Why is calamine lotion used to relieve the pain of an insect bite?

When insects bite or sting us they inject their venom into our skin. That venom can cause a slight allergic response- the skin around that bite starts to itch. The main ingredient in calamine lotion is a combination of zinc oxide and iron that acts as an anti itch agent when topically applied to the bite area. The lotion sooths the skin and relieves the itch.