As a child, my sister had a bad skin rash. Being the oldest, I wanted to help her but didn’t know how. My mother learned that she had eczema. In research, my mother had learned that having my sister take an oat bath will help soothe her skin.
So let's break down what happened in her oat bath, firstly, oatmeal's scientific name is Avena sativa (remind you of a particular brand?) yup! One thing they got right is oats are amazing for the skin. Oats have been used for centuries in aid of various skin ailments from eczema, poison ivy, allergic reactions, itchy insect bites, psoriasis, and more!
Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties and is a humectant
Many studies have found Oatmeal to be a fantastic way to bathe. Extracts of oatmeal have been shown to lessen inflammatory mediators in the skin, giving significant clinical improvements in skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity. The results suggest that oatmeal possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and its administration is effective on a variety of dermatologic inflammatory diseases such as pruritus, atopic dermatitis, acneiform eruptions, and viral infections. Oat baths can help your skin absorb more water and therefore leave you moisturized. The high concentration of starches and beta-glucan is responsible for the protective and water-holding functions of oats. The presence of different types of phenols confers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Some of the oat phenols are also strong ultraviolet absorbers. The cleansing activity of oat is mostly due to saponins. Its many functional properties make colloidal oatmeal a cleanser, moisturizer, and buffer, as well as a soothing and protective anti-inflammatory agent.
Oat baths can strengthen the skin barrier. Colloidal oatmeal can provide clinically effective benefits for dry and compromised skin by strengthening the skin barrier. In 2003, the FDA approved colloidal oatmeal as a skin protectant that effectively relieves itching and irritation caused by a range of dermatological conditions.
How to make a simple oat bath:
Organic, Gluten-Free or even Regular breakfast oats you find at your grocery store will work! Blending 1 cup of oats in a blender and sprinkling that into your bath. Make it a Botanical Oat Bath by adding a few florals to you bath water. Sit back and enjoy.
Peace Love Namaste
Jasmin, CEO/Founder
Citations:
Pazyar N, Yaghoobi R, Kazerouni A, Feily A. Oatmeal in dermatology: a brief review. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012 Mar-Apr;78(2):142-5. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.93629. PMID: 22421643.
Kurtz ES, Wallo W. Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties. J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Feb;6(2):167-70. PMID: 17373175.