer after? The calamine lotion that I got is super runny and dries pink so I’m afraid to use it under makeup? What is your routine?

    Reply
    • Lori

      June 7, 2018 at 4:59 pm

      Be sure to shake it first. That helps prevent it from being too watery. You can use a cotton ball or cotton pad to apply it to make it easier. I use it at night time. That way I don’t have to use it under makeup.

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      October 30, 2018 at 3:35 pm

      They make a clear one

      Reply
  24. Anonymous

    May 7, 2018 at 7:58 am

    I used Calamine lotion way back in the 60’s when I was teen. I didn’t have acne but I did get the odd spot. I found it great for mosquito bites too.
    Mum used it on our Chicken Pox too and I used it for my children as well.
    Thanks for reminding Lori.

    Love your recipes and natural makeup.
    Gail D’Andrilli

    Reply
    • Lori

      May 19, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      Hi Gail, thanks for sharing how it worked for you 🙂 Glad to hear you enjoy my posts.

      Reply
  25. saranya

    April 7, 2018 at 1:02 pm

    i used many creams and tips for pimples.but are no result.can i use calaminelotion and it give good result for me.?this is using at night may cause pimples.?

    Reply
    • Lori

      May 19, 2018 at 6:33 pm

      Let us know how it works for you.

      Reply
  26. Dermatoligst

    March 20, 2018 at 6:59 am

    I’ve been having pimples on my face since i was kid, I also use Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey which is also good for overnight treatmen results are effective but slow. Thanks for sharing this.

    Visit a Good Dermatologist here for treating the pimples completely:

    Reply
  27. jerawat pedia

    February 27, 2018 at 11:31 pm

    Hi, very good tips i love your blog <3

    Reply
    • Lori

      March 21, 2018 at 11:13 am

      Thank you! So glad you’ve found it helpful.

      Reply
  28. Anonymous

    February 10, 2018 at 9:23 am

    Its been 3days since l started using calamine lotion but new pimples keeps popping out.Will it eventually work or should just quit?

    Reply
    • Lori

      March 20, 2018 at 2:57 pm

      If you’re getting new breakouts, I would stop using it. Are you using it with a moisturizer? Is your skin dry?

      Reply
  29. Harvey @ TagBand UK

    January 29, 2018 at 6:46 am

    I have used calamine lotion on my face to combat dry skin. It helps to keep my skin smooth.It does not seem to be absorbed by my skin, but instead lays on the surface. Thanks for this.

    Reply
    • Lori

      February 4, 2018 at 2:41 pm

      Glad to hear it’s helped your skin.

      Reply
  30. Lisa

    January 11, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    I have tried the calamine lotion to an area on my face where I had tried to remove a blackhead and tried & true it does work!! By the next day the area looked so much better! Thanks for that great tip:)

    Lisa

    Reply
    • Lori

      January 18, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      So happy to hear it helped!

      Reply
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