Oatmeal Bath Recipes & Benefits

When one thinks of oatmeal the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘breakfast’. It is worth mentioning that oatmeal is not only a healthy diet option but also can be used as various homemade beauty products. The presence of soluble fibres, beta-glucans, Vitamin E, essential fatty acids, proteins and polysaccharides is what makes it a superfood. Oatmeal baths benefit one’s health immensely. Apart from that,  it nourishes skin tissue and benefits the hair as well.

What is an Oatmeal Bath?

The oatmeal used in oatmeal baths is not edible. The scientific name of the oatmeal used for this bath is Avena sativa L, in normal day-to-day terms it is called colloidal oatmeal/rolled oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeals are nothing but oats that have been ground in the form of a powder. 

10 Oatmeal Bath recipes

Oatmeal can be used for baths in two basics ways: 

1. The powdered oatmeal can be directly poured into your bathtub.
2. You may also make an oatmeal bag (similar to a teabag). In order to make it, you may use a muslin cloth or any pantyhose and fill it with some colloidal oatmeal. You may add other desired elements or essential oil to this bag as per your wish. Afterwards, tie this cloth tightly so that it acts as a teabag when placed in the lukewarm water bath.

 Below are 10 ways you can prepare and enhance your oatmeal bath for effective results;

• Oatmeal bath with Colloidal Oatmeal

Items Required: 

• Bag of ground colloidal oatmeal (if not available use the commercial rolled oatmeal)

Directions:

1. Prepare yourself a lukewarm bathtub.
2. Add 1-2 cups of powdered colloidal oatmeal to this warm water bath.
3. Thoroughly mix the oatmeal in water. You know it’s done when the bathwater will turn milky in texture.
4. Place yourself carefully in the bathtub, making sure you don’t slip.
5. Soak in it for about 30-40 minutes depending on the severity of the skin infection.

• Oatmeal bath with Commercial Oatmeal

1. If you do not have colloidal oatmeal you can use regular oatmeal as well.
2. Take 1-2 cups of rolled oatmeal and blend it properly into a powdered form.
3. To check if it’s blended properly, test the ground oatmeal by putting it in some lukewarm water. If the water becomes milky, that is when you know it’s done.
4. Afterwards, add this ground oatmeal to your warm water bath.
5. Soak in the bathtub for around 30-40 minutes.

• Basic Oatmeal Bath for Children

1. For a children’s oatmeal bath use half as much oatmeal as you would for an adults bath. (Preferably ½ cup)
2. Mix the warm water and oatmeal properly so as to obtain a whitish and milky texture.
3. Immerse your baby carefully into this warm water oatmeal bath.

• Oatmeal and Lavender Oil Bath

Lavender is great when it comes to the skin and hair. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help cure a wide range of skin diseases and conditions. It is great for the hair as well, it retains moisture in the hair, helps cure an itchy scalp problem and makes hair stronger and etc.

Items Required:

• 1-2 cups Colloidal Oatmeal
• 5-10 drops of Lavender oil
• Lavender Buds (if available)

Directions:

1. Prepare a lukewarm water bath.
2. Add 1-2 cups of colloidal oatmeal, you may also grind it yourself as mentioned above. (Make sure you check it is ground properly)
3. Add 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil to your bathtub, if you have lavender buds you may add that as well.
4. Soak in this bath for 30 minutes.

• Oatmeal and Milk Bath

Items Required:

• 1-2 cups of colloidal/rolled oatmeal
• 1-2 cups of milk

Directions:

1. Fill your bathtub with warm water make sure it is not too hot.
2. Add 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal to your bathtub along with 2 cups of milk.
3. Mix the oatmeal and milk in your bathtub properly so it is evenly distributed.
4. Immerse yourself in the tub carefully as it may be slippery and soak in it for 20-30 minutes

• Oatmeal and Baking Soda bath

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate maintains pH in the skin, alleviating it from rashes and any sort of irritation. Due to its alkaline nature, it helps retain moisture in hair and scalp. Moisture retention makes the hair healthier, stronger and shinier

Items Required:

• 1-2 cups of colloidal or rolled oatmeal
• ½ cup Baking Soda

Directions:

1. Add 1-2 cups of powdered oatmeal to your warm water bath.
2. Also, mix ½ cup of baking soda into this bath.
3. Mix the water in gently with your hands until a milky texture is obtained.
4. Soak in the bath for about 20-30 minutes.

