With Special Instructions for Bathing Infants
Taking an oatmeal bath for arashcan help soothe and moisturize your skin.
Oatmeal has proven anti-inflammatory and moisturizing qualities that can help relieve various skin problems, including rashes.
However, there are certain instances in which you should avoid an oatmeal bath for a rash.
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Treatments with this grain have been documented as far back as 2000 B.C.
as a way to soothe and restore irritated skin.
It can have various triggers and symptoms, including itching, pain, or stinging.
One condition for which you should avoid an oatmeal bath isheat rash.
Heat, sweat, and other extreme temperatures often trigger these rashes.
A warm bathwhether it contains oatmeal or notcould worsen your symptoms.
Fill a sock with standard rolled oats and place it in the water as the tub fills.
Your bath water will turn a milky-white color as the oats' benefits are released into the water.
You may get more than one use from a single oat-filled sock.
These forms are processed differently but offer similar benefits.
Tomake your own oatmeal bath, you only need oats and water.
A food processor can help grind the oats into a fine powder, which may make cleanup easier.
Below is a checklist for preparing and enjoying your oatmeal bath.
Does the key in of Oats Matter?
Other than avoiding precooked or instant oats, there aren’t many restrictions on oatmeal bath ingredients.
Ready-to-use colloidal oats were introduced in the 1940s.
How Long to Soak
It doesn’t take long for an oatmeal bath to offer relief.
A five- to 15-minute soak once (or more) daily can help.
The section below covers some dos and don’ts when selecting commercial oat-based skin products.
The amount and throw in of oatmeal can vary between brands and products.
There isn’t much data to support specific concentrations of oats over others.
Ingredients to Avoid
Skin care productseven those containing oatmealcan also contain irritants orallergens.
This “soak and seal” strategy helps to seal the soothing and moisturizing properties of the oatmeal.
Summary
Oatmeal baths are an effective and accessible treatment for rashes.
October 2020;19(10).
American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology.Rashes.
Pediatric Health internet/Children’s National.Bleach baths, oatmeal baths, and wet wraps for eczema.July 2021.
2020;13:241-251. doi:10.2147/CCID.S246021
National Eczema Association.Eczema and bathing.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Allergens in cosmetics.
February 25, 2022.
