We love oatmeal baths. It was so helpful for when my son’s eczema flared up last year. The kids think it’s hilarious to have oatmeal in their baths so it makes bath time fun as well.
We’ve done oatmeal baths but only with a store-bought mix. I’ve never heard of adding olive oil to the mix, but I would think you would come out greasy, has anyone tried this? I can totally see wrapping up an oiled up baby – i’m sure I used baby oil in the past – but I wonder how a bigger kid or adult would react to this? Has anyone tried that?
Rama pujara
Thank you for the Eczema tip. I shall definitely try it
Lynn
I swear by these three ingredients! I have developed a ‘winter itch’ which keeps me awake. Its so uncomfortable and NOTHING my G.P gave me took it away, or soothed it. I tried this last winter, but used baby oil. I have to say that I prefer EVOO. This mixture does work. After 6 nights of soaking I have relief
hello,i have tryed over 60 diffrent remedies,oils,creams and more…my daughters excema has been so bad for 10 yrs.i would cry and pray.and i have found a miracle with this website.there is a god……everyone should try this…………….thankyou,so much……tami
Oh Tami, I’m so glad to hear this is working for your sweet daughter. Blessings to you and your family.
Angie
My infant has eczema on her face only. Rather than soaking in the tub could I just wash her face with the mixture in a bowl of water? Would the mixture keep in the fridge so I could reuse it? This is my first experience dealing with eczema.
Use skin salvation cleared up my daughters eczema x
Aya
I have a five month old son with eczema on his face and torso. It came about mid to late December and I’m still trying to find the cause. My Naturopath said it was environmental toxins/heavy metals detoxing through his skin. We have him on supplements for detox, but have been putting hydrocortisone cream on his face because it was so bad. We have since stopped the cream and the rash came back with a vengeance, but the doctor said out had to finish coming out the skin before it gets better. Thank God out took a few days but out is finally getting better. His belly is still dry and itchy,but not nearly as bad as it was. He itches it constantly, and especially at night. I just made a cream with coconut oil, powdered oats and olive oil. So far, no itching!!
I think I know which cream recipe you’re talking about – so glad it’s working for your son!
Melissa
Hi There! I was wondering if you could share the link for how you tackled the eczema with your naturopath? I was searching for it We too are working with our ND and this oatmeal bath recipe just gave our little man a LOT of relief after a horrible few months! Thank you for sharing!
My baby started having severe eczema at three months (according to his pediatrician “the worst case he had seen in years). We took him to specialists, dermatologists, allergists, naturopaths… Dr’s don’t know really what to do – from my experience they simply guess. We tried every prescription, every cream, chinese medicine, praying, everything. Thousands of dollars. He ended up with sores all over his body, staph infections, scratching until he bled. My heart broke and he was going nuts with the itching. The only things that worked for us (after much trial and error): An antihistimine when needed AM: 1 cup of white vinegar in his bath Sapo Hill fragrance free oatmeal soap Pat dry Apply organic virgin coconut oil Apply 50/50 solution of water and organic vegetable glycerine (to lock in moisture) Let dry Apply clothes (100% cotton cleaned in Molly’s Suds laundry powder)
PM: 2 tablespoons of Aztec Secret bentonite clay and 3 tablespoons of sea salt to his bath Sapo Hill fragrance free oatmeal soap Pat dry Apply organic virgin coconut oil Apply 50/50 solution of water and organic vegetable glycerine Let dry Apply clothes (100% cotton cleaned in Molly’s Suds laundry powder)
Diet: Both mommy and baby (still BFing) free of all dairy, soy, nuts, and eggs
He is now a year. He hasn’t had an infection in months, his skin is smooth and his hot spots have significantly reduced. I am getting my beautiful baby back.
Everyone’s skin is different, but this is what worked for us – after months, after trying everything, after countless sleepless nights, after countless prayers, after crying hundreds of tears. There were nights we would sit in bathroom all night with wet compresses against his fragile skin to give him some relief. Infantile eczema is no joke and all of the prescriptions made his skin so much worse. God bless our poor babies for having to go through all this pain and discomfort.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Cat. I’m so sorry to hear about all the pain and discomfort your poor baby had to go through, but am even more happy that he’s finally getting some relief! God bless him. You’re such an awesome mom, he’s blessed to have you.
