Can I Use Oat Flour for an Oatmeal Bath?

How it Works

• A study published by E.S. Kurtz and W. Wallow in the February 2007 "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology" points to the many health benefits of colloidal oatmeal on the skin due to the oat's high concentration of starches and beta-glucan, which hold water. The oat phenols work as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and ultraviolet absorbers. Saponins in the oats aid in cleansing. The cellulose and fiber in the oats have skin-softening properties. Treatments with colloidal oatmeal support healthy skin and help heal skin suffering from inflammatory damage.

Benefits and Usage

• Finely-ground oatmeal for use, as a skin-soothing agent, dates back to around 2000 B.C., according to Whole Health MD. Oatmeal flour is used in bath, medical and beauty treatments as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-itch, protectant, cleanser, buffer and moisturizer. Oatmeal has a variety of uses, including applications for poison ivy, itchy blisters, eczema, basic itchiness, dryness, oiliness and contact dermatitis. It is also used to treat symptoms associated with chicken pox, liver disorders, osteoarthritis and chronic foot problems.

How to Use in the Bath

• Add several cups of oat flour to a lukewarm bath. Gently stir the water to distribute the oat flour throughout the bath. The water will turn milky. Soak for 10 minutes and be aware that the oatmeal will make the tub very slippery. Pat the skin dry once out of the tub. The treatment may be repeated, as needed, up to three times a day, according to Whole Health MD.

Making Oat Flour

• Make your own colloidal oatmeal, or oat flour, at home with store-bought oatmeal. Grind it in a blender, coffee grinder, food processor or flour mill until the oatmeal reaches a very fine texture. You can test the colloidal properties of the oat flour by mixing a tablespoon into a glass of warm water. The water should turn milky. If the oat flour is too coarse, the oat particles will simply sink to the bottom of the glass.