Homemade Oatmeal Bath

Homemade Oatmeal Bath

'Tis the season...for poison ivy!  And mosquito bites plus countless other skin irritations.  Let's face it, rashes, hives, chickenpox and such can happen at any time throughout the year.  

If you have chickenpox, insect bites or a rash caused by an allergic reaction, oatmeal baths can soothe irritations temporarily, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.  Oatmeal baths can also be used  to treat sunburns, dry skin and conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.  Oatmeal baths also soften and moisturize your skin, which helps lock in moisture and protect skin from irritants.

The benefits of oatmeal don't stop there.  Saponins, chemical components found in oatmeal, allow oatmeal to function as an effective natural cleanser -- they absorb dirt, oil and odor.  So there's no need to use soap in an oatmeal bath.

Now that we covered a few of the benefits from oatmeal baths, I'm going to show you how to make one.  No, I'm not going to send you to the store to buy a $10 box of premade oatmeal bath.  It can be made at home for a faction of the cost.

Here's all you need:

 1 cup of oatmeal(I use Regular Old Fashion.  Keep away from flavored and/or sweetened.)

1 clean washcloth(can also use a piece of cheesecloth or a nylon sock)

1 rubber band

That's it.  Nothing fancy or complicated.  Open up your washcloth and pour about 1 cup of oatmeal into the center.  

Using your hands, start grinding up and crushing the oatmeal until most of the grain is broken down.  This should only take a few minutes.

It should look something like this.  You can grind it more if you wish, but I don't feel it's necessary.

Now, just gather up the washcloth and wrap the rubber band around it to form a pouch.

Tada!  Wasn't that simple?  

To make an oatmeal bath, just put the pouch in a warm(not hot) bath.  After the pouch is nice & wet, give it a few gentle squeezes.  Soak in the bath for 20 minutes and enjoy the relief!

Tips

•  Be careful when stepping into the tub.  The oatmeal will make the surface slippery.  
• Do not to use soap during your oatmeal bath.  If you would like to wash the essentials, take a quick shower then soak in the tub.  Using soap on skin irritations can make it worse so avoid using soap on the affected area.  
• When you are finished soaking, pat your body dry.  Do not rub your skin.  You will notice a film left behind on your skin.  This is the oatmeal.  Allow to remain on the skin, especially the area that's irritated. 
• When you drain the tub, you will probably notice a film as well as a few bits of oatmeal.  Rinse the tub right away so the oatmeal doesn't get stuck in the tub.  

Optional Oatmeal Bath Methods

• Place oatmeal in blender or food processor.  Grind into a powder.  Sprinkle directly into a warm bath.  Stir the water around with your hand to dissolve any clumps.

•  If you use a nylon sock, you can skip the rubber band and just tie a knot in the sock.

So there you have it.  A quick, easy & cheap way to make an oatmeal bath anytime you need to!

Live Frugal. Live Happy.