How to Use an Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal baths are a tried and true way to soothe away your itchy, irritated skin. Believe it or not, these baths can help with a variety of issues. If you have a lot of colloidal oatmeal (a medicinal type of oatmeal) lying around, take a peek at this list to see how oatmeal baths can possibly help you in the future.^[1] If you just have regular oats, grind them to a fine powder with a food processor so they’ll be ready to mix with your bath water!^[2]

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Soothe itchy skin.^[3]

1. Whip up a simple bath with 1 cup (129 g) of colloidal oatmeal. Fill your tub with lukewarm water, then sprinkle in the colloidal oatmeal. Relax and unwind for about 15 minutes, which can help relieve your itchy skin. When soaked in water, oatmeal does a great job of sticking to your skin, which helps protect and soothe your skin.
   
   • Scientific evidence also shows that oatmeal has some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, which are great for your skin.
   • Don’t use hot water in your oatmeal baths—this can actually irritate your skin.
   • If you don’t have any colloidal oatmeal on hand, blend 1 cup (129 g) of oatmeal in a food processor first until it turns into a powder.

[Edit]Give your itchy dog some relief.^[4]

1. Fill your tub with lukewarm water and mix in ⅓ to 1 cup (43-129 g) of ground oatmeal. Stir the powdered oatmeal into the bath water until it looks milky, and coax your furry friend into the tub. Gently ladle the bath water over your dog’s fur and skin, waiting 10 minutes for the oatmeal to really soak in. Rinse off the leftover oatmeal with warm water until your pet’s fur and skin is completely clean. Then, guide your pooch out of the tub and towel-dry them off.
   
   • Small dogs only need about ⅓ cup (43 g) of colloidal oatmeal in the bath, while bigger dogs might need ½ to 1 cup (65-129 g).
   • If your dog still seems itchy after the bath, call your vet for advice.

[Edit]Treat eczema and psoriasis.^[5]

1. Fill up your tub with lukewarm water and mix in the colloidal oatmeal. Stir the powder into the bath water and soak for about 10-15 minutes. Towel-dry yourself off as you step out of the bath, so your skin is damp but not dripping wet. Then, rub your moisturizer of choice into your skin right after.
   
   • A nice soak in an oatmeal bath can help loosen some of the psoriasis “scales” on your skin.^[6]

[Edit]Soothe a yeast infection.^[7]

1. Give yourself temporary relief by soaking in a lukewarm bath. Yeast infections can leave you with an overwhelming itch and burning feeling that just won’t go away. While it’s best to tackle yeast infections at the source, an oatmeal bath can give you some relief from the more obvious symptoms.
   

[Edit]Cope with itchy chicken pox.^[8]

1. Enjoy a 20-30 minute oatmeal when you have chicken pox. Cool or lukewarm water can help soothe away the itch—it’s really up to your personal preference. Since chicken pox tends to flare up all over, give yourself 20-30 minutes to soak instead of the usual 15-minute bath.
   
   • If you plan on washing up during your oatmeal bath, choose a mild soap that won’t irritate your skin even more.
   • Pat your skin dry after the bath instead of rubbing it.

[Edit]Treat poison ivy rashes.^[9]

1. Take quick oatmeal baths to cope with the itchiness. Poison ivy, sumac, or oak rashes are no fun, especially if they’re all over your skin. Soak in the tub for a few minutes and see if the oatmeal helps relieve any of the itchiness.
   
   • When you’re not soaking in an oatmeal bath, treat the rash with calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, or a cool compress.
   • Antihistamine pills might also help make the itching go away.

[Edit]Soothe away hives.^[10]

1. Draw a cool oatmeal bath for yourself if you develop hives. Hives are typically the result of an allergic reaction, and are very unpredictable. Fill your tub with cool water, then sprinkle in some colloidal oatmeal. Soak in the tub for a few minutes and see if your hives go away.
   

[Edit]Take a bath if your skin is irritated from cancer treatment.^[11]

1. Cancer treatments can really ravage your skin with unpleasant side effects. You may notice unexplained rashes, or feel like your skin is sunburned. Add some colloidal oatmeal to your bath to help ease away these unpleasant symptoms. Lukewarm or cool water is best for these kinds of baths.
   
   • Always talk to a doctor if you’re dealing with any unexplainable side effects from your treatment.

[Edit]Tips

• There are a lot of skincare products out there with oatmeal included, like cleansers, emollient creams, and lotions.^[12]
• Aveeno is a really popular brand of colloidal, bath-ready oatmeal.^[13]
• Oatmeal baths can also help with pesky bug bites.^[14]

[Edit]Warnings

• Oatmeal baths are a great home remedy for itchy and uncomfortable skin, but they’re not a permanent solution. Talk to your doctor for more specific suggestions for your condition or ailment.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Make an Oatmeal Bath
• Make Rose and Oatmeal Bath Mix
• Make Oat Soap Bags

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17373175/
2. ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/oatmeal/
3. ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/oatmeal/
4. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/how-make-oatmeal-bath-dogs-itchy-skin
5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353279
6. ↑ https://www.unhidepsoriasis.com/psoriasis/article/9-tips-for-surviving-the-winter-with-psoriasis/
7. ↑ https://www.yeastinfection.org/is-bath-good-or-bad-for-yeast-infection/
8. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ue4861
9. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/poison-ivy/treat-rash
10. ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-help-with-itchy-hives/
11. ↑ https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/targeted-therapy/side-effects.html
12. ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/oatmeal/
13. ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/oatmeal/
14. ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/oatmeal/

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