If you have not discovered the benefits of an Oatmeal Bath Soak when you, or one of your family have itchy skin, you are really missing a trick. Oats have been used since time immemorial for soothing and itchy skin. Oats even soothe burns and promote skin healing.
It’s super simple, and it's easy to adapt recipes to make them even better, so let me show you how to make an oatmeal bath soak.
What Is Oatmeal Bath Soak?
But basically, it is just oats in your bath to soothe the skin. They contain natural chemicals that protect the skin as well as ones that soap up, making oatmeal baths great for washing, and nurturing the skin.
There are two ways to prepare them. Further down the post, I give you tried and tested recipes but as a quick overview…
A dry mix oatmeal bath soak consists of dry ingredients that you would store in a jar and simply scoop into your bath. Since ingredients are dry they last longer, up to 3 months. However, you need a specialist ingredient to be able to add essential oils into the dry mix, and this ingredient is not always natural. We’ll get into that a bit more later.
Conversely, if you make a wet mix oatmeal bath soak you can coat the oats in a therapeutic carrier and essential oils to make it even more soothing. But, wet mixes don’t last more than about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
The Many Benefits Of Oatmeal Baths
Depending on what you need it for, there can be a great many benefits to making your own soothing Oatmeal Bath Soak.
Oats possess both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to soothe and calm the skin by reducing inflammation and promoting healing. Research from Pazyar (2012) ‘suggests that oatmeal possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is effective on a variety of dermatologic inflammatory diseases such as pruritus, atopic dermatitis, and acneiform eruptions’. Cerio (2010) agreed that ‘Topical formulations of natural colloidal oatmeal should be considered an important component of therapy for atopic dermatitis and other conditions and may allow for reduced use of corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors’.
They are saying that using oats topically may reduce the need for topical pharmaceuticals, especially for atopic dermatitis. Amazing.
What is Colloidal Oatmeal and what's the difference between that and Oats?
The term ‘Colloidal’ refers to a mixture, it can be two or more substances. One substance ends up suspended in the other in the form of tiny floating particles. You may have heard of Colloidal Silver, where silver is suspended in Distilled Water.
Colloidal Oatmeal was first produced in 1945. The whole oat grain husk and all are ground to create a fine powder. The powder is then boiled to extract the colloidal material.
You can buy Colloidal as a powder to add to your Oatmeal Bath Soak where it will completely dissolves into the water. You can also buy lotions with Colloidal Oatmeal already suspended in it.
The protective elements colloidal oatmeal offers are due to high concentrations of beta-glucan and starches. These make oats better at holding water and contribute to better skin protection.
Colloidal Oatmeal offers exciting clinical properties because it can crystallize and change into more than one form. (A little like Carbon polymorphs into both Graphite and Diamond) This usually happens because of pressure and temperature changes.
Scientific research focuses on establishing the best effects that can be achieved using colloidal oatmeal.
Kurtz in 2007 explained, ‘The presence of different types of phenols confers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The cleansing activity of oats is mostly due to saponins. Its many functional properties make colloidal oatmeal a cleanser, moisturizer, and buffer, as well as a soothing and protective anti-inflammatory agent’.
A later study by Reynertson (2015), concluded using a Colloidal Oat skin lotion provided benefits to the skin. ‘Colloidal oat extracts exhibit direct anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which may provide the mechanisms for observed dermatological benefits while using the colloidal oatmeal skin protectant lotion’.
Colloidal Oatmeal is found in many commercial preparations for dry and itchy skin. AVEENO® is a popular choice for people across the world But you don’t need to spend lots of money on colloidal otis. If all you have to hand for an oatmeal bath is a handful of Oats, that’ll do nicely, thank you very much!
Eczema, Psoriasis, and Atopic Dermatitis
Just like the microbiome in your gut, your skin has its own microbiome. We are only just beginning to understand how imbalances can cause skin conditions. Breaks in the skin’s protective layer can lead to infections and eventually cause issues with immunity.
Colloidal Oatmeal improves microbiome composition and helps to protect our skin’s barrier function. Research from Capone (2020) concluded, ‘Overall, the results demonstrate that topical products can have differing effects on the skin barrier properties and the microbiome. Importantly, we show that the use of a 1% colloidal oat eczema cream improves microbiome composition and significantly repairs skin barrier defects’.
