Why you need to try Colloidal Oatmeal if you have Sensitive Skin

November 13, 2020

Eczema Honey produces highly soothing skincare products that are safe to use, non-toxic, and powered by nature. Keep reading as we discuss colloidal oatmeal and why we love it. Inside, we go over what colloidal oatmeal is, why it is safe for people with sensitive skin, how to use it, and its soothing benefits.

What is Colloidal Oatmeal?

Colloidal oatmeal is a simple ingredient. It consists only of the whole oat kernel - nothing is removed or added. For cosmetic and medicinal purposes, the grain is ground into a fine powder so that it is easier to mix with other ingredients to produce a smooth and silky texture. It is not a new discovery; the use of colloidal oatmeal is thousands of years old. It remains an effective way to soothe itchy skin and treatment for skin conditions such as eczema. It became an FDA approved ingredient in 2003 when used as a skin protectant.

In short, colloidal oatmeal is the entire oat kernel, ground up into a fine powder that becomes a soothing for itchy skin when mixed with water or skincare ingredients.

How is Colloidal Oatmeal used?

Colloidal oatmeal is generally used as a topical application. You will find it as a primary ingredient in many of Eczema Honey's skincare products, including those that target eczema care and treatment (i.e. our OTC Original Skin-Soothing Cream). It is available in many cosmetic forms, from bath bombs to cooling sprays and, of course, in our moisturizing lotions. As part of your skincare routine, use colloidal oatmeal products to clean oils and grime away, as a sealer to protect from free radicals, and as a treatment to help reduce the effects of skin issues and itchy spots.

Why is Colloidal Oatmeal safe for people with eczema and/or sensitive skin concerns?

In medical studies, colloidal oatmeal has a very low allergic response, even when those studies have many participants. An excellent example of what we mean is found in a study that appeared in DovePress. The study results showed that over three years, zero consumer allergen complaints occurred across 445,820 products that contained colloidal oatmeal. Do not use products that contain colloidal oatmeal if you have a known allergy to oats. Only 1.0% of people tested had a reaction to colloidal oatmeal. The low allergen rate and high number of skincare benefits makes this an ideal ingredient for treating sensitive skin, eczema, and dry skin.

Benefits of using Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal soothes itchy skin and helps skin heal faster. It has two significant properties that make it excellent for eczema. First, it has skin protectant properties, so skin issues such as acne and eczema heal quickly. It is also an antioxidant, which helps prevent damage to our body, especially our skin from free radicals. Free radicals are toxins that our body must neutralize, and antioxidants are tools that our body uses to do just that. Oxidative stress is a naturally occurring reaction when free radicals come into contact with parts of our body.