How to Treat Dry Skin With Oatmeal

Oatmeal can be an effective home remedy to treat dry skin, since its texture can help gently remove dead skin cells without irritating the underlying skin layers. You can apply an oatmeal mask directly to your face, or you can soak in a warm tub filled with colloidal oatmeal, which is made from rolled oats that have been ground into a fine powder.

Instructions

1

Dissolve several cups of colloidal oatmeal into a bathtub full of lukewarm water to treat your dry skin. You can purchase many products that contain colloidal oatmeal that has been mixed with other ingredients, such as mineral oil or baking soda that will help moisturize your skin. Or, you can make your own colloidal oatmeal by purchasing rolled oats in bulk and grinding them into a fine powder with a coffee mill or grinder.

2

Soak in the oatmeal bath for at least 10 minutes, allowing the water to cover every part of your body, with the exception of your face. You may wish to add a few handfuls of baking soda or Epsom salts to help reduce the itchiness that can accompany dry skin. Be aware that colloidal oatmeal will irritate your eyes, and that it will make your bathtub very slippery as well.

3

Rinse the oatmeal residue from your skin by pouring cool or lukewarm water over your entire body before you get out of the tub. Avoid using hot water when you treat dry skin, since the excess heat can remove your body's natural oils, drying your skin even further.

4

Dry yourself carefully after your oatmeal bath by gently patting yourself with a thick, absorbent towel. Drying yourself by rubbing vigorously may irritate your skin--so proceed slowly.

5

Treat the dry skin on your face by applying an oatmeal mask. Simply cook some rolled oats according to the instructions on the package, let the oatmeal cool down a bit, and then apply it to your face. Remove the mask when it was become crusty and dry around the edges, using cool water to rinse your face.