My recent articles on Sensitive Skin, Combination Skin, and Itchy Skin talk about the importance of the skin’s barrier function in addressing these skin conditions.
Oatmeal Bath For Skin Infections and Conditions
Chicken Pox
The strong anti-inflammatory qualities of oats and the way they soothe itchy skin by leaving a protective film on the skin can be very useful. Especially, when everything itches.
There must be something in using Oatmeal Bath Soaks for Chickenpox because even the CDC is advocating it.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand foot and mouth seem to be careering their way through kindergartens and day care at the moment. It’s perhaps unsurprisingly then, that so many people are searching for recipes for Oatmeal Baths for Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. And yes you can and should use Oatmeal Baths for babies who have rashes, irritated skin, hand foot and mouth, or chicken pox.
Make your own Hand, Foot, and Mouth oatmeal bath using soothing essential oils like German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, and Lavender.
If you want to know ‘Does Oatmeal Bath Help Hand Foot and Mouth’? Try it for yourself and find out! You’ll be so pleased that you did. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of colloidal oatmeal reduce itching and inflammation without breaking the blisters which could scarring.
Sunburn
Some of our wonderful customers are asking ‘Does oatmeal bath help sunburn’? Well yes,
Guerra (2023) suggests treating sunburn by using Colloidal Oatmeal Baths and Calamine Lotion. Calamine Lotion is effectively Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxide. We can buy both of these in powder form as well as a Calamine mix, which allows us to add these to our Oatmeal Bath Soak, should we need to.
Do your own research about how much to use though please, but I did find this video for a Calamine Lotion from Organic Kreaations that may prove useful to you.
Oatmeal Bath Is Gentle Enough For Babies
The beauty of an oatmeal bath is that it is gentle enough even for babies.
I was inspired to write this article because I came across a box of AVEENO® Baby Soothing Oat Bath Soak which comes in 5 x 21g Sachets … and it is not cheap! I dropped on a box that was 75% off, so I grabbed it.
Like anything, I always have a good peruse at the ingredients and ask “Can I make this myself, and can I make it cheaper”? The answer in this instance is a resounding YES!
The ingredients were fairly simple: (Explanation of the ingredients use)
- Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour - (Main active ingredient)
- Paraffinum Liquidum - (Skin emollient - concerns over safety for babies)
- Calcium Silicate - (Anticaking agent)
- Laureth-4 BHT - (Surfactant and emulsifier - distributes it through the bath water)
- Tocopheryl Acetate - (Vitamin E, antioxidant, preservative)
When our babies and kids have such irritated and sensitive skin, it’s understandable to be concerned about what we put on it. In this instance, we can quite literally make our own Oatmeal Bath Soak and use JUST Colloidal Oatmeal and that’s IT! We don’t have to include any questionable extras.
I will however pass the rest of the box, as well as a handmade jar of oatmeal bath soak, onto my Grandson as he has contracted Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease and as I write is covered in little blisters, and poor mite.
I was also asked this week when I mentioned I was writing this article, “Is oatmeal bath good for diaper rash”? The easy answer to that is an emphatic YES! If you haven't got time to bathe them, make an oatmeal solution with boiled water, allow it to cool, and use that. It will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Children & Essential Oil Safety
Children & Essential Oil Safety
Please note we do NOT recommend using essential oils on babies under 6 months of age, except in an emergency. Find out more in Essential Oil Safety and Children.
For children over the age of 6 years - Use a 1% dilution rate for your essential oils. (In other words 1 drop of essential oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil.)
e for children aged 6 months to 5 years drop that down to 0.5% dilution (1 drop of essential oil in 2 teaspoons of carrier)
Since it takes a few months for a baby’s skin to fully form protective oils, we do not recommend using essential oils on children under the age of 6 months old. Simply use carrier oils and oats.
Best Essential Oils For Oatmeal Baths
There are lots of wonderfully soothing essential oils that we can use in our oatmeal bath soaks.
If you do have itchy skin, eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or chickenpox, read Essential Oils for Itchy Skin: Soothing Recipe & Remedies for more specific essential oils recommendations.
