# Colloidal Oatmeal for Itchy Skin

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloidal-oatmeal-for-itchy-skin/407484>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 10, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloidal-oatmeal-for-itchy-skin/407484 "2007-06-10T18:50:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloidal-oatmeal-for-itchy-skin/407484/1 "2007-06-10T18:50:51Z")

</div>

I have a friend who’s itchy, and an oatmeal bath was recommended for the condition. I said I’d take care of the details. I can buy Aveeno colloidal oatmeal, three tiny packets for a $3.99, or buy an 18 oz. canister of raw whole oats for under $2.00 and make it myself by blending the oats until they’re powdered.

This gets added to a cool tub.

1. Can the colloidal oatmeal/water just go down the drain, or should one attempt to strain it?

2. I’ve seen an alternative, namely putting whole raw oats in a tied-off sock and dumping it in the bath. Would this also work?

Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloidal-oatmeal-for-itchy-skin/407484/2 "2007-06-11T02:03:31Z")

</div>

Well, I’ve used the Aveeno on my kids and it just goes down the drain. No harm in it. No way to stop it, really, unless you run your bathwater through a coffee filter.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloidal-oatmeal-for-itchy-skin/407484/3 "2007-06-11T02:33:43Z")

</div>

largely it depends on two things, the amount of oat meal and the condition of your drains.

If you have a narrow drain, or one that tends to clog, then run a fair amount (3-5 gallons) of cold water after the bath to flush it through. Best way is to drain tub, put plug in, and refill tub with cold water and then let that drain (Extra surge pressure from standing water will help dislodge any “stuck” oat meal.)

Most lye or TSP based drain cleaners will disolve a oatmeal clog, but NEVER mix them.

Regards  
FML

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colloidal-oatmeal-for-itchy-skin/407484/4 "2007-06-11T09:45:17Z")

</div>

My brother used to have incredibly bad ecsema when he was little (like 4 or 5), so my mother used to hang a cheesecloth bag filled with porridge oats under the hot tap on his baths. The water passed through the bag and became milky (and porridge smelling) but didn’t get the actual oats in it. The water could then be drained from the bath as per normal (down the plughole) and the cheesecloth bag, oats and all, chucked in the bin.

It really helped alleviate his itching.  
I’ve a feeling the colloidal oat sachets are nothing more than the milky water evaporated and the resulting powder ground up.

Cheesecloth/muslin and normal rolled oats are cheap.

Hope that that helps.