Nancy
My 3 month old has raging eczema. What is the recipe for this cream? I’m trying everything and hate to use the chemical crap that the dermatologist prescribed
Anna
Hi Aya, I read about the coconut oil cream that you made for your little one. Would you mind if I ask for exact amounts of the ingredients please? I would love to give this a try for my son. He is 10 years old but still get eczema flare ups occassionally. I hope to hear from you, thank you very much! -Anna
Bailey (fellow eczema sufferer)
I would make a mask out of the ingredients after washing her face. That way it can stay on for a few minutes before rinsing it off:)
Rebecca Harrison
My daughter had a terrible bout of facial eczema when she was two and three years old. I was able to determine that peanuts were triggering it because of the high mildew content of the nuts. When I cut these out of her diet, and was super careful about any sugar on her face near her mouth, we finally got control of the rash. Emollient creams were also helpful.
Tammy
I have done all of these just not all the same time, first time I did the oatmeal bath I just threw it in lol ya come out with oatmeal all over ya. Also good when kids are sick add rosemary oil or lavender or lemon oil all have a soothing effect on ya mood except one of my sons came out red head to toe from the rosemary oil he was fine just a little reaction did not bother any one else.
Tiffany
My daughter has always suffered from eczema and other food related allergies. A few years back after eating certain foods her lips would get red, swell and itch. I put oats and a small amount of water in a cup, microwaved it for 45 seconds. I would dip my fingers in the liquid and rub that on her lips. Not only did it take away the itching, but the redness and swelling would go away within an hour or two. When I talked to her pediatrician about the issue and the treatment I provided he stated that the oats were the perfect solution.
Vicki
I am allergic to a few things, such as sunscreen, which leave me with a super itchy rash. I find that a handful of oatmeal in the toe of some pantyhose or socks, in the bath, works wonderfully for my itchy skin. I would take the little bag of oatmeal and rub it on the worst places. I haven’t tried the other ingredients added to it, but I know the oatmeal works.
Farzana
Hi there! Im really glad I saw this. I am going to try it. My 3 month old son has developed eczema on the side of his face. Poor kid isnt comfortable at all. Very restless in his sleep now. I was using coconut oil and OTC cream to help treat it. Fingers crossed I have same luck as you ladies in treating it.
I wouldn’t do that – I’m not even sure what the consistency would be like. However, I like measure out the oatmeal and baking soda and store them together in little packets. Then when I’m ready to use it, I just dump a packet into the tub as it’s filling up and measure out the olive oil separately.
Dan
I have used the same ing for my son who has total alopecia, and eczema. the only difference being I add powdered milk to the dry ing , and store in a large container in the bathroom, and leave a scoop in the jar. he is an adult now, and has used very expensive ointments and creams, as well as oral meds, that did not work as well as this.
Very interesting addition re: powdered milk. Thanks for sharing!
amama
My beautiful baby have eczema all over her body I tried a lot of thing but it just makes it worse, now I am going to try this my question is should I rinse her with water after the bath and I would like to say thankyou
Yes, absolutely rinse with water afterwards. When she gets out, her skin will have a thin coat of oil on it. Good luck and you’re welcome!
amama
I tried this and it makes my baby skin worse and I took her to the doctor again this time he told me to take her to dermatologist and now its getting so much better
I’m sorry about your baby’s skin, but I’m glad she’s feeling better now
sadaf
My 4 years daughter is suffering from atopic dermatatic,is it the same thing as excima??? Because the symptoms r same… Reddish itchy skin and sleepless nights.
Hello & thank you for the recipe for eczema. I have used oatmeal bath type products for years for my eczema but I will be trying this one from now on. My biggest problem is I have eczema on my scalp & my head itches all the time. I even get sores on my head from it. Does anyone know of a recipe that works for the scalp?? Thanks!!
Kass
Try dottera essentail oils shampoo and conditioner, it completely cleared my eczema after years of sores and open scabs I have a healthy scalp again!
Any ideas how this could be tried with a bucket bath or shower. Where we live we don’t take soak up baths and my 7 year old has itchy skin. tks in advance
The ingredients in the soak have to sit in the warm water for a while in order to infuse, and then the water has to be in contact with the skin for a good while in order to get the most benefit. The only thing I can think of is to prepare the mixture in a large bucket with water, then use a wash cloth to soak up the water and kind of massage it gently on the skin. I’m not sure how well it would work, but it’s worth a shot.