German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
Need an oatmeal bath soak because you are scratching yourself to bits? German Chamomile might just be what you need.
German Chamomile is rich in Chamazulene or ‘Liquid anesthetic’ as Liz calls it. Chamzulene helps soothe the area and can even numb it. Perfect if you were getting itchy and tetchy with yourself. The azulene soothes inflammation and supports healing of the skin's natural barrier function.
German Chamomile essential oil can be useful when we are experiencing allergic skin conditions as it has anti-allergenic properties and nerve sedative properties. These can be useful to help calm things down when included in your oatmeal bath soak.
Explore Chamomile essential oils in more depth with Getting To Know Chamomile Essential Oils
Maximum dilution: 3%
Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.)
This is the Super Soother essential oil for your oatmeal bath soak. Bursting with skin calming and healing Esters it can be a really useful essential oil.
With anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and nerve-sedative properties, it can be particularly useful at soothing, cooling, and relieving itchy skin. The anti-inflammatory actions support normal skin barrier function.
Delve deeper into Nature’s Most Soothing Gift: Roman Chamomile Essential Oil and explore all the ways it proves useful in your oatmeal bath soak.
Maximum dilution: 3%
Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens)
One of the first things I learned about essential oils was how effective Geranium essential oils were in addressing the symptoms of eczema and dry skin. One of my very first clients had the worst eczema I had ever seen. She was in such a state.
Using Geranium essential oils in combination with other essential oils and an elimination diet, helped her beyond her own expectations. It was soul-restoring and taught me a great deal about working with Geranium essential oil.
Geranium essential oil is ideal for your oatmeal bath soak if you have Eczema. However, use it in conjunction with either Roman or German Chamomile essential oils for added itch relief.
Egyptian Geranium oil contains high amounts of Geraniol, which means we can harness those soothing analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities. Equally, we can capitalize on the anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties of 10-Epi-gamma-eudesmol too. All extremely useful properties for dealing with eczema symptoms in an oatmeal bath soak.
Maximum dilution: 3%
Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Want to know more? Introducing Egyptian Geranium: An Ancient Aroma Reborn.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
You want to avoid Lavender essential oil, no matter how soothing it may be if your skin is very dry or dehydrated. Lavender can have a drying effect on the skin and exacerbate issues if we are not mindful.
However, its properties are perfect for drying up the blisters associated with Hand, Foot, and Mouth, and Diseases and Chickenpox. Go for it! It will also soothe the skin and help restore that all-important barrier function.
It’s great if you are itchy, testy, and irritable, not only will it soothe your skin, but also your mood! Lavender essential oil is perfect for use in a late-night oatmeal bath soak to help you sleep.
It is certainly gentle enough for babies over 6 months of age too, but first read, Is Lavender Essential Oil Safe For Babies? To get the lowdown. It’s great for kids' bedtime baths with oatmeal bath soaks too.
Maximum dilution: 3%
Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Discover more with What is Lavender Oil Good for? and Is Lavender Oil Good for Skin?
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Patchouli essential oil might not be our first thought for an essential oil to use in an oatmeal bath soak, but I can assure you it has earned its place.
It can be a love/hate relationship for some people who can’t get along with its earthy aromatics. However, if you are forming your opinion of Patchouli based on the past, perhaps from a hippy or biker sporting it on their leather jacket. I strongly suggest that you buy a brand-new bottle and rediscover it without the layers of sweat, B.O., and pheromones! It’s a revelation and a sensuous one at that.
I LOVE Patchouli because I love what it does for my dry, flaky, and irritated skin. Aromatherapists employ Patchouli to soothe and rejuvenate dry skin. It can be especially useful on rough, cracked, and overly dehydrated skin because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.
If your skin feels tight, dry, and irritated, or is rough and cracked, try a few drops of Patchouli in your oatmeal bath soak.
Maximum dilution: 3%
Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Fancy using Patchouli in more of your skincare products? Explore how to Transform Your Skincare with Patchouli Essential Oil.
Best Ingredients For Oatmeal Baths
We now know what essential oils are useful in our oatmeal bath soaks, but what else do we need to make a base?
