Colloidal oatmeal baths have many benefits for dry and itchy skin conditions, like eczema. They're easy and quick to make and a great addition for anyone with sensitive skin.
Jump to:
- Benefits of Oatmeal Baths
- Ingredients
- Equipment
- How to Make an Oatmeal Bath
- How to use Oatmeal Soak
- Oatmeal Bath for Eczema
- Oatmeal Bath for Baby
- Oatmeal Bath for Hives
- Oatmeal Bath for Chickenpox / Shingles
- Oatmeal Bath for Poison Ivy / Poison Oak / Poison Sumac
- Oatmeal Bath for Dogs
- FAQs
- Oatmeal Bath Recipe (printable)
Many kids have dry skin or even eczema, especially in the wintertime. My sons are no exception. To soothe their skin irritation I use oatmeal in their bath frequently.
A big bonus is that the ground oatmeal serves as a natural gentle cleanser so we can use less oatmeal soap or baby soap. We also use whipped body butter after patting them dry to moisturize.
If you're looking to give your bath a little more pizazz while still enjoying the benefits of oatmeal, try my DIY oatmeal bath bombs and oatmeal cupcake bath bombs. They're fun!
Benefits of Oatmeal Baths
- soothing and moisturizing for dry skin
- reduce skin irritations due to eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy, chicken pox, diaper rash, allergic reactions, rashes, and sunburn
- nourish skin and help lock in moisture
- strengthen skin protective barrier
- anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant properties
- cleansing properties
- act as a skin protectant
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground oats (rolled oats, quick oats or instant oats work or you can buy already-made colloidal oats)
- 1 cup coconut milk powder (optional, you can replace it with Epsom salt or more oatmeal)
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 15 - 20 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
Equipment
- bowl for mixing
- sifter (optional)
- whisk
- Coffee grinder, high speed blender or food processor
- mason jar with lid
How to Make an Oatmeal Bath
Step1: Grind your oats in a coffee grinder or blender until you have a fine powder (if you're using a coffee grinder do it in 2 batches)
If you want to ensure that oats are ground finely enough, add 1 tablespoon to a glass of warm water. Finely ground oat powder will dissolve and create a milky color. (Here I've ground steel-cut oatmeal instead of regular oatmeal - you can see the sediment on the bottom, but it'll do in a pinch)
Step 2: Sift coconut milk powder (if using) or break up bigger clumps with your fingers
Step 3: Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk
Step 4: Mix in essential oil
Step 5: Fill into an airtight container
How to use Oatmeal Soak
- add 1 cup (¼ cup for babies) to running lukewarm bathwater
- soak and relax for 15-20 minutes
- gently pat skin dry and follow up with a moisturizer
Oatmeal Bath for Eczema
For kids and adults with dry, itchy, irritated skin caused by atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema), oatmeal baths are one of the easiest home remedies to try. They can help soothe inflamed skin and restore the protective skin barrier. Thereby, reducing itchiness and scratching that can further worsen the condition.
Aside from ground oatmeal, ingredients like baking soda, coconut milk, Epsom salt, and lavender essential oil, can also be helpful in reducing eczema symptoms.
Oatmeal Bath for Baby
Oatmeal bath soaks can help remedy a number of skin conditions in babies and young children such as eczema, diaper rash, rashes, allergic reactions, cradle cap, and chickenpox.
To give your baby an oatmeal bath, simply:
- add ⅓ cup of oatmeal bath to running warm bath water
- when infant bathtub is full make sure the oatmeal has fully dissolved (milky color)
- let baby soak in oatmeal bath for 10-15 minutes
- gently splash water on the baby's body and head
- gently pat baby dry after the bath (don't rub) and follow up with a gentle moisturizer
Oatmeal Bath for Hives
If you're suffering from hives, soaking in an oat bath is a great way to soothe itchiness. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties found in oatmeal can help soothe hives caused by bug bites and allergic reactions.
Colloidal oatmeal can bind to the skin's surface, creating a protective layer that locks in moisture further restoring inflamed skin. By reducing the urge to scratch infections are also less likely to develop.
Taking baths enhanced with your favorite essential oils is very relaxing after a long day. This can reduce stress which for some people is another cause for developing hives.
