Oatmeal Bath Benefits + Oatmeal Bath Melts Recipe (2024)

If you suffer from eczema, dry skin, or itchy skin, your doctor has probably suggested using a soothing bath treatment with oatmeal.

Oatmeal is a gentle and easy to find product, so it's often the first thing to try to soothe your skin. This oatmeal bath melts recipe is easy to make, and it makes a soothing bath treatment for minor skin conditions.

For more soothing bath treatments for dry or irritated skin, try one of these recipes:

• Chamomile and Calendula Soothing Herbal Bath Bombs
• How to Make Calamine Soap
• How to Make Milk Bath Bombs
• Lavender Milk Bath Recipe
• How to Make Calendula Salve
• Rose Milk Bath Tea
• Homemade Eczema Body Butter
• Calendula and Lavender Fluffy Whipped Soap
• Moisturizing Strawberry Milkshake Bath Bombs
• Moisturizing Bath Powder Recipe
• Dandelion Solid Lotion Bar Recipe
• Calendula Soap Recipe for Dry Skin

There are several oatmeal bath benefits for adults. Oatmeal has been used for centuries for minor skin conditions, and it's generally regarded as safe for external use for the skin.

Oatmeal helps your skin in a few ways, including helping your skin retain moisture and reducing inflammation.

You'll often see colloidal oatmeal in lotions and other products for soothing your skin. Colloidal oatmeal is regular oatmeal that's been finely ground and suspended in a liquid.

Here are some colloidal bath benefits:

• Colloidal oatmeal is a natural anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation when used topically.
• It's high in antioxidants and vitamin E.
• Oatmeal can reduce the release of substances in the body that can cause psoriasis or itching.
• The starch in oatmeal helps trap water to moisturize the skin.
• The natural sugars in oatmeal form a protective barrier on top of the skin to prevent water loss.
• Oatmeal can help the skin maintain a normal pH to promote skin health.
• If you are itchy, oatmeal can reduce your body's histamine response to reduce itching.
• Oatmeal has natural saponins that cleanse the skin.

You'll get the most benefit from using colloidal oatmeal for a soothing bath treatment. Colloidal means a fine particle that's mixed with another substance, usually a liquid, that doesn't settle or separate.

Colloidal oatmeal is simply finely ground oats. You can then mix them with other ingredients to make lotions or creams. In this case, we are making an oatmeal bath melts recipe.

You can buy colloidal oatmeal or make your own. To make your own, start with whole oats, steel cut oats, or old fashioned oats. I don't suggest using quick cooking oats.

Then use a blender or food processor to grind them into a fine powder.

To test them, drop a teaspoon or so into a glass of water. The water should turn into a milky white color.

You can use this soothing bath treatment one to two times a day. Soak for about 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse. Soaking longer may dry out your skin.

There's always a risk of clogging the drain when you take an oatmeal bath for itchy skin. Using colloidal oatmeal that has been ground reduces this risk.

You can also place the oatmeal bath melts in a tea bag and place in the water.

Should I Moisturize After Oatmeal Bath?

If your skin is really dry, you can follow this soothing bath treatment with a gentle moisturizer. I like to use this creamy body butter recipe or this dandelion body butter recipe.

To use these bath melts to get colloidal oatmeal bath benefits, add 1 to 2 to your bath as you are running the water. The butters will melt, releasing the oatmeal.

You can also place the oatmeal bath melts in a tea bag if you are concerned about your pipes.

Then soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse if needed and pat dry. Follow with a moisturizer.

Oatmeal Bath Melts Ingredients

Baking Soda - Baking soda can balance your skin's pH and reduce itching from eczema or dry skin.

Citric Acid - Citric acid gently exfoliates your skin. It also combines with the baking soda to be fizzy.

Shea Butter - Shea butter is high in vitamins A and E to moisturize your skin. It's naturally anti-inflammatory.

Cocoa Butter - Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids to moisturize your skin. It also helps form a protective barrier on top of your skin to lock in moisture.

Oatmeal - You can use colloidal oatmeal or old fashioned oats. Grind them into a fine powder for best results.

Mold - I used this cylinder mold.

Combine the baking soda and citric acid in a small bowl.

Combine the butters in a microwave safe dish or bowl. Heat in 30 second intervals until melted.

Slowly add the melted butters to the dry ingredients while stirring. Pour slowly so you don't make the baking soda and citric acid fizz.

Stir in the oatmeal.

Pour the mixture into the mold. Sprinkle some oats on top for decoration. Let sit until fully hardened. Carefully remove from the mold and store in an airtight container.Use 1 to 2 oatmeal bath melts per bath.