Oats
You can use certain types of Oats as a Colloidal Oatmeal substitute, but they are just that, a substitute, they also will not completely dissolve in the water like Colloidal Oatmeal and you will need to suspend the oat or oatmeal in a tied muslin square, or use a tea infuser.
You can use most oat products, usually sold for cereals, just as long as the ingredients are 100% Oats. Rolled Oats and Oatmeal are fine if that is the only ingredient and there are no preservatives or additives in them, double check the label because you might be surprised!
Avoid those instant oats, you can’t use those, because they will be filled with preservatives, additives, and probably artificial sugars.
Carrier Oils
When you are making wet mixes of oatmeal bath soak, carrier oils are going to be one of your most versatile ingredients.
They bring all their own active properties and ingredients and are full of skin-nourishing goodness to soothe and calm your skin.
Jojoba is the closest oil to our body’s natural oil, sebum, and bursting with oleic, gadoleic, and erucic acids, all great for our skin. Packed with vitamins A, B, and E, which contribute to healthy skin.
We want oils packed with Linoleic Acid to help restore the skin's barrier function. Coconut Oil is full of fatty acids, including Linoleic Acid, making it a wonderful moisturizing oil. Rosehip and Sea Buckthorn oils are bursting with it too, so much so we recommend only using up to 10%.
Sweet Almond Oil contains Vitamin E which will soothe skin irritation. The fatty acids are useful to help retain moisture in the skin after an oatmeal bath soak.
The Complete Guide to the Best Carrier Oils for Dry Skin and Their Uses.
Powdered Milk
Powdered Milk is a perfect addition to your oatmeal bath soak. Buy the Whole Milk version because the extra fat in it is exceptional for nourishing your skin.
Lactic acid can be very effective for softening rough and scaly skin and smoothing the area. Lactic Acid is basically an alpha-hydroxy acid, you know one of the ‘special things’ that the beauty ads tell you is amazing for your skin! It’s one the gentlest AHA’s, making it suitable for even the most sensitive of skin.
Lactic Acid is also great at restoring hydration to the skin so can be very useful for those of us with dry skin. For this reason there is a huge tub in my bathroom.
You can lay back and pretend to be Cleopatra in your milky bath and soothe your skin all at the same time with an extra decadent version of an oatmeal bath soak.
Salt, Epsom Salt & Magnesium Flakes
Can You Mix Epsom Salts And Oatmeal?
There seem to be some questions around Epsom Salt oatmeal baths and being unsure if you can mix them, well yes, you can mix them, and happily so!
Adding Salt, Epsom Salts, and Magnesium Flakes to your oatmeal bath soak can be highly beneficial.
Dead Sea Salt & Magnesium
Research carried out by Proksch (2005) concluded that ‘Bathing in the (Dead Sea) salt solution was well tolerated, improved skin barrier function, enhanced hydration, and reduced skin roughness and inflammation. We suggest that the favorable effects of bathing in the Dead Sea salt solution are most likely related to the high magnesium content. Magnesium salts are known to bind water, influence epidermal proliferation and differentiation, and enhance permeability barrier repair’.
We can use this information to create an oatmeal bath soak laced with salts and Magnesium to improve hydration, smooth the skin and restore the skin's barrier function too. Win Win!
You can also use Pink Himalayan Salt, Kosher Salt and Sea Salt. Just please do not use table salt or salt with additives like anti-caking agents.
Honey & Glycerine
Honey? In your bath? Hell YES
Honey and Glycerine are humectants. A humectant will attract moisture to it, bind to it, and then kindly plop it right into your skin cell for you. They are magical things, I love them and use them a LOT.
Glycerine appears through many of my recipes because it is so darn effective at hydrating the skin and assisting in restoring the barrier function of the skin.
You can add one or both of these to your oatmeal bath soak to really up the ante and boost the hydration levels of your skin.
Honey comes with a whole raft of wonderful properties, vitamins, and extra enzymes that will soothe, smooth, and calm your skin.
Obviously, you can only use these in a wet mix for an oatmeal bath soak.
Natrasorb Bath
How do you use essential oils in a dry mix oatmeal bath soak? You use an absorbent product called Natrasorb® BATH which is made from a modified tapioca starch. This acts as an emulsifying agent for the essential oils.
