Colloidal Oatmeal for Eczema: How Does it Work?

Are you experiencing severely itchy skin that just won’t get better? Itchy and dry eczema can be quite uncomfortable and annoying, but there are a variety of natural treatments than can provide much needed relief, like colloidal oatmeal.

This week, we discuss colloidal oatmeal for eczema, as well as how it can be used to heal itchy and sensitive skin.

Please keep in mind that although these treatments can relieve eczema, we are in no way medical professionals. If you’re experiencing severe eczema symptoms like an infection, it is best to seek medical advice immediately.

What is Colloidal Oatmeal?

Colloidal oatmeal is a very finely ground oatmeal that is boiled down and made into a solution. It is essentially regular oatmeal, but is milled so that skin can properly absorb it. It’s not gluten free by default because as most oats are harvested, they are often exposed to wheat or other gluten containing grains, so there is a big chance of cross contamination. So, if you are celiac, have a wheat or gluten allergy or know these things irritate your eczema, steer clear of colloidal oatmeal unless it clearly indicates they are gluten free.

What are The Benefits of Colloidal Oatmeal for Eczema?

Oats are highly rich in beta-glucans which can help reduce skin inflammation and even stimulate collagen production. Studies have shown that this form of oatmeal binds to skin and helps create a protective barrier against irritants while also providing additional nutrients to the skin.

Aside from it acting as a barrier for eczema, it is also known for soothing dry skin and scaling. It also helps alleviate itching and irritation. Studies have shown that just soaking in colloidal eczema can both relieve the itch of eczema and normalize pH levels in the skin.

How to Use Colloidal Oatmeal for Eczema 

To get started in healing your itchy and inflamed eczema, there are some home remedies you can use, as well as products made with colloidal oats that can help relieve skin. Studies indicate that a minimum of 1% colloidal oats is required to be effective for eczema in any skin care product [1].

Creating your own homemade colloidal oatmeal eczema treatment is actually rather easy and can be done on a small budget. All you need is 2-3 cups of colloidal oatmeal powder. This can be made by purchasing organic whole rolled oats (certified gluten free is best) and using either a food processor or coffee grinder to produce a fluffy, soft powder (the finer the powder, the easiest it is for the skin). Once your powder is ready, you can draw a warm bath and pour it right in while it’s filling. This can get a bit messy though, so I prefer to use a cotton muslin bag, dump the oats in the bag and seep the oats in the warm bath water, like you would a tea.

For other ideas on your own homemade oatmeal baths for eczema, check out Eczema Living’s blog post here.

Be careful though! Hot baths can actually be counterproductive for most forms of eczema or dry/sensitive skin. Drawing a lukewarm bath and soaking for 10-15 minutes will allow your skin to absorb the colloidal oatmeal without irritating skin further.

If you don’t have time to grind your own oats, there are plenty of wonderful natural eczema treatments that contain colloidal oatmeal and your skin will love.

One product which is similar to homemade colloidal oatmeal, but actually packed with additional eczema fighting ingredients is this Conqueror Oatmeal Bath for Eczema.In addition to colloidal oats, it also contains baking soda, coconut milk powder, dead sea salts and vitamin C. This formula is free of all parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, dyes, petrochemicals, and mineral oils, which means that it is perfect for sensitive skin. Not only is this treatment detoxifying and hydrating, but it also has regenerative benefits for sensitive and dry skin.

To use this oatmeal bath, simply pour half a cup into a lukewarm bath and stir until the mixture has been well blended into the water. For severely itchy and red skin, you can pour an extra half a cup and soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Once finished with the soak, quickly rinse off and seal the treatment in with a hydrating moisturizer.

Another excellent moisturizer to use after soaking in colloidal oatmeal is this Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream. Many eczema sufferers have found relief with this natural treatment and have even healed their eczema. Not only is it nourishing for dry, itchy eczema, but it also contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties as well.

If you’ve tried the above suggestions and your eczema is not healing, you may want to look deeper. There are a variety of irritants and foods that can trigger eczema. To discover what might be triggering your eczema, we suggest checking out our blog post: Our Eczema Elimination Diet Success (How You Can Do it Too!). Many eczema sufferers have been able to heal their eczema through an elimination diet when nothing else had worked. Also, check our out Start Here for Eczema Relief page for our top posts about healing eczema naturally.

Have you ever tried colloidal oatmeal for eczema? Let us know your results in the comments below!

References

[1] Lisante TA. 2017 Jul 1. A 1% Colloidal Oatmeal Cream Alone is Effective in Reducing Symptoms of Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis: Results from Two Clinical Studies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697218