Being bitten by a mosquito is so much too itchy!
And try to be patient!
No! Yes! disorderly! scratch!
After all, scratching not only can not stop the itch, in case of scratching the mosquito bag, the light will leave scars, and the heavy will be infected.
Adults can barely hold back, if there are children in the family, it is really difficult to control their little hands that have nowhere to stay at all times.
Moreover, the itchy skin in summer is by no means more than just a mosquito pack:
Prickly heat, sweat rash, sunburn, urticaria acute onset, these times the degree of itching, than being bitten by mosquitoes is only a lot more...
The dermatologist has already seen through everything and thrown out a bottle at you: calamine lotion!
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
Why is calamine lotion so good for antipruritic effect?
Let's also start with its ingredients:
The over-the-counter calamine lotion sold on the market is generally a poorly packaged "small powder bottle" formulated from calamine, zinc oxide, glycerin and distilled water.
Calamine is a mineral powder that absorbs moisture while reducing external friction and irritation to the skin. Combined with zinc oxide and glycerin, it can also play a role in antipruritic and anti-inflammatory calming.
Some compound calamine lotions also incorporate menthol to add an extra cooling feel and reduce redness, itching and discomfort from mosquito bites.
In terms of the anti-itch effect of mosquito packs alone, applying calamine lotion is much more reliable than applying saliva, applying toothpaste, crossing, applying soapy water and other methods.
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
Calamine lotion is also very safe.
It is included in the List of Essential Drugs for Children by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is recommended as a priority safe drug for infants and young children [1].
In addition to giving mosquito wraps to relieve itching, calamine lotion has many uses, and the specific scope of application includes:
Mosquito bites (including mites, mosquitoes, midges, bed bugs, fleas, bees, etc.)
Acute onset of urticaria
heat rash
Chickenpox (cannot be used on areas of chickenpox that have been damaged and are oozing fluid)
Mild sunburn (localized skin redness, burning, no blisters)
Pregnant women and babies are often soaked in sweat
If you have a baby or pregnant woman who loves to sweat, you can also apply calamine lotion to the sweaty part, which can not only absorb moisture, but also reduce the damage caused by friction.
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
In the cross-border e-commerce and purchasing groups, among the most popular Internet celebrity anti-itch products among parents, the "incomparable drop" from Japan must occupy a C position. So calamine lotion and incomparable drops, which is better?
The antipruritic principle of incomparable drops relies on an antihistamine drug that treats allergies - diphenhydramine hydrochloride.
Diphenhydramine has a strong central inhibitory effect and is not recommended in countries such as the United States unless recommended by a physician [2].
Knock on the blackboard!
Any version of Incomparable Drops cannot be used for children under 2 years of age.
Children over the age of 2 can use the children's version of the incomparable drop, do not use the adult version of the incomparable drop.
The adult version of The Incomparable Drop will add camphor and peppermint to the base of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Both ingredients are potentially neurotoxic to children.
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
No matter how easy the drug is, it must be used correctly to be effective. Before using calamine lotion, pay special attention to the following 4 points:
1. Do not use if the skin is broken: prickly heat, mosquito packs, chicken pox and other conditions often have skin damage or water, at this time you can no longer use calamine lotion;
2. Do not superimpose the application: before each application, you need to wipe off the traces of the previous application with warm water, otherwise the layers are too thick, which is not conducive to recovery;
3. For small babies and pregnant women, first confirm the ingredient list, do not contain menthol. Menthol can adversely affect the nervous system of babies under 2 years of age, so be sure to read the ingredient instructions on the package carefully before purchasing.
4. Pay attention to the shelf life: calamine lotion shelf life is generally about 2 years, pay attention to check the shelf life before use: calamine lotion bought the year before, do not continue to use it this year!
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
Usage steps:
1. Wash and dry the affected area: wash and dry the affected area, especially the part where the prickly heat rises and the skin are wrinkled and easy to hide sweat;
2. Shake before use: calamine lotion will produce delamination after standing for a period of time, which is a normal phenomenon, shake evenly before use;
3. Use a cotton swab to dip the liquid and apply: use a clean cotton swab to dip the liquid after shaking, wipe it evenly on the affected area, and pay attention to avoiding the eye and mouth area;
4. Do not deliberately wipe off the white powder: after the lotion is dried, it will leave a layer of white or pink powder. This layer of powder has the effect of protecting the skin and reducing friction, so there is no need to deliberately wipe it off.
5. Wipe off the powder traces before applying again: Before wiping again, gently wipe off the last powder traces with warm water. This is to ensure that the drug is in direct contact with the skin every time to achieve better results.
To summarize, as one of the over-the-counter drugs commonly used in dermatology, calamine lotion:
The price is low - a bottle is about ten yuan or so, and it can be used for a long time
Easy to buy – available in pharmacies and even convenience stores
Safe and harmless - pregnant women, babies, nursing mothers can rest assured
Versatile – from mosquito bites to prickly heat, urticaria and mild sunburn
"Face value" is high enough - pink and cute, silky skin
Of course, no matter how easy the drug is, remember to buy it in the formal channels, look for the OTC logo, and remember to read the instructions carefully before using it.
Audit expert: Sun Liyuan | Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University
bibliography
[1] (2020). Retrieved 10 August 2020, from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/273825/EMLc-6-eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
[2] Diphenhydramine Uses, Dosage & Side Effects - Drugs.com. (2020). Retrieved 10 August 2020, from https://www.drugs.com/diphenhydramine.html
*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.
*The copyright of this article belongs to Tencent Medical Code, unauthorized media reprinting is prohibited, and illegal reprinting will be investigated for legal responsibility according to law. Individuals are welcome to forward to the circle of friends.