Itchy skin is an uncomfortable, irritating feeling of wanting to scratch your body all the time. Among some people, this body itching could be a symptom of some other skin condition and among others, it could be an independent condition altogether combined with redness, bumps, roughness, dryness, etc. It widely hampers your normal daily functioning and this article will tell you how to get relief from itchy skin with the use of oats for itchy skin.
What Causes Itchy Skin?
While the exact reason may not be traceable, some of the most common itchy skin causes are dry skin, eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, hives, rashes, chickenpox, sunburn, shingles, insect bites, poison ivy, sunburn, etc. In some cases, none of these could be the cause; instead, there could just be itching sensation all over the body without any underlying cause.
Home Remedies for Itching
If you are wondering how to get rid of full-body itching, we have got you covered. One of the best home remedies for itchy skin is an oatmeal shower. Read on to learn how to make a DIY oatmeal bath, which will help you get relief from full-body itching.
Oats – An Itchy Skin Relief Remedy
Note that the oats we eat for breakfast are different from the oats we talking about. This is called colloidal oatmeal which is not only a great cure for full-body itching but is also a product that has the following 10 benefits:
1. Relief from irritated skin
2. Soothes dry and itchy skin
3. Cleanses the skin thoroughly
4. Enriched with antioxidant properties
5. Maintains normal pH level of the skin
6. Forms a protective layer over the skin
7. Moisturizing properties give you a naturally glowing skin
8. Eases inflammation with its anti-inflammatory properties
9. Holds in moisture thus reducing the intensity of your dry skin
10. No side effects (unless the rare case of being allergic to oats)
How to Prepare an Oatmeal Bath?
Grind and add oats directly into your bath. Take around 1 cup of oats and grind it in a mixer, fruit juicer, blender, coffee grinder (or other) until it gets into a very fine texture.
To test if it is completely powdered, dissolve a teaspoon of the powder in a bowl/glass of warm water. If the water turns into a uniform milky color (without the particles settling down at the liquid bottom), then you can use this powder to mix in the bath. Add the powder in warm water both and stir till completely dissolved. If the particles settle at the bottom, then you might need to re-do it.
Once completed, mix the water and the oats well to ensure that they have completely blended. Soak in for 20-30 mins or up to the water has cooled down.
Tip – After mixing oats in water, you may additionally add whole milk, sea salt, etc. for additional skin benefits. After you bathe in oatmeal, make sure you wash well with fresh water. Finish off by tapping yourself with a dry towel. Wasn’t that simple? Go ahead and use the oatmeal bath recipe as and when you want to.
How to Make Your Own Oatmeal Bag?
Alternate to at-home oatmeal bath, you can also make your own oatmeal bag. This is a simpler and easier process that will barely take a few mins for the making.
Place around half or 3/4th cup of oats whole (without grinding) into a muslin cloth/bag or pantyhose or a large coffee filter. This needs to be tied and popped into your water where it will act like a teabag infusing the bath water with nourishing properties of oats.
Make sure you tie the bag really tight and securely (with a ribbon, rubber band, string etc.) to avoid the ingredients fall off into the water which is a wastage. Make different sizes of such bags and keep them handy for whenever you require them in the future.
Tip – you can also add other items to the bag such as powdered milk, olive oil, baking soda etc. While milk softens your skin, the olive oil locks moisture in your skin; and baking soda helps in restoring the natural pH level of the skin. Note thatthis list is endless. You can add any ingredient you wish to unless you have some skin infection or coniditions (which might experience adverse effects of certain ingredients).