It proves useful in our oatmeal bath soak because it will absorb and retain large quantities of anhydrous (water-free) liquids and oils, like essential oils and carrier oils. It is created in such a way that the oils are held in a way that turns them into a solid powder form.
The starch will dissolve immediately in contact with the water, where it will release the oils and disperse them into the water. We still recommend using Polysorbate 80 as an additional dispersant, if you are not diluting your essential oils in carrier oils first.
People often worry that the Natrasorb® BATH combined with Colloidal Oatmeal will clog their waste pipes. Both fully dissolve into the water and so there is no waste to worry about.
If you want to make a dry mix Oatmeal Bath Soak recipe and you want to use essential oils and/or carrier oils, you must use Natrasorb® BATH to absorb the oils and keep them stable in the dry mix. It will also stop the dry mix from becoming moldy because of too much moisture.
The manufacturer Nouryon, states that NATRASORB® BATH will:
- Absorb up to 16% of its weight in mineral oil with no change to its appearance.
- Absorb up to 19% without loss of free flow or clumping of powder.
We recommend that you use the following:
1% fragrance oil or essential oil
2% Polysorbate 80 (additional dispersant)
Approximately 20% NATRASORB® BATH
Basic Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe
I’m going to show you how to make an oatmeal bath soak in a couple of different ways, the dry mix and the wet mix, so you can see the differences for yourself and choose what works best for you.
You can swap Colloidal Oatmeal for Rolled Oats and Oatmeal but you will need to tie it into a muslin bag or pop it in a tea infuser as the rolled oats and oatmeal will not dissolve in the water and can clog your waste pipe, unless you confine it to an infusion method of some kind.
You can use Salt, Epsom Salt, and Magnesium Flakes interchangeably to suit your needs.
Wet Mix Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe
This is a simple wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe, which is best kept in the refrigerator for up to four days.
If you have a food processor or a coffee grinder, whizz your rolled oats through it to a coarse grind. If you don’t have either, simply give them a fine chop instead. You can use them whole but grinding or chopping releases their goodness more readily.
You MUST always dilute your essential oils in carrier oil in a wet recipe, you cannot use just essential oils, you must dilute them, please.
You Will Need:
- Mixing bowl
- Stainless steel spoon
- Measuring cups
- Jar Funnel
- Large 1-liter Jar with an airtight lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 1 cup of Rolled Oats(Avena sativa) - ground to a coarse powder or finely chopped
- 1 cup of Powdered Milk (Lac (Milk))
- 1 cup of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride) (or a salt of your choice)
- 1 ¼ cup of Jojoba Carrier Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
- ¼ cup of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- ½ cup of Honey (Mel) or Glycerine (Glycerol)
Optional: 100 drops of essential oils of your choice.
Safety:
- If you use essential oils, you need to check the safety contraindications. especially if you are pregnant.
- Label it very clearly in the refrigerator to make sure it won’t get mistaken for overnight oats!
Method:
- Empty your Colloidal Oatmeal and Rolled Oats into a large mixing bowl and combine.
- Add your salt and mix well.
- If you are using essential oils, add them to your carrier oils add the honey or glycerine and mix thoroughly to combine, it may separate, but that’s ok.
- Pour this liquid mix into the oats and salt and stir to evenly cover the oats.
- Decant into a large airtight jar and clean the rim meticulously to avoid the formation of bacteria and mold.
- Clearly, list all ingredients on an oil and waterproof label
- Place in the fridge and use within 4 days.
How To Use:
- Always dilute a bit of mix beforehand and patch-test your oatmeal bath soak first.
- Scoop out a cupful or two and place in a large tea infuser or tie into a muslin square. I find old socks are perfect for this! Place in warm running water and allow it to infuse.
- Bathe as normal, but allow at least twenty minutes in the water to give the ingredients time to absorb into the skin and get to work.
- No need to rinse, dry as normal.
- Dispose of the leftover oats and wash the muslin square or infuser, ready for the next use.
