Colloidal Oatmeal In Skin Care: 5 Reasons Derms Love It For Dry, Itchy Skin

It's a little different from regular oats, which have the ability to decrease inflammation1 in their own right. Oats contain different types of phenols that have their own antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, says board-certified dermatologist Zenovia Gabriel, M.D., FAAD.

But when you finely grind and boil oats, you can extract colloidal material; this gel-like substance has a rather high lipid content (30%, to be exact). "These are the same moisture-trapping molecules that are plentiful in prepubescent skin," says board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo M.D., FAAD. In other words, colloidal oats aren't just regular oats—they have significant antioxidant properties that are unique to their makeup. 

Due to its high antioxidant content, colloidal oatmeal can help protect the skin barrier2 and even protect against oxidative stress. Colloidal oatmeal has a host of antioxidants, but some to note are vitamin E, avenanthramides (an active in oats that has major anti-inflammatory benefits), and ferulic acid. 

"There are polysaccharides (long sugars) that bind water to the skin surface, making colloidal oatmeal a humectant. It has lipids, which reinforce the skin's barrier, and saponins, which are like natural soaps and anti-infective. It also contains the antioxidants ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and coumaric acid," says holistic board-certified dermatologist Cybele Fishman, M.D.

Oatmeal is frequently touted as an age-old remedy to soothe inflamed skin, allergies, and rashes. Those avenanthramides we mentioned are particularly effective in reducing itch and inflammation, making colloidal oat lotion an excellent option the next time you're suffering from atopic dermatitis3, rashes, or itch.

Because colloidal oatmeal can help soothe skin inflammation, it's a great natural sunburn reliever. But soothing properties aside, colloidal oats actually have the ability to absorb UV rays, due to the natural flavonoids they contain; flavonoids, says Gabriel, have a natural ability to provide photoprotection4, as they act as catalysts during the light phase of photosynthesis. 

Due to their high concentration of starches and beta-glucans, says Gabriel, colloidal oats can have water-absorbing properties that can help moisturize the skin. That's because it's a known humectant, which means it has the ability to draw moisture from the environment and seep it into your skin. However, the lipids in colloidal oats also have emollient properties (meaning, it has the ability to sit in between skin cells and fill in any micro-cracks, softening irritated skin). With these two moisturizing properties working in tandem, colloidal oats become quite the superfood for skin care. 

As mentioned, colloidal oatmeal can help soothe dry, itchy, inflamed skin—and it does so by helping the skin retain moisture. "Moisturizing and protecting the barrier of the skin is paramount in dry skin conditions like eczema (atopic dermatitis) and psoriasis," says Gabriel. 

Both Ciraldo and Gabriel are partial to colloidal oat lotions (whether post-shower or as a sunburn soother). The soothing and hydrating agents make it a great, creamy moisturizer, especially if you suffer from inflammatory skin conditions.

According to Gabriel, there's little to no risk of using colloidal oat topically. The only thing to be mindful of is, of course, if you have an allergy to oats, oat-based products, or bran, as you could suffer an allergic reaction when applying colloidal oat topically.