1 May 2026Drugs for external use and antiseptics

Zinc Oxide Ointment: Dosing and Precautions

Zinc oxide ointment guidance for skin protection in eczema, nappy rash, minor burns, and other irritant conditions.

Also searched as

Zinc oxide ointment

Source reviewed

source date listed on the source page

Guide category

Drugs for external use and antiseptics

Safety boundary

Educational medicine information, not personal medical advice.

Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.

This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.

Therapeutic action

Skin protector.

Indications

Dermatosis of kwashiorkor.
Nappy rash.
Eczema.
First-degree burns.
Protection of healthy skin when caustic products such as podophyllum resin or podophyllotoxin are to be applied.

Forms and strengths

10% zinc oxide ointment, tube or jar.

Dose

Child and adult: one application 1 to 3 times daily.

Duration

According to clinical response.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

Clean the skin before applying the ointment.
Do not apply to exudative and/or superinfected lesions.
Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
Breast-feeding: no contra-indication. Do not apply to the breasts.

Source

MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)

This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.

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