• Oatmeal and Almond Meal Bath

Items Required: 

• 1 cup rolled oatmeal/colloidal oatmeal
• 1 cup ground almonds

Directions:

1. Prepare a warm water bath.
2. Add 1 cup colloidal oatmeal.
3. Take 1-2 cups of almonds and blend it so it has a fine powder consistency.
4. Mix this ground almond powder into the oatmeal bath as well.
5. Make sure no almond or oatmeal residues settle at the bottom of the tub.
6. Carefully get in the bathtub and soak in it for 20-30 minutes

• Oatmeal and Salt Bath

Items Required:

• 1-2 cups of colloidal oatmeal
• ½-1 cup of normal salt/Epsom salt/sea salt

Directions:

1. Fill your bathtub with some lukewarm water.
2. Add 1 cup of oatmeal to the bathwater.
3. Add ½ -1 cup of salt to the bathwater as well. You may also add Epsom salt to the tub instead (if available).
4. Soak in the bathtub for 20-30 minutes.

• Oatmeal, Neem Leaves and Baking Soda Bath

Items Required:

• 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal
• Neem leaves
• ¼ -½ cup baking soda

Directions:

1. Add 1 cup of ground oatmeal to the warm water bath.
2. Afterwards, add ½ – ¼ cup baking soda and neem leaves to the bathtub.
3. Let the neem leaves soak in the bathtub for 10-15 minutes until the bathtub seems slightly green.
4. Immerse yourself in the bathtub carefully and soak in it for 30-40 minutes.

• Oatmeal, Rose Petals and Rose Essential Oil Bath

Items Required:

• 1 cup oatmeal
• ¼ dried rose petals
• 5-10 drops essential rose oil

Directions:

1. Pick some rose petals and allow it to dry until it becomes crisp.
2. Mix the dried rose petals with the oatmeal and put it in a blender so as to obtain a powdery form. 
3. Add 1-2 cups of ground rose petal and oatmeal powder to your warm water bathtub.
4. Afterwards, add 5-10 drops of rose essential oil to this bath as well.
5. Mix the bathtub gently with your hands so it mixes out properly. 
6. Soak in the bathtub for about 30 minutes.

• Oatmeal and Tea Tree Oil Bath

Items Required:

• 1-2 cups of oatmeal (colloidal)
• 5-10 drops tea tree oil

Directions:

1. Add 1 cup of ground rolled oatmeals or colloidal oatmeal to your warm water bath.
2. Add 5-10 cups of tea tree oil to this tub.
3. Mix everything carefully and thoroughly until you get a milky/whitish texture. 
4. Soak in the bathtub for 30-40 minutes. 

•  Homemade Oatmeal Bath with various Essential oils

Items Required:

• 1 cup of whole oatmeal flakes
• 5 tablespoons Extra virgin Olive oil
• 5 drops Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops Grape seed oil
• 5 drops vitamin E oil
• Muslin cloth or pantyhose

Directions:

1. Instead of using colloidal oatmeal, we use whole oatmeal flakes for this bath recipe.
2. Mix all the mentioned essential oils together properly.
3. Add this mixture of oil to the whole oatmeal flakes and making it into an evened out mixture.
4. Draw a warm water bath.
5. Put the mixture of essential oils and oatmeals into some muslin cloth/bag or a pantyhose (whichever is available). Tie the cloth tightly so that the oatmeal flakes don’t fall into the bathtub.
6. Swirl the muslin bag in the bathtub for a while so that everything comes together. Leave this bag in the tub itself.
7. Soak in the bathtub for 15-20 minutes. (You may also rub this muslin cloth over your skin and scalp gently.)

Benefits of an Oatmeal Bath

As mentioned above, the benefits of oatmeal are not only confined to diet, but it also improves a person’s health. It can be used in an array of homemade beauty treatment recipes, not only for the skin but also for the hair. 

