Why Your Skin Craves Oatmeal

But Do They Have Benefits For Skin As Well?

Oatmeal whisks away dead cells, irritation, and redness, leaving a soft, moist glow behind. While this could be news to you, oatmeal’s long been a staple among skin pros—even ancient ones. Its skin-soothing powers were known as early as 2000 BC, and to this day, the FDA cites it as effective for relieving dryness and inflammation, including insect stings, rashes, and eczema. That’s why finely powdered (“colloidal”) oatmeal is sifted into soothing body soaks, moisturizers, and soaps. (Pulverizing the oats into powder makes it easier to disperse their healing goodness—and in soaks it keeps them from collecting in the bottom of the tub.)

1. Aid In Acne Treatment

Oatmeal can soak up the excess oil on your skin and help treat acne. You just need to boil half a cup of oatmeal in one-third cup of water and allow it to cool. Apply the thick paste on the affected areas on your face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, post which you can rinse with warm water. You can also make this mask with tomatoes or egg whites or onions. This is nothing but an oatmeal face wash that you can prepare right at your home.

An oatmeal scrub can also work well in treating acne. The scrub removes dead skin cells and polishes your skin. It also reduces spots and softens your skin. For the scrub, you need one tablespoon each of finely ground oatmeal, finely ground brown sugar, raw honey, and organic jojoba oil. You can also add a couple of drops each of lavender or geranium essential oil. Stir all the ingredients. Apply a small amount of this scrub on your wet face and massage in small, circular motions. You can leave it on for about 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Pat dry.

An oatmeal soap can help too. You can either purchase a pre-made soap or make your own (melt an unscented bar of soap, mix oatmeal, and allow to cool). The soap acts as a natural exfoliant and absorbs the excess oil without overdrying the skin.

Oatmeal contains zinc that reduces inflammation and kills the acne-causing bacteria. Zinc supplementation might also help reduce acne lesions .

However, certain reports state that oats can aggravate acne. Consult your dermatologist before using oats for treating your condition .

2. Treat Dry And Itchy Skin

Oatmeal, according to a study, exhibits direct antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties – and this can help treat itching associated with dry and irritated skin .

Even an oatmeal bath can help. Sprinkle your bath water with baking soda and uncooked oatmeal. You can also use colloidal oatmeal – which is finely ground oatmeal specifically made for the bathtub. Soak in the bath water for about 15 minutes and then pat yourself dry. Apply moisturizer while your skin is damp .

Oatmeal powder or oat flour can work wonders on your skin too. You can simply blend oats into a powder and then mix it with hot water to form a paste. Apply it on your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with normal water.

And then, we have oat milk too – which is nothing but oatmeal steeped in hot water (that turns into creamy oat milk). You can use this oat milk for the skin.

3. Moisturize Skin

Oats can remove the dead skin cells and act as a natural moisturizer. And the beta-glucan they contain forms a fine film on your skin. It also penetrates deep into the skin and offers the much-needed moisture.

Simply mix 2 cups of oats with 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply on your skin and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

You can also use oat extract for the skin.

4. Lighten Skin

The fact that oats are being used in products like body scrubs, soaps, and exfoliating creams tells us how beneficial they can be. You can use oats facial (a mixture of oat powder and milk) every morning for skin lightening.

5. Treat Poison Ivy Or Chicken Pox

For thousands of years, oatmeal has been used for treating poison ivy and symptoms of chicken pox. For relieving the itchiness caused by poison ivy or chicken pox, pour oat flour onto a cheesecloth. Tie this around the bathtub faucet and periodically squeeze out water for a tepid bath. You can also rub the pouch on the itchy areas of your skin.

6. Act As A Natural Cleanser

Oats contain compounds called saponins that act as natural cleansers and remove the dirt and oil from the pores. And by the way, they don’t cause irritation.

You can prepare oat milk (by soaking oats in water) that acts as a natural cleanser and toner. Apply the milk to your face using a cotton pad after washing your face.

You can also use oat bran bath for cleansing your skin. Place half a cup of rolled oats in a cloth and tie it into a small bag. Place this bag in your bathtub and press until all the milk is out. You can use this on your body and face (instead of soap) for mild scrubbing.

7. Protect The Skin

The proteins in oatmeal maintain the skin’s natural barrier. They even protect your skin from harsh pollutants and chemicals. The lubricating fats in oats aid in UV protection.

Oatmeal & Honey Footsoak at Soma Novo (february special)

Here’s the thing about oatmeal: its grainy little flakes perform super skin exfoliation! Oatmeal removes dead cells and can even get rid of irritation and redness. After a good oatmeal scrub, your skin will be left soft and glowing! Today’s recipe combines salt with baking soda with oatmeal to make an amazing exfoliating scrub that’s perfect for dry, rough, tired hands and feet!

A good way to start the foot exfoliation activity is to soak your feet in warm soapy water for around 10 minutes to soften it, then start scrubbing. So book a foot soak today and enjoy silky smooth skin.