Oatmeal Bath for Soothing Skin

Oatmeal baths are both relaxing and soothing, especially when your skin feels itchy (such as during a bout of chicken pox or poison ivy rash), or when it is inflamed (for example, as a result of allergies, insect bites, or sunburn). Oatmeal is excellent for your skin, smells good, and leaves your skin feeling soft. With an oatmeal bath, you might wish you could just sit there forever. As an added advantage, there are limitless variations on the traditional oatmeal bath, some of which are described here. Follow these steps to prepare an easy but effective oatmeal bath to soothe your skin in the comfort of your own home.

Tip: To make an oatmeal exfoliant, mix fine salt with ground oatmeal and lavender oil.

Note: Do not get into a bath of hot water with a skin condition; always check that the water is tepid. Use common sense around hot water to avoid scalding.

Ingredients:
Plain, unflavored, (preferably whole-grain) oatmeal; finer oatmeal is best
Piece of muslin or other cloth
Rubber band, string or ribbon to tie bag shut

Optional Ingredients:
Small lavender buds (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) (optional) - other herbal options: lemon balm, eucalyptus, chamomile, etc.
Lavender (or other) essential oils (optional), for a relaxing bath, check for all usage precautions
1/2 to 1 cup of buttermilk or regular milk, for a relaxing, softening bath (optional) - you could also add dry milk powder to the oatmeal mix
Epsom salts, for a rejuvenating bath (optional)

Pour about 1/3 to 3/4 cup of oatmeal into a measuring cup. The amount used will depend on how large your muslin piece is.

Pour the oatmeal from the cup into a bowl.

Push down on the dry oatmeal with the back of a spoon. This is to get rid of any clumps that might have formed in storage.

Add extras to the oatmeal, if wished. If you are having the bath for relaxation purposes, feel free to add additional elements. If you are using the oatmeal bath to treat itchiness, rashes, inflamed or sore skin, however, it is probably advisable to either avoid this step or to be very cautious, as these additions could aggravate the condition. Additions to consider include:

Lavender buds. If you don't have lavender buds, take a stalk of dried lavender and break the individual buds off the branch and into the bowl.

Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil to the bowl. Be sure to choose a safe essential oil for bath use. Although this step is optional, it does heighten the enjoyment of the bathing experience. If you are suffering from a skin condition, skip this step.

Mix all additions in well with the spoon until the contents are evenly distributed.

Spoon the mixture into the muslin or other piece of cloth. A washcloth would also work.

Tie it off with a rubber band, string, or ribbon. A rubber band is probably the easiest to use unless you have a friend to hold the bag for you while you tie it with string or ribbon.

Fill the tub with relatively hot water. If adding milk as well, pour the buttermilk or regular milk into the tub under the running water from the faucet.

Optional step - add about 3/4 cup of Epsom salts to the buttermilk when you pour it into the tub to ease sore muscles and help achieve softer skin. Skip this step if you are treating your skin for any itchiness or soreness.

Throw the oatmeal/lavender bag in the back of the tub, away from the bath end with the running water. Allow to cool. As the tub cools to a tolerable temperature, the heat will cause the essences of oatmeal and lavender to disperse.

Step into the tub when it is tepid. Once in the bath, you can gently squeeze the oatmeal sachet to release more of the oatmeal liquid through the bath, or use it to gently scrub Enjoy the bath for as long as wished, although if you are treating a skin condition, don't stay longer than 10 minutes to avoid aggravating your skin condition.

Light some pleasant vanilla or lavender candles for an even more relaxing setting.

When through soaking, do not rinse the oatmeal water off; let it dry naturally on your skin if possible. Use gentle blotting actions with a soft towel, especially if you have a skin condition.

Repeat as needed. The beauty of oatmeal baths is that they are gentle enough to be enjoyed daily if wished.