Whether for you or your child, oatmeal baths could be a great natural source of relief for numerous skin conditions. Oatmeal baths have been around since the Roman and Egyptian empires and were popularly used by royalty to achieve soft, smooth, and radiating skin. Today oatmeal is used in millions of bath and body products and is touted for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, emollient, antihistamine, and antioxidant properties.
Oatmeal baths are a simple, affordable, and effective way of dealing with skin conditions that cause skin inflammation, redness, itches, and dryness. Doctors recommend this treatment for skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, allergies, insect bites, hives, chickenpox, diaper rash, and dry skin.
This treatment consists of soaking some colloidal oatmeal in a tub of warm water and soaking your body in it for a few minutes.
These are especially recommended for kids who are more prone to eczema flare-ups and people with sensitive and dry skin types. As an emollient, oatmeal helps retain moisture and soother irritations, inflammations, and itches.
It is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds such as vitamin E, ferulic acid, and avenanthramides that reduce inflammations, and itchiness associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Although there are tons of oatmeal-based products on the market, you can always try making your own 100% natural oatmeal bath without spending a lot to achieve the same results. At Weirdskin, we want you to take care of your skin in the maximum way possible. With just two ingredients learn how to make your skin-soothing bath.
What You Will Need for the Perfect Oatmeal Bath
A blender/food processor/coffee grinder.
1 cup of oatmeal or ¾ of a cup for a child.
Warm water.
A pantyhose, a piece of muslin, or cheesecloth if you cannot blend your oatmeal.
How to Make Your Colloidal Oatmeal Bath
Colloidal oatmeal is oatmeal ground into a fine powder. Breaking down your oats helps facilitate the dilution process and enhances the absorption of active compounds by the skin as well as moisture retention. To prepare for your bath;
Measure your oatmeal and grind until you achieve a smooth powder.
Mix a teaspoon of your oat powder with some warm water in a glass to check if the required texture has been attained.
Once your powder can absorb water turning it into a milky substance with a silky feel, you are good to go.
However, no need to get paranoid if your oatmeal doesn’t blend thoroughly. You can always use pantyhose, muslin, cheesecloth, or light sock in which you will pour the uneven powder to avoid creating a mess in the tub.
Pour your ground oatmeal into a tub of warm water (not hot water!!!).
Mix with your clean hand until the powder is dissolved. Make sure to feel for clumps at the bottom of the tub.
Soak into the tub for 15 minutes.
Once done step out with caution (oatmeal will make surfaces slippery) and gently pat dry your body.
Avoid scrubbing your skin while in the bath or rubbing your skin with your towels to avoid irritations.
Immediately apply your moisturizing to seal the moisture drawn in during the bath.
What Skin Conditions Are Oatmeal Baths Suitable For?
If you suffer from any of these conditions drawing an oatmeal bathe could be a perfect reliever;
Eczema
Sunburn
Poison Ivy
Psoriasis
Contact dermatitis (allergies)
Chickenpox
Dry and itchy skin
Baby acne
Baby eczema
Insect bites
Diaper rash
Anal itching in babies due to pinworm
FAQs
Can You Use Regular Oatmeal For an Oatmeal Bath?
Yes, you can use regular oatmeal for your at-home oatmeal baths. Just blend your oats into a fine powder and at to your bath water and take a soak.
Are Oatmeal Baths Good for Eczema?
Oatmeal baths are recommended by dermatologists due to the anti-inflammatory properties found in oatmeal.
Do You Use Soap in an Oatmeal Bath?
You do not need to use soap while taking an oatmeal bath. Rather you can wash under the shower with soap before taking your bath.
How Often Should You Bathe in Oatmeal?
You can take an oatmeal bath whenever you experience an eczema flare-up.
So what if you don't have a bath tub to soak yourself in?