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May 08, 2024

Colloidal Oatmeal: Benefits, Uses, and Safety

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why Trust Us? Try a colloidal oatmeal bath to moisturize dry, itchy skin and decrease symptoms of eczema. Over

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why Trust Us?

Try a colloidal oatmeal bath to moisturize dry, itchy skin and decrease symptoms of eczema.

Over the years you’ve probably heard of oatmeal baths and have noticed colloidal oatmeal as an ingredient in personal care products, including creams, lotions, shampoos, shaving gels, and body wash. Ahead, experts break down the benefits of colloidal oatmeal, what it is, and how to make your own colloidal oatmeal bath.

In the simplest of terms, colloidal oatmeal is made of finely ground oats. “It’s boiled so that the colloidal material can be extracted,” says Delphine J. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.D., chief and residency program director in the division of dermatology, department of medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

She adds that a colloid is a homogeneous, noncrystalline substance that consists of large molecules of one substance dispersed through a second substance. “Colloids include gels, sols, and emulsions,” continues Dr. Lee. “The particles do not settle and cannot be separated out by ordinary filtering like those in a suspension.”

As for the oatmeal, Fayne L. Frey, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and author of The Skincare Hoax: How You’re Being Tricked into Buying Lotions, Potions & Wrinkle Cream, explains that oats are a whole grain food, which is known scientifically as Avena sativa. “Like most grains, a single oat grain [including colloidal oatmeal] has three main parts: Bran, endosperm, and germ.”

Bran, the outer layer, provides the source of fiber, trace minerals, phytochemicals, and vitamin B, continues Dr. Frey. “The middle layer is the endosperm and provides mostly starch while the germ contains protein, unsaturated fat, vitamins, and minerals. And although colloidal oatmeal is edible, whole oat groats are typically found in breakfast cereal.”

The initial research on the cleansing properties of oatmeal, its role in relieving itch, and its function as a skin protectant were conducted in the 1930s. And by the mid-1940s, colloidal oatmeal became available in the forms of powder and emollient oil. Here are just a few of the powerhouse ingredient’s benefits.

Oatmeal was first documented as a topical treatment for dry, itchy, and inflamed skin as early as 2000 B.C. in Arabia and Egypt, per an article from the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

Dr. Frey points to a medical review conducted by The Royal Hospital in the United Kingdom and published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology which found this natural product can provide anti-inflammatory and antihistaminic activity. “In fact, studies have shown that colloidal oatmeal may decrease itching in certain skin conditions, like atopic eczema [also referred to as atopic dermatitis], and may increase moisturization of the skin,” she states.

Additional research uncovered that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in colloidal oatmeal can help soothe scaly, red, rough, and itchy skin caused by other skin issues, including minor burns and chickenpox. Furthermore, another study discovered multiple benefits, including changes in the skin microbiome, from using topical colloidal oatmeal, says Dr. Lee.

One study showed that the oat-based moisturizer was shown to reduce eczema symptoms by more than 50%, explains Dr. Lee.

“Unlike treatment with the standard moisturizer, treatment with the 1% colloidal oat eczema cream was associated with trends towards lower prevalence of Staphylococcus species and higher microbiome diversity at lesion sites, which is associated with healthy skin (compared to lesions in atopic dermatitis, which are associated with less microbial diversity and more predominance of Staphylococcus species),” she says. “The 1% colloidal oat eczema cream significantly improved skin pH, skin barrier function, and skin hydration from baseline to day 14, while the standard moisturizer was reported to improve hydration.”

If you’re interested in soaking your dry, irritated skin in a colloidal oatmeal bath, both Dr. Lee and Dr. Frey say it’s one of the easiest products to make in your own kitchen.

When it comes time to draw a bath, they advise filling the tub with lukewarm water. Toss in one cup of colloidal oatmeal by adding it under the running tap to help mix it into the bath water, says Dr. Frey. (However, if you have a weak plumbing system, place the powder in pantyhose or a cheesecloth bag, suggests Dr. Lee.)

“As the tub fills, mix the bath water with your hand to help put the colloidal oatmeal into suspension,” continues Dr. Frey. “Limit your bath to 10 minutes and rinse off when done.”

For the most part, yes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved colloidal oatmeal as a safe and effective over-the-counter drug in 1998. In 2003, the FDA officially labeled colloidal oatmeal as a skin protectant and a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Toxicology found that Avena sativa oat-derived ingredients are “safe as cosmetic ingredients.”

Dr. Lee is aware of only one case report where oatmeal caused a patient to break out in hives—and she doesn’t recall any complaints of side effects from her patients.

“In general, individuals who tend to be very sensitive or have lots of allergies—either having skin changes, itching (such as hay fever-like symptoms in eyes, nose, throat), or asthma triggered by various environmental factors—should consider testing any new topical on a small area (perhaps the size of a postage stamp on the inner arm) before applying it all over the body to make sure there is no strong reaction,” she states.

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