Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Colloidal Oatmeal

Meet the Expert

• Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York.
• Nava Greenfield, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in Brooklyn.

In the name of getting more acquainted with the many ingredients we slather on our skin each day, we reached out to board-certified dermatologists Hadley King, MD, and Nava Greenfield, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Brooklyn for the lowdown on the skincare ingredient. What we discovered? There's more to it than you might think.

Colloidal Oatmeal

Type of ingredient: Skin protectant.

Main benefits: Protect, prevent water loss, and soothe the skin.

Who should use it: In general, colloidal oatmeal can be used by anyone to hydrate and moisturize the skin, but King says it is particularly helpful for those with dry skin and conditions like eczema.

How often can you use it: The recommended use for colloidal oatmeal is twice daily.

Works well with: Colloidal oatmeal can be used in conjunction with ingredients that can be irritating to the skin, such as alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids and retinoids, to help minimize irritation and disruption of the skin barrier.

Don't use with: Colloidal oatmeal works well with most, if not all, other ingredients.

What Is Colloidal Oatmeal?

According to Greenfield, colloidal oatmeal is ground oatmeal, which is then placed in a liquid medium for better application and absorption into the skin. Studies show that colloidal oatmeal can function as a cleanser, moisturizer, skin soother, and protective anti-inflammatory agent. The skin protectant is available in various forms (such as powders, gels, and creams) and is found in bath and shower products, shampoos, cleansers, ointments, and moisturizers.

Benefits of Colloidal Oatmeal for Skin

As described by King, oatmeal is a classic ingredient that is commonly used as a soothing agent to relieve itchy skin and soothe irritation caused by dry skin conditions, but it also has a variety of functions. Discover the many benefits of colloidal oatmeal in skincare below.

• Protects: "One of the most important functions of the skin is to provide a barrier between the body and the environment," Greenfield says. "There are many cases where the skin is not performing this function optimally. Some examples are if there is a genetic predisposition to eczema, or the skin is very dry from weather or washing away its natural emollients and protectants. This is where colloidal oatmeal comes in. The ingredient has shown in clinical studies to help strengthen the skin’s barrier function."
• Prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL): According to Greenfield, colloidal oatmeal works by creating a film on top of the skin's surface. After using colloidal oatmeal in studies, both the amount of water in the skin that was lost and overall skin hydration showed improvement. King adds that colloidal oatmeal contains high concentrations of starches, which contribute to its water-binding properties.
• Soothes irritation: According to King, the cellulose and fiber in colloidal oatmeal give it emollient properties that calm redness and irritation. Greenfield adds that it's great for patients with mild-to-moderate eczema or ichthyosis as well as those with itchy skin and sunburns.
Has anti-inflammatory properties: Thanks to the phenols it contains, colloidal oatmeal also shows antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activity, King says.
• Absorbs UV: Studies show the phenols in the colloidal oatmeal also may help with absorbing UV radiation.
• Cleanses: According to King, colloidal oatmeal contains saponins, which have cleansing properties; she adds that it also has anti-fungal properties, thanks to the avenacins.
Non- irritating: For the most part, colloidal oatmeal is non-irritating and safe for use with all skin types.
• Available over-the-counter: Unlike some super skincare ingredients, colloidal oatmeal products are available in most beauty and drugstores.

Side Effects of Colloidal Oatmeal

According to King, generally, side effects of colloidal oatmeal are uncommon, but burning, stinging, redness, or irritation are possible and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. "Oat allergies are not common but can occur," King says. "This might result in blotchy, irritated, and itchy skin."

Greenfield adds that there is always a possibility that the skin could react poorly to a new exposure, but the source of the reaction could be harder to determine. "Although some of these concerns are valid, be careful to check the ingredients of the product because your skin may actually be reacting to a preservative in the product, which is common, and not the colloidal oatmeal," she says. "So sometimes you need to tease out what part of the product is causing the reaction, and it may not be very obvious."

To test out how your skin might respond to a product, Greenfield recommends conducting a patch test on the inside of your forearm. "Apply a small amount of the product in that location twice daily for five days," she explains. "If no reaction occurs, it's probably a safe bet that the rest of your skin will tolerate it." In general, she suggests avoiding use if you have contact allergies to multiple allergens and recommends switching to a product that is hypoallergenic instead.

How to Use It

As previously mentioned, colloidal oatmeal is used in an assortment of skincare, so the use of it depends on each individual product. One thing to note, however, is that the medium the colloidal oatmeal is placed in will aid in its effectiveness, according to Greenfield. For topical moisturizers, she recommends sticking with thicker, heavier formulas rather than thinner lotions, which have more water content and fewer oils. Greenfield also suggests using it as an additive to your bath to help prevent the water from drying out your skin. And to increase its healing and protective functions, Greenfield suggests combining it with medicinal honey before application.

King generally recommends using a moisturizer containing colloidal oatmeal at least twice per day, including immediately after a bath or shower and before bed. She adds that moisturizers containing colloidal oatmeal can be used as often as you would like, but Greenfield suggests limiting your use to twice daily. "If you need to apply more than twice daily, I would recommend alternating with a different type of emollient," she says.

The Best Products With Colloidal Oatmeal

For those with extremely dry, easily irritated, or sensitive skin, finding products that don't add to that irritation is no easy feat. But this soothing formula doesn't burn or sting and has a seal of acceptance by the National Eczema Association. Greenfield says thanks to the colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and niacinamide, this creamy formula not only feels great on the skin, but it also has measured efficacy.

Moisturizers like lotions and creams are ideal for covering larger areas, but sometimes your dry spots and rough patches creep up on the smaller spots like your hands and feet. In those instances, Greenfield recommends this extra-thick ointment balm for instant relief. Made with a blend of emollient ingredients like safflower and coconut oils and, of course, colloidal oatmeal, this balm can treat even the driest spots.

Aveeno is known for its colloidal oatmeal-based products, like the Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream ($12) and Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($12), which also come highly recommended by King and Greenfield, but it’s the bath powder that really has us sold. Some bath products can strip the skin of its healthy oils and dry it out, but this formula restores moisture as it cleanses and soothes even the most fragile skin—which is why this is one of King’s top picks.

For the rough winter months full of eczema flare-ups and vigorous hand-washing, you'll want to keep this moisturizing and soothing formula close by. Free of steroids and fragrance but packed with colloidal oatmeal and vitamin E, this King-recommended hand cream heals even the roughest palms and the deepest cracked knuckles.

The next time a dry patch pops up on your face, don't stress. Apply this oatmeal and shea butter mask for instant relief. Once you give it a try, you'll understand why it has over 30k loves on Sephora and comes highly recommended by ishonest editors.

Let be honest: most products designed for sensitive skin or dry skin conditions aren't the most aesthetically pleasing. But this beautifully packaged indigo face cream makes applying much-needed moisturizer to an eczema flare-up feel luxurious. Ask any ishonest editor, and they'll rave about the quality of Tatcha's skincare products, and this colloidal oatmeal-based is no different.

Learn more

Colloidal oatmeal can help soothe a range of skin conditions, including dry skin, dermatitis and even bug bites.

No, and many colloidal oatmeal products are readily available at grocery and drugstores. You can also grind whole oats into a fine powder and add it to bath water to reap the benefits.

Those with celiac disease would be wise to try a patch-test of a product or ask a doctor for advice, as some oat products contain gluten and could trigger a rash.

National Eczema Association. Lipikar Eczema Soothing Relief Cream.

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