My son will not sit in the tub. He’s terrified of water but I put about a cup of oatmeal in a knee high, tie it off and throw it in the tub. He allows me to rub the wet slimy oatmeal ball on his flare up spot while he stands in the water. I’m going to try adding the other ingredients to a knee high with the oatmeal and rub that on his skin. That may also work on facial dry spots.
That’s an interesting solution, Katie! Thanks for sharing
Aliya
Hi Sarah. Do u think my 6 months old son can have food related eczema? The doctor says he has an eczema. It is just awful… i have no patience with him any more. Every single night is a challenge. Non stop crying and scratching to blood. Desonide cream helps only when u put it on him. And only 7-10 days. What to do the other 20 days i dont know. Tried herb, oatmeal, bleach, bay leaves baths. Will try your receipy. His skin is still red and sooo dry and it is all over his body(
Hi Aliya, I’m not sure if it would still be food-related when he’s so young, though it may be possible if you’re breastfeeding. Eczema has so many different triggers, that it could be anything from the products you use on his skin, to the detergent you wash his clothes in, to the wipes you use when you change his diaper. We actually went to a naturopathic doctor who helped us tremendously, so that’s where I would look because they help you get to the root cause of the issue instead of just prescribing a cream that only works temporarily.
So, if you haven’t already, try switching to a natural (or homemade) laundry detergent, be very mindful of what you use on his skin (coconut oil, calendula cream, and chamomile are really great, healing, and moisturizing), and try to keep his skin moisturized constantly.
I reviewed some products from a great company called The Eczema Company (http://www.eczemacompany.com/) not too long ago. Check out their site, and try emailing Jennifer, the owner/founder, as she’s also really helpful and may have more info and tips for you since she also has little ones with eczema.
I know the weather is cooling down, which means drier air, which means itchier skin. My son’s skin is slowly starting to flare up now, even though he’s been completely clear for the past 6 months. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for eczema – just ways to manage it and keep it under control. The good news is there are lots of resources out there, so it’s just a matter of finding the right one for your specific case.
I hope I’ve helped a tiny bit, and I’m really praying for you and your son to find some relief.
Jennette
My 9 month old daughter just broke out last month. I’ve brought her to our family doctor, purchased the creams and lotions I was advised and just as I get one section under control she breaks out in another area. I have been reading up on eczema for the past few days trying to find tips and resources and my lord Sara, you maybe a life saver.
I will be trying this oatmeal bath first thing in the morning. I will be praying very hard this evening that it works for her.
im 27 and i suffer from eczema and allergies since im a kid, im from Brazil and my skin always had ups and downs there…now i live in Dublin, Ireland and the winter makes my skin so bad….im glad to have found this here, it really helps, my irish husband is so surprised… love it!
What would the recipe be for my husband. He is 6 feet and 2 dermatologists say he had dry skin and we have tried so many products. His itching is so bad he ends up with sores and it is driving him crazy. I have racked my brain and today I remembered hearing years back about oatmeal baths so I looked up on computer tonight and saw this sight. I would like to try this for my husband but don’t know how much to use for a bathtub. HELP!
LeaNecia, the main recipe is for a regular bath tub. You could of course increase some of the ingredients if you feel he needs it. Hope he feels some relief soon!
Because of this page I’ve added Oatmeal Baths to my list of homemade treatments for beating eczema. The first time I tried it I didn’t grind the Oatmeal enough AND I used a fast-cooking Oatmeal. After my bath I walked away as the tub drained. When I returned I thought someone had vomited all over my tub… and realized it was just the Oatmeal remaining. Geez I felt sick after looking at it.
In referencing Oatmeal Bahts I added a link on my blog to this page. http://wp.me/ps91S-uW
katherine Finucane
Would this remedy work well for my 4 year old who has just developed chicken pox but also has eczema? X
I’m not sure. I have no experience with chicken pox (except getting them when I was 7 years old, lol). I hope your LO is doing better now.
Monique
My son had a horrible, itchy heat rash all over his neck for weeks and this bath is the only thing that made it dry up. Thank you for sharing! My son thanks you too
Thank you for this recipe! We tried the soak this afternoon on our 5-year old, and it worked like magic! Better than any Rx cream! Going back for soak #2 tonight, followed by coconut oil applied directly to irritated areas.