Oatmeal Bath for Chickenpox / Shingles
Oatmeal baths can calm the uncomfortable and itchy rash that's caused by chickenpox. They can also be helpful in treating pain and itchiness from shingles. Both diseases are caused by the same virus and cause great discomfort.
Make sure that the water is lukewarm, since hot water will make symptoms worse.
Oatmeal Bath for Poison Ivy / Poison Oak / Poison Sumac
I sure that I had known about this when I had my last encounter with poison ivy last spring, but anyway... the anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of oatmeal will help relieve rashes caused by poison ivy and the like.
Make sure to remove all the irritating oil from your skin with a damp cloth first. Then soak in trepid water since too much warmth will increase itchiness.
Oatmeal Bath for Dogs
Yes, even our four-legged friends suffer from dry itchy skin from time to time. A soothing oatmeal bath is just as beneficial for dogs as they are for humans.
To give your dog an oatmeal bath use ⅓ - 1 cup of ground oatmeal (leave out any additional ingredients), then follow these instructions by PetMD:
- Pour the oat powder into a tub of running warm water and stir evenly.
- Fill the tub as much as your pup will allow. Most dogs will tolerate the water level to at least the bottom of their stomach, if not higher.
- Put your pup in the tub.
- Using a cup, slowly pour the solution over their body. You can gently rub some of the oatmeal directly onto any particularly bad areas.
- After you have massaged the oatmeal into your dog’s skin and fur and let him soak for 10 minutes, rinse the mixture off with warm water.
- Use a towel to dry your dog off and brush out their fur. Never use a hot hair dryer on a dog. Your pup will be slippery due to the moisture of the bath.
FAQs
No, gently pat the skin dry with a towel.
At least 1 year if kept dry.
Rice water may have some antioxidant and anti-aging properties, but they are not very well studied yet. Ground oatmeal is easier to prepare and has well-documented benefits for a number of skin conditions.
You can try soaking the affected area in a sink or bigger bucket, if possible. For this, you would only use ¼ cup of colloidal oatmeal.
You could fill an old sock, pantyhose or small muslin bag with the whole oats. Tie a know at the top and add it to your bath water. Periodically squeeze the sock to release all the oatmeal goodness.
Until next time. Happy Tinkering!
Oatmeal Bath Recipe (printable)
DIY oatmeal bath has many benefits for dry and itchy skin. It's easy and quick to make!
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground oats (rolled oats, quick or instant oats* work or you can buy already made colloidal oatmeal)
- 1 cup coconut milk powder (optional, you can replace it with Epsom salt or more oatmeal)
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 15 - 20 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- Grind oats in coffee grinder, food processor or blender** until you have a fine powder
- Sift coconut milk powder (if using) or work out any clumps with your fingers
- Add coconut milk powder and ground oatmeal to mixing bowl and whisk
- Mix in essential oil (if using)
- Fill into airtight container
How to Use:
Notes
* you can try grinding steel cut oats if those are the only oats you have available. There will be more particles that don't dissolve, but it works if need be.
** if you don't have a coffee grinder, food processor or blender on hand, try filling whole oats into an old sock (panty hose, muslin bag). Tie a know at the top and add to bath water, periodically squeezing to get all the benefits.
A Life Adjacent says
This milk bath looks so soothing!
Celine says
It really is 🙂
Dila says
What is the shelf life of this?
Celine says
When stored away from moisture in a cool place about 6 months.
Lisa Caraballo says
Do you have a soap recipe containing the coconut milk and colloidal oatmeal?
Celine says
Hi Lisa, I have one with colloidal oatmeal: Gentle Bastille Baby Soap Recipe and one with coconut: Rose Clay & Coconut Milk Face Soap Recipe. You could add coloidal oatmeal and coconut milk powder to virtually any soap recipe. Happy Tinkering!
Christina says
In the photo above there appears to have 3 separate milky powders, what is the third?
Celine says
Hi Christina, the photo was taken before I updated the recipe. The old recipe used to have baking soda in it.
Lakeisha Riley says
I see 3 ingredients in the bowl but you only speak of 2
Celine says
Hi Lakeisha, it’s a photo taken before I improved the recipe. It used to have baking soda in it. Sorry if that caused any confusion!