| Oats have long been used for skin care treatment. | | | | lukewarm bath should be drawn. It should not be hot |
| The Egyptians and the Arabians used them as a skin | | | | because hot water will irritate the skin further and the |
| beauty treatment as early as 2000 BC. The ancient | | | | water will absorb moisture from the skin instead of |
| Romans and Greeks also used oat baths to heal skin | | | | lubricating it. |
| problems. | | | | After the water is at the correct temperature, several |
| Oats are great for treating skin because, when | | | | cups of oatmeal should be added to the bath as it fills. |
| colloidal oatmeal covers the skin, it actually binds to the | | | | Once the tub is full, soak in the water for 10 minutes. |
| skin. This binding helps it moisturize and soften the skin, | | | | Afterward, pat the skin dry. Do not rub it, as this will |
| as well as help protect it. This is because the water is | | | | also irritate the skin and can potentially cause the itchy |
| attracted to the skin and held there by the colloidal | | | | area to be torn open. This process might need to be |
| oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is also beneficial because of | | | | repeated several times, perhaps even three times per |
| its natural ingredients, which include cellulose and fiber. | | | | day, if the itching is severe. |
| All of these characteristics combined also are why | | | | When getting out of the bath after colloidal oatmeal |
| colloidal oatmeal is able to make the skin softer and | | | | soaking, it is important to be cautious. The skin can |
| more elastic. | | | | become very slippery from this type of bath, making it |
| Conditions that respond well to a colloidal oatmeal | | | | easy to slip on the side of the tub or on the floor after |
| treatment include eczema, chickenpox, shingles, sores, | | | | getting out of the tub. In addition, using a colloidal |
| sunburn and insect bites. Other skin irritations, such as | | | | oatmeal bath to relieve itching can sometimes leave a |
| that created by poison ivy, can also be relieved with a | | | | sticky feeling on the skin afterward. If this happens, the |
| colloidal oatmeal bath. | | | | skin can be rinsed with a few cups of fresh warm |
| Colloidal oatmeal can be made at home using regular | | | | water. |
| oatmeal. To do this, oatmeal purchased from the | | | | When taking a bath with colloidal oatmeal, it is |
| grocery story should be placed in a food processor, | | | | important to make sure it does not get into the eyes. |
| coffee grinder, or blender. Using one of these kitchen | | | | This can cause irritation. Also, if the itchy area is highly |
| appliances, the oatmeal can be ground finely into | | | | inflamed, it is best to avoid taking a colloidal oatmeal |
| colloidal oatmeal. This process can be somewhat | | | | bath. |
| tricky, though, because ground oatmeal that is too | | | | Colloidal oatmeal is a highly beneficial natural treatment |
| coarse will sink to the bottom of the bathtub rather | | | | that can work wonders toward stopping itching and |
| than act as a colloid. | | | | irritation from a wide variety of skin problems and |
| Regardless of if the colloidal oatmeal is homemade or | | | | irritants. |
| store bought, directions for its use are the same. A | | | | |