Hi there my 3 month old has eczema from head to toe.We’ve tried steroid creams but it just gave him temporary relief.his doc told me to switch to soy formula it got even worse,so I stopped it on my own and so far his skin has improved. well now I know that dairy and soy is not good for him. My question is what can I feed him with since I barely have breastmilk
Hi Tammy, so sorry your little one is struggling! I don’t have experience with such young babies and eczema (especially with regards to formula, etc.), so I would advise that you consult with a naturopath who specializes in pediatrics and skin issues. Best of luck!
Kalyn
Do we bath them with soap during the bath after we soak or before or no?
Hi Kalyn, if you must use soap, I would do it before the soak, only because you don’t want to wash off all the oil and oatmeal since that’s where all the soothing action is. After the soak, just give a quick rinse with water and then pat the skin dry. The water does get pretty oily so any bath toys will definitely become greasy as well.
When I used this for my son, it wasn’t a nightly bath type of thing – more like a couple times a week. Also, be mindful of which soaps you’re using to bathe your child to make sure they’re not doing more harm than good! I highly recommend http://www.eczemacompany.com for these kinds of products, and especially their Emily Skin Soothers line, which has worked great for my son.
I have done all of these just not all the same time, first time I did the oatmeal bath I just threw it in lol ya come out with oatmeal all over ya. Also good when kids are sick add rosemary oil or lavender or lemon oil all have a soothing effect on ya mood except one of my sons came out red head to toe from the rosemary oil he was fine just a little reaction did not bother any one else.
Oh no! I’ve totally had oatmeal mishaps in the bath before too, haha! And glad your little guy was ok!
Maggie R
My 4 month old has eczema all over his chest, back, and scalp (like bad cradle cap). We tried this bath for the first time tonight and it definitely felt more soothing than just water! My son is all about eating his hands and is very active, even in the bath! Is this safe for a baby that young? He’s not like drinking the bath water but it did get on his hands and therefore in his mouth- as much as I tried to prevent it! Thanks!
I know all about babies getting bath water in their mouths – my youngest is 18 months and still insists on drinking the water, lol. But the small amount from his hands should be ok – it’s all edible ingredients, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it as long as he’s not taking big gulps of it. Hope your little guys gets some relief soon! I would highly recommend checking out The Eczema Company for anything eczema related – http://www.eczemacompany.com
Jana Smith
This was the best thing I have come across. My son was diagnosed with slapped cheek. It’s a big rash that takes 7-10 days to disappear. He wouldn’t stop clawing himself and none of the OTC lotions were giving him relief. Had him soak in this last night and it instantly took the redness away! He slept so good last night. We will do this nightly until he is better
Oh that’s so great, Jana! Glad your little guy has found some relief!
Gene
Just tried this! My skin is still dry and itchy from this passing winter and this bath really did the trick. My skin feels so soft and moisturized, I’ll definitely do it again!
I did this, even blended the oats to a powder, and it clogged the drain! Now I have to figure out how to fix that while trying to comfort my itching child!
Aww Deb, sorry it clogged the drain for you! I’ve never had that happen before as long as I finely blend them up. You might want to try putting the oats in a muslin bag next time and throwing the bag right into the water.
But, clogged drain aside, how did the bath work for you child? Hope he/she got some relief.
I would keep away from Vaseline and use something more breathable like Aquaphor or California Baby’s eczema cream. You might also consider getting him tested for food allergies, or doing an elimination diet and keeping a food journal to find out which foods might be causing his flare ups. Also consider some of the other tips we have in this post: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/how-im-managing-my-toddlers-eczema/
Gemma O'Brien
I would like to try this to manage my eczema. I live in Perth, Western Australia and I’n just wondering if bicarbonate soda is the same as baking soda? Could I use it instead? Thanks
Hii sarah.. This is nehha here from India..i m 30 years old and suffering from eczema on my hands neck and face…i read ur article and can understand ..even i hav a 14 months older daughter .cant touch and love her with my itchy skin…i just want to knw can i apply ur pack directly on skin..plz reply…i want my daughter my world back into my arms…
Hi Nehha, Thanks for reaching out, and I’m praying for relief for you soon! This recipe is made just for a bath, so it can’t be used as a pack on it’s own, unfortunately. It seems like your eczema may be pretty severe, and for that I would recommend getting in touch with my friend, Jennifer, at http://www.eczemacompany.com. She has a whole store with all kinds of products made just for those suffering with eczema. I’ve used some of her products in the past, which work great, and she is also available through email to answer questions and help you find the right products for you. Hope that helps, and best of luck to you!