Dry Mix Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe
This is a dry mix recipe and if you want to add carrier oils and essential oils, you will need to get a specialist product called Natrasorb® BATH. It is worth it if you or one of your family are experiencing challenging skin conditions and don’t have the time to make a wet batch every few days.
If you struggle to source Natrasorb® BATH contact the manufacturer directly.
Can you make it without Natrasorb® BATH? Well yes, you can, but you will not be able to add any liquid ingredients like carrier oils, essential oils, or Polysorbate 80, a dispersant. As an alternative, you could make up a bottle of oils and keep it with your wet mix and simply add both to the bath.
You Will Need:
- Protective gloves
- Mixing Bowl
- Stainless steel spoon
- Jar funnel
- Measuring cups
- Large 1-liter Jar with an airtight lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 1 cup of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride) (or a salt of your choice)
- 1 cup of Powdered Milk (Lac (Milk))
- ¾ cup of NATRASORB® BATH (Tapioca Starch)
- 20 ml of Polysorbate 80 (Polyoxyethylene (20), sorbitan monooleate)
- 4 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
Optional:
- Up to 5 ml - approx 100 drops of essential oils of your choice (check your contraindications and safety dilution rates please)
- Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- If you choose to use the essential oils, check the safety contraindications and maximum dilution rates. This is especially important if you are pregnant.
- Label it clearly, please.
Method:
- If you are using a preservative, check the manufacturer's instructions, if it is a liquid preservative add it to the next step.
- Into a small measuring jug measure out the carrier oil, P olysorbate 80 and any essential oils you are using and combine thoroughly for a couple of minutes.
- Measure out the Natrasorb® BATH into a bowl and pour in the oil mix. With gloved hands work the oil through the powder, by rubbing it between your fingers. Just like you would if you were making pastry and rubbing butter through the flour. Work it through extremely thoroughly, take your time here.
- When you feel it is evenly distributed add your Colloidal Oatmeal and Salt and mix well.
- Use a jar funnel and decant into a large, airtight jar and clean the rim to discourage bacteria or mold formation.
- Label clearly listing all ingredients on an oil and waterproof label.
How To Use:
- Always patch test your oatmeal bath soak for 24-48 hours before first use. Especially if you have sensitive or irritated skin.
- Simply take a cupful, or two and place it in running bath water, swirl to help it dissolve, especially if you have included salts.
- Bathe as you normally would, but please stay in the water for at least twenty minutes. This gives the ingredients a chance to get to work and be absorbed into the skin.
- There is no need to rinse, simply dry yourself as normal.
- Rinse any residue from the bath, but there should be very little, if anything.
Essential Oil Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipes
Right, let’s get stuck into the fun stuff and make some specific recipes for your needs. Hopefully, you now have some idea of how you can make changes to suit yourself and understand how to create a wet or dry recipe.
I have created a recipe that I think best serves the particular need at hand, but please feel free to change these recipes to suit you better.
Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe For Hand, Foot and Mouth
Now, if you make an oatmeal bath soak for Hand, Foot, and Mouth, chances are you are making it for a small child. If you plan to make any changes to the essential oils stated, you must check the safety data for yourself, please. Remember, you cannot use essential oils on babies under 6 months of age. Use Essential Oil Safety and Children to guide you in the right, and safest direction.
I’m a great believer that when it comes to babies' and young children's skin, use the purest ingredients that you can get. Therefore, this is a simple but highly effective recipe. Feel free to swap the Calamine Powder out for Kaolin or Bentonite Clay but use four times the amount.
We want essential oils with antiviral properties that will tackle the underlying HMFD virus. We also want essential oils that possess strong anti-inflammatory properties to tackle the blisters and dry them up.
You Will Need:
The same equipment for the wet mix.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 1 cup of Ground or finely chopped Rolled Oats (Avena sativa)
- 1 cup of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride)
- 1/4 cup of Calamine Powder (Calamine)
- 1/2 cup of Tamanu Carrier Oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L)
- 30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 30 drops of German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
- 80 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Safety:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Do not use on babies under 6 months old
- A 0.5% essential oil safety dilution rate is suitable for children over 6 months of age.
Method:
Follow the instructions above for the wet mix oatmeal bath soak.
How To Use:
Follow the instructions above for the wet mix oatmeal bath soak.
Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe For Itchy Skin
Itchy skin can drive you absolutely bonkers so a skin-soothing oatmeal bath soak can be a blessed relief.
This recipe has a 1% essential oil safety dilution rate. You can always reduce the percentage of drops to make it suitable for children under 6, simply halve the amount of essential oils used.
You Will Need:
Equipment as listed above for the dry mix oatmeal bath soak recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 2 cups of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride) (or a salt of your choice)
- ¾ cup of NATRASORB® BATH
- 20 ml of Polysorbate 80
- 4 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 100 drops of German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
- 100 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 100 drops of Marjoram Essential Oil (Origanum majorana)
Optional:
- Preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Not suitable for babies under 6 months
- Not suitable for children under 6 years, unless the essential oils are reduced by half.
Method:
Follow the instructions above for the dry mix oatmeal bath soak recipe.
How To Use:
Follow the instructions above for the dry mix oatmeal bath soak recipe.
Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe For Eczema
This is a wet mix oatmeal bath soak because I am a strong believer in using the active benefits of carrier oils and much as the essential oils themselves. Therefore, this recipe is very rich in oils and may seem much more oily than the basic wet mix oatmeal bath recipe.
I think you will love this oatmeal bath soak. I tried it last night myself and I really liked that extra oil on my skin even today, my skin seems a lot less dry, more vital and dare I say ... .glowing!
You Will Need:
You need the same equipment as the basic wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe above, apart from you need a 1.5-liter jar.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 2 cups of Rolled Oats(Avena sativa) - ground to a coarse powder or finely chopped
- ½ cup of Powdered Milk (Lac (Milk))
- 1 cup of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride) (or a salt of your choice)
- 1 cup of Magnesium Flakes (Magnesium Chloride)
- 1 cup of Jojoba Carrier Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
- ½ cup of Argan Carrier Oil (Argania Spinosa)
- ½ cup of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- ½ cup of Honey (Mel) or Glycerine (Glycerol)
- 125 drops of Egyptian Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
- 125 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 50 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
Safety:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Not suitable for babies under 6 months
- Not suitable for children under 6 years, unless you reduce the essentials by half.
Method:
Follow the same instructions as the basic wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe above, except use 2-2.5 cups.
How To Use:
Follow the same instructions for bathing, as the basic wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe above.
Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe For Chicken Pox
A soothing oatmeal bath soak when the kids have Chickenpox can save your sanity. Rather than constantly shouting “Stop scratching”, plonk them in the bath with this oatmeal bath soak instead.
You can also make this up in some hot water, allow it to steep for 30 minutes, and use it as skin-soothing lotion, dabbing it on with cotton wool. Perfect for the times when a bath is just not convenient.
You Will Need:
The same equipment as the wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe above.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 1 cup of Rolled Oats(Avena sativa) - ground to a coarse powder or finely chopped
- 1 cup of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride) (or a salt of your choice)
- ½ cup of Calamine Powder (Calamine)
- ½ cup of Kaolin Clay (Kaolin)
- ¼ cup of Tamanu Carrier Oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L)
- ¼ cup of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- ¼ cup of Honey (Mel) or Glycerine (Glycerol)
- 40 drops of Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
- 30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 30 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
Safety:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Not suitable for babies under 6 months of age.
Method:
Use the instructions above for the basic wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe.
How To Use:
Follow the same instructions for bathing, as the basic wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe above.
Oatmeal Bath Soak Recipe For Cats & Dogs
Yes, you can even make an oatmeal bath soak for your dog or cat if they are experiencing dry, itchy irritable skin conditions.
Consult Your Vet First
Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets?
What we do need to be cautious of, especially with cats, is using essential oils. Our advice is to always consult your veterinarian before using essential oils on your pets. Your Vet knows your pet's history, especially if they have long-standing conditions and /or are taking medication for those conditions.
If they say no, ask them to explain why they say no. Ask if they are saying no because they simply do not have the expertise, knowledge, or experience. After all, often this is the very reason why they say ‘no’.
Research is limited, do your own research too, and take it with you. There are so many great articles about using essential oils with cats and dogs on the VINEVIDA blog. Simply search cat or dog and scroll down past the product listings.
