Oatmeal baths may help relieve itching and skin dryness by reducing inflammation and protecting your skin barrier. You can buy colloidal oatmeal or make your own at home.

Eczema refers to a group of chronic inflammatory skin conditions that may cause itchy, dry, and swollen patches of skin.

There’s currently no cure for eczema, but researchers have identified several treatments that may help relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve your quality of life.

Oatmeal baths are a popular home remedy for eczema. In fact, some research suggests that oatmeal has been used for thousands of years to help relieve dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.

Keep reading to learn more about how oatmeal baths help treat eczema and how to prepare one.

The idea of an oatmeal bath might bring to mind a bathtub full of warm breakfast food.

However, oatmeal baths for eczema are usually made using a fine powder called colloidal oatmeal, which is made from grinding whole oats. Colloidal oatmeal suspends in water, so it won’t sink to the bottom of your bathtub.

Some research suggests that colloidal oatmeal may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-healing properties that could help treat eczema in several ways.

For instance, colloidal oatmeal has been shown to help repair and protect the skin barrier, which is the outside layer of skin responsible for protecting it from environmental irritants and preventing transepidermal water loss. A weakened skin barrier has been associated with the development of eczema.

Colloidal oatmeal may help protect the skin barrier by maintaining the skin surface pH. It also has fatty acids that may contribute to skin barrier maintenance.

Colloidal oatmeal also contains several compounds that could help prevent skin dryness and soothe the itching and irritation from eczema.

贬别谤别’蝉 how to prepare an oatmeal bath at home to relieve eczema symptoms:

  1. Start running lukewarm water into a clean bathtub. It’s important to use warm water, not hot water. Hot water may aggravate inflamed skin and draw moisture from your skin.
  2. Add about 1 cup — the amount might vary based on the size of your tub — colloidal oatmeal under the running tap to help mix it in with the bathwater.
  3. As you continue to fill the tub, mix the oatmeal with your hand.
  4. Once the water has reached the proper level, the water should be milky and feel silky on your skin.

Colloidal oatmeal can be found at most stores that sell beauty products, such as pharmacies and grocery stores. They’re also available online, or you can make your own.

Can I use old-fashioned oats for an oatmeal bath?

Yes, you can use regular or steel-cut oats to make an oatmeal bath for eczema.

However, try making your own colloidal oatmeal to prevent a mess in your bathtub when the water has drained.

To make colloidal oatmeal:

  1. Grind 1 cup of oats into a fine powder.
  2. Check whether it’s ready for a bath by adding a spoonful to a glass of water. The oats should dissolve into the water, creating a glass of milky liquid with a silky feel.
  3. If the oats fall to the bottom of the glass or the powder doesn’t turn the water milky, it hasn’t been ground fine enough. Keep grinding until the test liquid turns out properly.

If you don’t have a grinder, you can try making an oatmeal bath bomb.

Place 1 cup of oats in a fine stocking and tie it off. Then, place the oatmeal stocking into a bathtub of lukewarm water. Let it soak for 5 minutes, squeezing the stocking to release the beneficial compounds.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends soaking for 10 to 15 minutes to relieve eczema itch, but it’s important to follow the instructions on the package of colloidal oatmeal.

Don’t soak for too long because it could dry out your skin and aggravate itch and eczema.

Once you’re finished, you might feel a bit sticky. Rinse off with fresh, lukewarm water, and then pat yourself dry with a towel. Don’t rub yourself dry, as this may cause irritation.

Within 3 minutes of finishing your soak, apply your favorite emollient or skin moisturizer.

Colloidal oatmeal baths can help relieve the dry, itchy, and irritated skin caused by eczema. You can buy colloidal oatmeal, or you can make your own from regular oatmeal.

Before adding oatmeal baths to your skin care regimen, consider speaking with a healthcare professional about whether it’s appropriate to help manage your symptoms. You may also want to check how often you should use them.

As with other eczema treatments, oatmeal baths aren’t a cure but might temporarily alleviate your symptoms.