Marcus
I pray this works for my daughter her eczema is so bad and she’s light skinned….it’s all over her entire body and she had such beautiful skin please God I hope this works for her
Oh Marcus, I hope this gives her some relief as well, poor thing. How old is your daughter? Have you pinpointed the underlying cause of her eczema yet? This bath is meant to be part of a whole treatment plan to help give relief while you work towards removing whatever triggers are causing her skin to flare up in the first place. Praying that she feels better soon.
Sara
I am 16 years old and I hv eczema. Instead of taking oatmeal bath can I use it as a face wash every morning? Will this work?
Hi Sara, this is mean to be used as a soak so the ingredients can have time to penetrate the skin and leave a protective layer over it. So no, I don’t think this will work as a face wash at all.
Tamara
Try adding powdered goats milk to the recipe also. I’ve added peppermint and lavender essential oils also.
Powdered goat’s milk – now that’s something I never thought of! Sounds very nourishing. I like adding essential oils as well, but make sure you’re mixing them with the ingredients, and not just putting them right into the water, so they disperse better. Also, if you’re using this for kids, I’d skip the essential oils completely, just to be safe.
Cassandra Chua
Hi
thanks for sharing about the oatmeal bath. I have eczema for many years, and due to long period of using steroids cream, that damage my skin top layer, left ugly skin tone on my legs. however, in order not to make it worst, can I soak my legs into a pail instead of using bath tub? and after soaking , still able to apply moisturizer ?
Oh Cassandra, steroids can be so rough on the body, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Yes, you can definitely soak just your legs in a pail and then moisturize afterwards, but you would cut down the amount of ingredients. You can use the baby bath tub recipe listed here.
toby
I was so sick of itchy skin that I would try anything but I now use the Aloe & Jojoba Therapy from Made From Earth. It has calmed my itchy skin it has a nice smell not over powering.
Monica
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for this article. I know this sounds silly but do you rinse your baby off after this bath?
Yes, I rinsed him off after with just plain water, lightly patted with a towel, and then rubbed some moisturizer on his skin immediately after.
Jenna
I’m 13 and I’ve had terrible eczema since I was an infant and it’s all on the back, front, the insides of my arms, under my knees, and on my bottom and back. I have tried so many things I’ve gone off gluten, dairy, and sugar and nothing has helped. I’ve done thi twice and haven’t seen any improvment. When should I start seeing improvment? Do you have any other ideas of anything that could help?
Oh Jenna, that sounds just awful. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Have you seen a specialist for your eczema at all? It’s important to know that eczema is just an external expression of an internal problem – usually a gut bacteria imbalance. I would suggest finding yourself a naturopath who specializes in pediatric eczema, if at all possible. I also have another post here that talks about some other things we did to manage my (then) toddler’s eczema. Also another one here about my favorite products for treating eczema symptoms. Wishing you lots of love and healing!
kelly
I had an allergic reaction to hair dye and my head it extremely itchy could I soak my head in the bath as well
I would definitely not soak my head in this. Besides the discomfort of trying to figure out how that would work, lol, you’d be coating your hair in oil, which would need to be washed out with a good cleanser. Depending on how severe your reaction is, using shampoos would probably not be such a great idea right now.
Irma
Hello and thank you for sharing this recipe.
I was wondering – Can I use coconut oil instead of olive oil? Or skip the oil altogether?
You’re welcome, Irma! You can absolutely skip the oil if you want. It’s in there for moisturizing effect and leaves a thin, moisture-locking layer on the skin. I’ve read that moisturizing no later than 3 minutes immediately after coming out of the bath can be very helpful as well. Hope that helps!
Medina
Hello My name is Medina. My son is 2 months old and has really bad dry skin. I do the oatmeal baths without the baking soda. My question is will the baking soda be too harsh on his skin?. Thank you
If you use the amounts recommended for the baby bath, that amount should be safe for his skin because it is very diluted in the water. Baking soda helps to ease the itching. You can also start with a smaller amount at first, and then work your way up. Hope that helps and best of luck to your little guy!