Because of this, we are keeping this oatmeal bath soak recipe fairly benign and suitable for all cats and dogs.
Dopey As…
Now one of you is going to have a ‘dopey as’ dog or cat that is going to want to drink the bath water. All of these ingredients can be safely ingested by your pet, so don’t panic if they do lap in the water. Don’t let them consume too much obviously, use your common sense. There’s enough salt in it to put them off!
If you cannot get your pet in the bath, talk to your vet about them ingesting this recipe without the inclusion of the salt. I have used similar recipes to create a paste to spread on their irritated skin. Naturally, they want to lick it off the moment you do, and we can use this to our advantage. However, always do this under the direct supervision of your vet, please.
You Will Need:
The same equipment as for the wet mix oatmeal bath soak recipe above.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa kernel extract (Oat))
- 1 cup of Dead Sea Salt (Sodium chloride) (or a salt of your choice)
- ½ cup of Bentonite Clay (Montmorillonite)
- 1 cup of Extra Virgin Coconut Carrier Oil (Cocos nucifera)
- ¼ cup of Honey (Mel) or Glycerine (Glycerol)
Safety:
Consult your veterinarian before using this oatmeal bath soak on your pet. Especially if they are on medication or under existing veterinary care.
Method:
- The method for this is a bit different, simply because your Extra Virgin Coconut Oil should be solid state if your climate is cool enough.
- You want the oil to be soft but not molten so leave it in a warm place, where it can soften.
- Quickly scoop all the oil into a large bowl and add all the other ingredients to the bowl.
- Using your hands (no gloves needed), work the powders into the oil and honey, and work it into a thick paste. If the oil is getting melted from the warmth of your hands, pop it in the fridge for a bit and try again.
- You should have a relatively thick paste that you can shape. If it is too runny, even when it is cold, add more Bentonite and Colloidal Oatmeal in equal parts.
- Shape into a round 1” ball, wrap in Saran wrap, and set aside. Continue until the mix is used and you have several balls.
- Pop them all in a ziplock bag and label them clearly, listing all ingredients.
- They will last for about 4-5 days in the fridge, keep any excess in the freezer and remove them when needed, no need to defrost them, just drop them into warm water.
How To Use:
- Consult your veterinarian, yes, do it!!!
- Do a patch test on your pet first please, especially if their skin is irritated.
- Drop it into warm water and let it dissolve in the water.
- Keep your pet in the water for as long as possible to get the best benefit
- Good luck, especially if you have a cat, you have my sympathy, as I have three!
The Final Word On Oatmeal Bath Soak
By now you should have a good grasp on what Oatmeal Bath Soak can do for you and how to put it together to suit your needs.
Choose from wet or dry mix oatmeal bath soaks to suit your and your family’s needs. They are perfect if you just want something to hand to use quickly.
A Delight of Natural Ingredients
Make the most of the skin-soothing and healing qualities of Colloidal Oatmeal, and combine that with clays, salts, humectants like honey, and even powdered milk for skin-soothing goodness.
Choose essential oils like German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Geranium, and Patchouli for their chemical constituents and active properties. Take advantage of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities to soothe the skin and help restore and rebalance the skin's barrier function. Pair them with carrier oils for that powerhouse effect.
How Long?
Some of you were wondering on social media, “How long to soak in oatmeal bath”? We recommend that you soak for at least 20 minutes. It takes that long for the oils to be absorbed into your skin. Take a break, relax a bit, and de-stress, it will do you good!
Get Creative, Wow & Treat The Kids
Why not get creative and see if you can make some for gifts, have an experiment and see if you can make an oatmeal bath bomb! Kids will love those, especially those who cannot use commercial offerings because of harsh ingredients.
Whether your kids have Chickenpox, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, or Eczema, they will love these skin-soothing oatmeal bath soaks. Present them in a way that they seem like a real treat for the kids and you’ll raise their spirits beautifully.
Try an oatmeal bath soak yourself if you have itchy skin or skin conditions like Psoriasis or Dermatitis. Add some powdered milk and beautiful cosmetic clays for a delightful skin treat.
However you choose your oatmeal bath soaks, I hope they bring the blessed relief you need.
