How using oatmeal on your skin has huge benefits

Dry, itchy skin often worsens with harsh cleansers and other products that strip away moisture, so gentle ingredients matter most when you’re shopping for skincare. Colloidal oatmeal is one of the gentlest options available, and dermatologists recommend it for calming irritation and helping skin hold on to moisture.

Dr. Geeta Yadav of Skin Science Dermatology in Toronto and Dr. Anna Chacon of the Cleveland Clinic Florida explain what colloidal oatmeal is, how it helps repair a damaged skin barrier, and who should avoid it. Their advice also includes simple ways to add it to a daily routine, from face wash to a bath soak.

What is colloidal oatmeal?

Colloidal oats are different from the regular oats you’re used to seeing in your breakfast bowl. They’re made by grinding regular oats into a fine powder, then boiling them to extract the gel-like colloidal material, Yadav says. When mixed into skincare formulations, this substance offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to be an effective soother for dry, itchy, irritated skin. You’ll find colloidal oatmeal in everything from facial serums and moisturizers to shampoos and body soaps.

What are the benefits of using colloidal oatmeal?

For one, colloidal oats are praised for their ability to protect the skin barrier. The skin barrier, or epidermis, is the outer layer of skin that serves as the skin’s first line of defense against the harmful effects of pollution, UV exposure, and moisture-stripping cleansers. Your skin’s moisture barrier doesn’t just keep the bad stuff out; it also keeps the good stuff in, like moisture.

When the skin barrier is damaged, skin can appear rough and flaky, and it’s more vulnerable to inflammatory skin conditions, hyperpigmentation, or an overall dehydrated, dull complexion. Colloidal oatmeal, however, is “naturally rich in protective antioxidants and soothing beta-glucans,” Yadav says, and it offers moisturizing, anti-irritation benefits that repair existing damage to the moisture barrier and protect against future damage.

Colloidal oats are also effective at preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which occurs when water passes through the surface layer of the skin and evaporates into the external environment. This can happen when the skin’s moisture barrier is damaged, either by environmental factors such as low humidity or by using harsh topical skincare products that dry out the skin. Colloidal oatmeal binds to the skin to form a protective barrier, which “helps prevent transepidermal water loss and seals moisture in,” Yadav says. Studies have found that using a colloidal oatmeal lotion improved skin hydration and skin barrier function in subjects with moderately to severely dry skin.

Finally, if you’re dealing with an inflammatory skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, colloidal oats can be a game-changer. “Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema are often equipped with dryness, an impaired skin barrier, frequent bouts of itching, and scratches that predispose the skin to infections or worsening of the skin condition,” Chacon says. “Colloidal oatmeal restores hydration and nourishment to these areas, and reduces the risk of these complications reoccurring.”

Bottom line: Colloidal oats soothe, moisturize, and protect your skin all at once.

How can you use colloidal oats in your routine?

Though the ingredient is suitable for all skin types, colloidal oatmeal is most beneficial for those with dry, damaged skin as well as those prone to eczema and psoriasis. If this describes you, opt for a thick colloidal oat moisturizer, which is more hydrating than thinner lotions with a higher water content. You can also add store-bought colloidal oats directly to your bath for gentle, soothing relief from dry, itchy skin. Use about one cup for a full tub, and keep the water from getting too hot, since heat can parch sensitive skin.

Who shouldn’t use colloidal oatmeal?

As a gentle ingredient, it’s tolerated well by most. But if you have an oat allergy, you should avoid colloidal oatmeal in your skincare routine. “An oat allergy can show up as redness, stinging, tingling, and irritation of the skin,” Chacon says. “In cases of contact dermatitis, you may see scaling, which indicates that the skin is not reacting well to the allergen.” Delayed symptoms of an oat sensitivity can show up 48 to 72 hours after exposure and look like a poison ivy reaction, with an itchy, red, linear rash, Yadav adds.

Products with colloidal oats to try

For face wash: IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser

That squeaky-clean feeling you get after washing your face? It often means your skin is dried out, which is a nightmare for those with a damaged skin barrier. Try this cleanser from IT Cosmetics, which highlights colloidal oatmeal, hyaluronic acid, and collagen as its hero ingredients. The sulfate-free formula rids the day’s dirt, oil, and impurities without stripping your skin.

For body wash: Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream Body Wash

If you have eczema, Chacon recommends avoiding alcohol-based foaming washes because they can strip the skin of moisture and leave you feeling even more irritated. Instead, opt for a creamy alternative like this one from Eucerin. Its formula supports skin protection and hydration by pairing ceramides, the lipids found in a healthy skin barrier, with 2% colloidal oatmeal (many products use only 1%).

For a bath soak: Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment

Give your bath an upgrade by adding natural colloidal oatmeal to the water. This treatment from Aveeno is entirely oats, with no additives or fragrances, and leaves skin soothed and protected. Each box comes with eight single-use powder packets that you can sprinkle into a warm (not hot) bath. Reviewers say that after soaking for 15 to 30 minutes, their skin felt moisturized, renewed, and calm.

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