Fred Jones
I recently developed a severe skin rash from my neck to my toes. I and the surgeon attribute it to the bodywash product that was used 3 times prior to minor surgery on my leg. The product does say “don’t use it if you are allergic to it ” and also says that it shouldn’t be used repeatedly over large body areas unless otherwise indicated. I have been told that it was the hospital and doctors policy to do entire (except for head and genitals) body wash with each surgery.
Mopping down with peroxide and oatmeal baths have provided my only relief. If instructed to use DynaHex2 I recommend a thorough discussion with your doctor. Also do a test wash to determine whether you are allergic to the product.
Christina M.
As an adult with extremely sensitive skin I’m always looking for something to soothe my skin. This worked amazingly well!! I made a large batch of the finely ground oatmeal mixed with the baking soda and put it in a plastic container so it’s ready and handy anytime. Thanks so much for sharing.
I don’t see why not, it should be fine. Just know that instant oatmeal is highly processed so it may not be as nourishing since it’s been stripped of a lot of it’s nutrients.
Aminah
Assalamu alaikum sister, I did the oatmeal bath as stated above. I was wondering after the child soaks for 15-20minutes. Should you then wash him with whatever regular soap you use or just rince and take him out of the tub? Shukran
Wa alaikum assalam, sis. Just rinse him off with plain water and pat the skin dry. That way you don’t wash off all the oil and oatmeal, and it soaks into his skin to keep working after the bath.
Hind
I like it. My sking is so dry
Charmaine
Would it make a difference if it’s not the extra virgin olive oil but regular olive oil? Do I need to double or triple the amount if it’s a larger tub? My 18yr old has severe eczema all over his body and facial area that is weepy. Hes tried different medications that he’s become immune to a few and is now trying Protopic. Which is very expensive. Do u have a simple remedy for the facial area?
I don’t think it makes a difference which olive oil you use. I’m sorry, I don’t have a remedy for the facial area, but I’ll go ahead and point you to my favorite eczema resource, http://theeczemacompany.com, which has all kinds of products for different areas and issues related to eczema. Best of luck to you and your son!
Gretchen@HealthfulMama
This comes just at the right time! I live in the SW, where the humidity is LOW, and winter means constant itchy skin.
Brittney Minor
Pinned the recipe. Never know when you are going to have an itchy kid!
Brittany Thomas
We love oatmeal baths. It was so helpful for when my son’s eczema flared up last year. The kids think it’s hilarious to have oatmeal in their baths so it makes bath time fun as well.
Sarah
Haha, yep Yusuf gets a kick out of pouring oatmeal into the bath too!
Sherwin Saint
Should i rinse my bby with fresh water after soaking in the ostmeal bath?
Sarah
Yes, absolutely you can rinse with fresh water. I would just hold off on using soap so it doesn’t strip all the oils off his skin.
Chrystal @ Happy Mothering
I used to do oatmeal baths with my daughter when she had mild eczema. Now I’m the only one with it. I’ll have to try this with my hands.
Alicia @ Green Lifestyle Changes
We’ve done oatmeal baths but only with a store-bought mix. I’ve never heard of adding olive oil to the mix, but I would think you would come out greasy, has anyone tried this? I can totally see wrapping up an oiled up baby – i’m sure I used baby oil in the past – but I wonder how a bigger kid or adult would react to this? Has anyone tried that?
Rama pujara
Thank you for the Eczema tip. I shall definitely try it
Lynn
I swear by these three ingredients! I have developed a ‘winter itch’ which keeps me awake. Its so uncomfortable and NOTHING my G.P gave me took it away, or soothed it. I tried this last winter, but used baby oil. I have to say that I prefer EVOO. This mixture does work. After 6 nights of soaking I have relief
tami
hello,i have tryed over 60 diffrent remedies,oils,creams and more…my daughters excema has been so bad for 10 yrs.i would cry and pray.and i have found a miracle with this website.there is a god……everyone should try this…………….thankyou,so much……tami
Sarah
Oh Tami, I’m so glad to hear this is working for your sweet daughter. Blessings to you and your family.
Angie
My infant has eczema on her face only. Rather than soaking in the tub could I just wash her face with the mixture in a bowl of water? Would the mixture keep in the fridge so I could reuse it? This is my first experience dealing with eczema.
