How to Make Your Own Colloidal Oatmeal and Run an Oatmeal Bath

Co-authored by Lydia Shedlofsky, DO and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: December 25, 2023 Fact Checked

If you're trying to soothe itchy or dry skin, an oatmeal bath is a must! Colloidal oatmeal is simply finely-ground oats, and the baths are generally gentle and safe for everyone (including children and babies). In this article, we'll show you how to soothe itchy skin by making your own colloidal oatmeal, and give you tips for enjoying a therapeutic oatmeal bath.

Things You Should Know

Grind plain oats in a blender or food processor to create your own colloidal oatmeal.
Add 1 cup (129 g) of colloidal oatmeal to a lukewarm bath and soak in it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Take an oatmeal bath to relieve dry itchy skin and manage symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy, sunburn, or diaper rash.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Your Own Colloidal Oatmeal

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Grind plain dry oats into a fine powder. Place at least 1 1/2 cups (135 g) of plain rolled oats into a blender or food processor. Then, blend the oats until they turn into a powder (with a consistency similar to flour). If you have a high-speed blender, this takes less than a minute.^{[1]
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- You can use quick oats, steel-cut oats, or thick-cut oats, too—just avoid instant flavored oatmeal.
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Stir 1 tbsp (15 g) of the oats in a bowl of water to test if it's fine enough. You don't want to accidentally clog your bathtub with oats! To tell if your colloidal oatmeal is ready, stir 1 tablespoon (15 g) into a bowl of warm water to see if the water turns a uniform, milky color—a sure sign that you're ready to soak.^{[2]
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- If the water doesn't turn milky and the oat solids settle on the bottom of the bowl, grind the batch of oats finer before you make your oatmeal bath.
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Put 1 cup (237 g) of the oats into a filter if you want to minimize the mess. Although it's completely fine to pour the colloidal oatmeal directly into your bathtub, put it into a filter if you weren't able to grind the oats into a fine powder. Pour the ground oats into a pair of pantyhose, a muslin bag, or a cloth cold brew coffee filter, and tie it shut with a rubber band. This prevents it from clogging your drain.^{[3]
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- The filter acts like a teabag, so the bathwater infuses with the nourishing compounds from the oats.
- If you enjoy taking regular oatmeal baths, prep several bags of colloidal oatmeal so they're ready at a moment's notice!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Taking an Oatmeal Bath

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Run a lukewarm bath and add 1 cup (129 g) of colloidal oatmeal.^{[4]
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Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 3 May 2021.} It's really important to use lukewarm, not hot, water because water that's too hot will make your dry skin feel even itchier. If you accidentally made the bath water too hot, wait until it cools down before you get in.
- If you put the colloidal oatmeal into a filter, just toss it directly into the bath water.
- If you don't feel like making your own colloidal oatmeal, buy a colloidal bath product like Aveeno soothing bath treatment.^{[5]
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Run your hand through the bath water until the oatmeal powder is completely dissolved. The water will begin to take on a milky appearance. This is a good thing! It means that the oatmeal is evenly distributed throughout and you're ready to get in and soak.
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Soak in the oatmeal bath for 10 to 15 minutes. Relax and soak until the water has cooled to room temperature.^{[6]
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Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 3 May 2021.} Don't soak for more than 15 to 20 minutes or you may actually dry out your skin. Be careful getting in and out of the tub because the colloidal oatmeal makes the bathtub extra slippery.
- After you're done bathing, clean the tub to remove the slippery residue.
- Skip the soap—you want your skin to absorb the oatmeal's nutrients. Plus, soap will strip your skin of its natural oils and make it feel drier.
- If you don't have a bathtub or just want to spot treat your skin, prepare a bowl full of oatmeal bath solution and dip a soft sponge into it. Sponge the solution onto your skin and let it air dry.
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Get out of the tub and pat your skin mostly dry with a soft cloth. There's no need to rinse off when you get out—you want to keep the moisturizing components of the colloidal oatmeal on your skin. Pat your skin until it just feels damp so you don't remove all of the moisture.^{[7]
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- Be gentle with your skin and don't scrub it dry with the towel.
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Apply moisturizer or lotion to your skin. Rub lotion or hydrating cream onto your skin within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath to lock in the moisture. If you've got very dry skin or are treating eczema or psoriasis, use oils or heavy ointment-based moisturizers since these stay on your skin longer than standard lotions do.^{[8]
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- You can take more than 1 oatmeal bath a day, especially if you're treating a condition like chicken pox.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Treating Skin Conditions with Oatmeal Baths

