What role does ferric oxide play in calamine?

What role does ferric oxide play in calamine?

• A. Antipruritic, pink color
• B. Pink color
• C. Antipruritic
• D. Coloring agent

Answer: (A)

Ferric oxide is used in calamine as a pigment to give the lotion its characteristic pink color. Its role is color-related, not therapeutic. The antipruritic (anti-itch) effect of calamine comes mainly from other components, such as zinc oxide and the soothing base, not from ferric oxide. So the best description of ferric oxide’s role is that it is a coloring agent that imparts pink color to calamine. The option that combines antipruritic with pink color misattributes antipruritic activity to ferric oxide.

Ferric oxide is used in calamine as a pigment to give the lotion its characteristic pink color. Its role is color-related, not therapeutic. The antipruritic (anti-itch) effect of calamine comes mainly from other components, such as zinc oxide and the soothing base, not from ferric oxide. So the best description of ferric oxide’s role is that it is a coloring agent that imparts pink color to calamine. The option that combines antipruritic with pink color misattributes antipruritic activity to ferric oxide.