Dry skin is a common problem that can affect any age group. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics explain that dry skin results from lack of moisture. The outer layer of the skin, known as the stratus corneum, holds oils and water that keep your skin soft. Overexposure to soaps, harsh chemicals and impurities, or irritants, can strip oils from this protective outer layer of skin, resulting in dry, itchy flakes. The use of colloidal oatmeal can help soothe and heal your dry skin.
Identification
Colloidal oatmeal is simply ordinary, unflavored oatmeal ground into a very fine powder. Pulverizing the oatmeal allows the grain to absorb liquid, causing it to incorporate into the water instead of just sinking to the bottom, reports WholeHealthMD.com. Because colloidal oatmeal is part of the water, it is better able to coat and soothe your dry skin.
Function
Colloidal oatmeal works as a natural exfoliator. Rubbed gently on the skin, oatmeal helps to slough-off dead skin cells and expose a healthier, more hydrated layer of skin. Dry skin cells rinse away with the oatmeal while you shower or bathe, also relieving redness and itching. According to the Active Naturals Institute, the polysaccharides in oatmeal also form a protective barrier for dry skin--sealing in natural moisture, while keeping impurities at bay.
Considerations
If you have dry skin and have considered giving oatmeal a try, WholeHealthMD.com recommends drawing a tepid--not hot--bath and adding several cups of colloidal oatmeal to the tub as the water runs. Approximately 10 minutes of soak time should suffice. Gently pat down rather than rub your skin dry afterwards with a soft, absorbent towel. Repeat baths as often as needed, up to three times per day.
Potential
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that colloidal oatmeal is effective for conditions other than just dry skin. Colloidal oatmeal also relieves the itch associated with chicken pox and the bites and stings of anthropods, such as ants and spiders. You can mix up a colloidal oatmeal recipe right at home. Two cups of unflavored oats placed in a blender or grinder will create enough fine powder for a single bath. One cup of baking soda added to the oats enhances healing power. Homemade colloidal oatmeal is quite similar to the expensive commercial brands and costs considerably less.
Warning
It is important to understand that commercially manufactured colloidal oatmeal is for external use only. Commercial preparations may contain chemical additives that are not safe for consumption. In addition, an oatmeal bath tends to make the bathtub quite slippery, so take special care getting in and out of the tub after your shower or soak.
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