Below are a few benefits derived from an oatmeal bath:

• Oatmeal Baths and Skin Benefits

1. Skin Rash/ Irritation: Oatmeal baths are highly recommended if you want to ease the itching sensations. It is the perfect home remedy for curing rashes and irritated skin. It alleviates the skin from any burning sensation providing instant relief. 
2. Skin Moisturizer: It is a great skin moisturizer as exfoliates your skin completely. Oatmeal baths are just the remedy for dry and flaky skin. The presence of beta-glucans in oatmeal is what does the trick. It helps by forming a defensive layer around the skin which in turn aids in moisture retention. 
3. Treats dermatological various conditions: It can be used to treat a wide range of skin conditions as it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. For thousands of years it has been used to cure skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and chickenpox (Given you take an oatmeal bath at least 2-3 times a week). 
4. Poison Ivy treatment: Oatmeal baths are also recommended if in case of poison ivy infections due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties.
5. Soothes Diaper Rashes: Oatmeal baths are great in case of diaper rashes in babies apart from that they will also help retain moisture and smoothness in your baby’s skin. (Use the homemade oatmeal bath for babies as mentioned above.)
6. Natural exfoliator: The presence of saponins in oats makes it an effective skin cleanser, which cleans skin pores from deep within, removing any dirt and impurities.
7. Cures mild sunburns: Oatmeals also help in cases of mild sunburns. It fastens the healing process and reduces the pain. In case of a severe sunburn please consult a physician.

• Oatmeal Bath and Hair Benefits

1. Promotes Hair Growth: The presence of various minerals such as potassium, iron, magnesium and etc. prevent any sort of hair loss, promoting further growth of hair.
2. Takes care of Dandruff:  Since oatmeals are natural moisturizers, with the various oatmeal baths mentioned above you can make your hair dandruff-free.
3. Scalp Nourishment:  Colloidal oats or rolled oats have a very high protein content, as well as the presence of polysaccharides and beta-glucans, helps cure an itchy scalp as well nourishes the scalp, which in turn strengthens hair follicles.
4. Cleanses the scalp fully, removing any dust, air pollutants and accumulated sebum.

Precautions

• If you have any open cuts or wounds make sure you consult a doctor before hopping into an oatmeal bath.
• Oatmeal makes the bathtub quite slippery so make sure no oatmeal flakes sink to the bottom of the tub. 
• Make sure the water is not too hot, especially if you’re preparing an oatmeal bath for babies, as it may further irritate the skin. 
• If you are using a muslin bag or pantyhose do not put it directly in hard running water, as it may open. Instead, gently swirl it in the warm water tub and leave it afterwards as it will start floating.
• Remember that oatmeal baths do not treat severe skin conditions and therefore always make sure you consult a medical professional first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1)  Should you rinse yourself after an oatmeal bath?

After soaking in an oatmeal bath it is necessary to rinse your body carefully with only water.

Q2) Is it necessary to have a bathtub?

No, you can fill a large bowl with some lukewarm water and add colloidal oatmeal to it. Afterwards, take a clean piece of cotton cloth towel and dip it in the oatmeal water. Apply this soaked cloth to the infected area

Q3) In dermatological conditions such as eczema and chickenpox for how long should you take oatmeal baths?

You may take an oatmeal bath twice to thrice a week depending on the severity of the conditions. On average you should take an oatmeal bath for one month. (approx. 4 weeks)

Q4) Will an oatmeal bath cure a diaper rash completely?

Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It will help soothe the pain and burning sensations caused due to the rash. It is great for babies but remembers it does not 100% cure the rash condition and therefore, consult a paediatrician. 

Q5) Can use Oatmeal Baths during pregnancy?

Oatmeals baths help alleviate itchiness and burning sensations especially when it comes to the belly of a pregnant woman. Make sure you do not use any essential oil mixed oatmeal bath as it may complicate the pregnancy. Remember to always take advice from a gynaecologist and dermatologist in delicate situations like pregnancy.