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Relieve irritation from skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. The compounds in oats reduce inflammation that can make redness, itchiness, and rashes worse. Plus, the colloidal oatmeal improves your skin barrier so it's less likely to dry out or become irritated.^{[9]
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- While oatmeal baths can give your skin much-needed relief, it's still important to talk to your dermatologist about treating eczema or managing psoriasis.
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Treat infants with diaper rash. A gentle oatmeal bath or two will get rid of the redness and irritation of diaper rash in babies. Simply pour a small amount of finely blended oatmeal into a lukewarm bath (about half as much as you would use for an adult) and let your baby soak for about 10 minutes. The oatmeal-infused water works much better than regular soaps and powders for clearing up diaper rash and can be safely repeated as often as you like.^{[10]
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- Allow the irritated skin to dry completely and rub on a little diaper cream on the skin before putting on a fresh diaper.
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Soothe redness and irritation from any kind of itchy rash or sunburn. For mild sunburns, an accidental encounter with poison ivy or oak, or insect bites, an oatmeal bath can work wonders! The colloidal oatmeal acts as a moisturizing barrier that temporarily relieves itchiness and redness, especially from chickenpox, hives, or shingles.^{[11]
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- When you get out of the bath, apply aloe vera to a sunburn for a soothing, cooling sensation.
- Get medical attention if you have a severe sunburn because it can become infected.
DIY bath soothed my inflamed skin. "Battling a shingles outbreak, my doc suggested an oatmeal soak to relieve irritation. Lacking pre-made products, this taught me how to safely grind and filter my own soothing bath using pantry items. My skin thanked me for the TLC!" - Ayomide I.

A soothing remedy for my girl's chicken pox. "When my little girl got chicken pox, an oatmeal bath offered comfort I knew she'd accept more than medicine. I appreciated learning I could just use raw oats, saving me a trip to the store when she felt miserable." - Suzanne H.

Relief for my son's massive mosquito bites. "My 1-year-old was covered head-to-toe in huge, angry mosquito bites. Adding oatmeal to his nightly bath soothed the intense itching so he could sleep. The simple method gave him relief when he needed it most." - Penny B.

Effective and affordable poison ivy relief. "Covered in poison ivy rashes after gardening, I wanted to soothe the nonstop itching without spending a ton. An oatmeal soak made from common kitchen items brought cooling relief to inflamed skin on the cheap." - Julia B.

Demystified a home remedy I'd heard about. "Always hearing oatmeal baths can treat skin woes, I wondered about the specifics. This broke down the full process from proper grinding to ideal soaking times. Now I get this classic home remedy enough to try it myself!" - Loren D.

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Prevent dry skin by taking oatmeal baths. Even people who don’t suffer from irritating dermatological conditions can benefit from regular oatmeal baths. Extracts from colloidal oatmeal have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can improve your skin barrier.^{[12]
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- Make an oatmeal bath part of your weekly pampering session and enjoy a spa day at home!

Expert Q&A

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Question

How long should I soak in an oatmeal bath?

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist
Dr. Lydia Shedlofsky is a Resident Dermatologist who joined Affiliated Dermatology in July of 2019 after completing a traditional rotating internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, and worked as a research assistant and intern at a free clinic. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate program and subsequently earned a Master's Degree in Medical Education and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO

Dermatologist

Expert Answer

You only need to soak for around 15 minutes before rinsing and drying yourself off.

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Will it work for pityriasis rosea?

Community Answer

Depending on the seriousness of the condition, yes. Many people have had good results treating pityriasis rosea rashes at home with oatmeal baths.

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Does an oatmeal bath help psoriasis?

Community Answer

It couldn't hurt to try; some people swear by it. Reducing exposure to triggers will help. For example, mine flares up because of certain foods, too much stress and certain laundry detergents -- so I avoid those things.

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Tips

Oatmeal baths are mild enough to be used as often as you like, and they may improve your skin barrier so your skin doesn't feel as dry.

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If you can't find colloidal oatmeal bath products at your local store, check at the pharmacy.

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Oatmeal baths are generally safe and mild, but if you experience a rash after getting out of the bath, stop taking them—you might be experiencing contact dermatitis.

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