Sarah
I don’t think that would work as this is supposed to be a solution that you soak in for at least 10-15 minutes. You can check out my eczema post for some ideas on management here: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2013/12/06/how-im-managing-my-toddlers-eczema/
Joy Abbott
Use skin salvation cleared up my daughters eczema x
Aya
I have a five month old son with eczema on his face and torso. It came about mid to late December and I’m still trying to find the cause. My Naturopath said it was environmental toxins/heavy metals detoxing through his skin. We have him on supplements for detox, but have been putting hydrocortisone cream on his face because it was so bad. We have since stopped the cream and the rash came back with a vengeance, but the doctor said out had to finish coming out the skin before it gets better. Thank God out took a few days but out is finally getting better. His belly is still dry and itchy,but not nearly as bad as it was. He itches it constantly, and especially at night. I just made a cream with coconut oil, powdered oats and olive oil. So far, no itching!!
Sarah
I think I know which cream recipe you’re talking about – so glad it’s working for your son!
Melissa
Hi There! I was wondering if you could share the link for how you tackled the eczema with your naturopath? I was searching for it We too are working with our ND and this oatmeal bath recipe just gave our little man a LOT of relief after a horrible few months! Thank you for sharing!
Sarah
Hey! I can’t believe I didn’t update the post with the link! Here you go: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/how-im-managing-my-toddlers-eczema/
So glad your little guy got some much needed relief!
Cat
My baby started having severe eczema at three months (according to his pediatrician “the worst case he had seen in years). We took him to specialists, dermatologists, allergists, naturopaths… Dr’s don’t know really what to do – from my experience they simply guess. We tried every prescription, every cream, chinese medicine, praying, everything. Thousands of dollars. He ended up with sores all over his body, staph infections, scratching until he bled. My heart broke and he was going nuts with the itching. The only things that worked for us (after much trial and error):
An antihistimine when needed
AM:
1 cup of white vinegar in his bath
Sapo Hill fragrance free oatmeal soap
Pat dry
Apply organic virgin coconut oil
Apply 50/50 solution of water and organic vegetable glycerine (to lock in moisture)
Let dry
Apply clothes (100% cotton cleaned in Molly’s Suds laundry powder)
PM:
2 tablespoons of Aztec Secret bentonite clay and 3 tablespoons of sea salt to his bath
Sapo Hill fragrance free oatmeal soap
Pat dry
Apply organic virgin coconut oil
Apply 50/50 solution of water and organic vegetable glycerine
Let dry
Apply clothes (100% cotton cleaned in Molly’s Suds laundry powder)
Diet: Both mommy and baby (still BFing) free of all dairy, soy, nuts, and eggs
He is now a year. He hasn’t had an infection in months, his skin is smooth and his hot spots have significantly reduced. I am getting my beautiful baby back.
Everyone’s skin is different, but this is what worked for us – after months, after trying everything, after countless sleepless nights, after countless prayers, after crying hundreds of tears. There were nights we would sit in bathroom all night with wet compresses against his fragile skin to give him some relief. Infantile eczema is no joke and all of the prescriptions made his skin so much worse. God bless our poor babies for having to go through all this pain and discomfort.
Sarah
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Cat. I’m so sorry to hear about all the pain and discomfort your poor baby had to go through, but am even more happy that he’s finally getting some relief! God bless him. You’re such an awesome mom, he’s blessed to have you.
Nancy
My 3 month old has raging eczema. What is the recipe for this cream? I’m trying everything and hate to use the chemical crap that the dermatologist prescribed
Anna
Hi Aya, I read about the coconut oil cream that you made for your little one. Would you mind if I ask for exact amounts of the ingredients please? I would love to give this a try for my son. He is 10 years old but still get eczema flare ups occassionally. I hope to hear from you, thank you very much!
-Anna
Bailey (fellow eczema sufferer)
I would make a mask out of the ingredients after washing her face. That way it can stay on for a few minutes before rinsing it off:)
Rebecca Harrison
My daughter had a terrible bout of facial eczema when she was two and three years old. I was able to determine that peanuts were triggering it because of the high mildew content of the nuts. When I cut these out of her diet, and was super careful about any sugar on her face near her mouth, we finally got control of the rash. Emollient creams were also helpful.
Tammy
I have done all of these just not all the same time, first time I did the oatmeal bath I just threw it in lol ya come out with oatmeal all over ya. Also good when kids are sick add rosemary oil or lavender or lemon oil all have a soothing effect on ya mood except one of my sons came out red head to toe from the rosemary oil he was fine just a little reaction did not bother any one else.
