How to Make a Soothing Oatmeal Bath at Home

Combine itchy skin relief with relaxation by slipping into a simple, warm, and welcoming oatmeal bath. You can make a bath with colloidal oatmeal, a finely ground form of oatmeal you can purchase or make yourself by grinding store-bought oats. Colloidal oatmeal easily dissolves in water and is used to soothe, protect, and moisturize skin. We spoke with dermatologists to learn more about the perks of an oatmeal soak and how to make an oatmeal bath for itchy skin.

The Benefits of Taking Oatmeal Baths

Oatmeal is delicious to eat, but it has benefits for your skin, too. Colloidal oatmeal, a finely ground version of whole oats, dissolves in water to soothe and nourish your skin during a soak.

"Colloidal oatmeal is a powerhouse for dry and itchy skin," says Anna Yasmine Kirkorian, MD, chief of dermatology at Children's National Hospital. "Colloidal oatmeal hydrates the skin by creating an occlusive barrier that keeps the skin from becoming dry. It also contains many helpful plant chemicals that are anti-inflammatory and anti-itch, which is why it works well for itchy conditions such as eczema. There is also data for soothing sunburn because colloidal oatmeal has antioxidant properties."

Oatmeal Is Hydrating

Colloidal oatmeal combines starch and beta-glucan, which allows the oats to hold water. "Colloidal oatmeal attracts water, so it can help hydrate the skin, and it also helps strengthen the skin barrier," says Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University. Considered an emollient, it can soften and add moisture to the skin to prevent dryness and irritation.

Oatmeal Is Anti-Inflammatory

"Oats have been studied to have anti-inflammatory effects for both psoriasis and eczema," says Dr. Saedi. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that colloidal oatmeal is safe to use on inflamed skin, with research dating back to 2003. Thanks to its calming properties, soaking in a colloidal oatmeal bath can help ease itchy, inflamed skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Oatmeal Is Anti-Fungal

Some research has also connected oatmeal with the prevention of fungal growth. "There is evidence that colloidal oatmeal has anti-fungal properties, and also that it's an effective prebiotic helping to feed 'good bacteria' on the skin, which keeps the skin healthy and guards against infection," says Dr. Kirkorian.

How to Make Colloidal Oatmeal

Skip the store-bought oatmeal soaks and make your own—it's easier than you may think. Dr. Saedi says you can use any form of oats to make an oatmeal bath, so long as its final iteration is colloidal oatmeal. "That means that if you use the oatmeal that you eat, you need to grind it to make it into a very fine powder," she says. You can buy pre-made colloidal oats to add to your bath or make your own using the following method.

• Choose a food processor, coffee grinder, or blender to create the fine oats.
• Pour the oats into the processor and pulse until the oats become grainy.
• Oats are ready to pour into a bath when the grain is fine enough to easily dissolve in water.

How to Make Your Own Oatmeal Bath

Making an oatmeal bath is fairly easy and only requires a few simple steps.

• Fill your tub with lukewarm water—water that's too hot can irritate your skin.
• Add about 1 cup of colloidal oats.
• Soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

Don't sit in the bath for too long, however. An oatmeal bath can have the opposite effect and dry out your skin should you delay toweling off, says Dr. Saedi.

Don't overcomplicate the process with other add-ins, says Dr. Kirkorian. "I would discourage additives such as lavender or other essential oils which can cause contact dermatitis," she says. "I personally do not generally recommend bath additives; I think moisturizers after the bath are more useful."