Tiffany
My daughter has always suffered from eczema and other food related allergies. A few years back after eating certain foods her lips would get red, swell and itch. I put oats and a small amount of water in a cup, microwaved it for 45 seconds. I would dip my fingers in the liquid and rub that on her lips. Not only did it take away the itching, but the redness and swelling would go away within an hour or two. When I talked to her pediatrician about the issue and the treatment I provided he stated that the oats were the perfect solution.
Vicki
I am allergic to a few things, such as sunscreen, which leave me with a super itchy rash. I find that a handful of oatmeal in the toe of some pantyhose or socks, in the bath, works wonderfully for my itchy skin. I would take the little bag of oatmeal and rub it on the worst places. I haven’t tried the other ingredients added to it, but I know the oatmeal works.
Farzana
Hi there! Im really glad I saw this. I am going to try it. My 3 month old son has developed eczema on the side of his face. Poor kid isnt comfortable at all. Very restless in his sleep now. I was using coconut oil and OTC cream to help treat it. Fingers crossed I have same luck as you ladies in treating it.
Michelle
Can this be made ahead of time and stored?
Sarah
I wouldn’t do that – I’m not even sure what the consistency would be like. However, I like measure out the oatmeal and baking soda and store them together in little packets. Then when I’m ready to use it, I just dump a packet into the tub as it’s filling up and measure out the olive oil separately.
Dan
I have used the same ing for my son who has total alopecia, and eczema. the only difference being I add powdered milk to the dry ing , and store in a large container in the bathroom, and leave a scoop in the jar. he is an adult now, and has used very expensive ointments and creams, as well as oral meds, that did not work as well as this.
Sarah
Very interesting addition re: powdered milk. Thanks for sharing!
amama
My beautiful baby have eczema all over her body I tried a lot of thing but it just makes it worse, now I am going to try this my question is should I rinse her with water after the bath and I would like to say thankyou
Sarah
Yes, absolutely rinse with water afterwards. When she gets out, her skin will have a thin coat of oil on it. Good luck and you’re welcome!
amama
I tried this and it makes my baby skin worse and I took her to the doctor again this time he told me to take her to dermatologist and now its getting so much better
Sarah
I’m sorry about your baby’s skin, but I’m glad she’s feeling better now
sadaf
My 4 years daughter is suffering from atopic dermatatic,is it the same thing as excima??? Because the symptoms r same… Reddish itchy skin and sleepless nights.
Sherry Letienne
Hello & thank you for the recipe for eczema. I have used oatmeal bath type products for years for my eczema but I will be trying this one from now on. My biggest problem is I have eczema on my scalp & my head itches all the time. I even get sores on my head from it. Does anyone know of a recipe that works for the scalp?? Thanks!!
Kass
Try dottera essentail oils shampoo and conditioner, it completely cleared my eczema after years of sores and open scabs I have a healthy scalp again!
Ashlee
Do you think I could use baby oatmeal?
Sarah
I don’t see why not. I’d definitely try it!
Loretta
Any ideas how this could be tried with a bucket bath or shower. Where we live we don’t take soak up baths and my 7 year old has itchy skin. tks in advance
Sarah
The ingredients in the soak have to sit in the warm water for a while in order to infuse, and then the water has to be in contact with the skin for a good while in order to get the most benefit. The only thing I can think of is to prepare the mixture in a large bucket with water, then use a wash cloth to soak up the water and kind of massage it gently on the skin. I’m not sure how well it would work, but it’s worth a shot.
You could also check out some of these anti-itch remedies: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/11/24/natural-homemade-anti-itch-remedies/
Best of luck to you and your 7 yr old!
Katie
My son will not sit in the tub. He’s terrified of water but I put about a cup of oatmeal in a knee high, tie it off and throw it in the tub. He allows me to rub the wet slimy oatmeal ball on his flare up spot while he stands in the water. I’m going to try adding the other ingredients to a knee high with the oatmeal and rub that on his skin. That may also work on facial dry spots.
Sarah
That’s an interesting solution, Katie! Thanks for sharing
Aliya
Hi Sarah. Do u think my 6 months old son can have food related eczema? The doctor says he has an eczema. It is just awful… i have no patience with him any more. Every single night is a challenge. Non stop crying and scratching to blood. Desonide cream helps only when u put it on him. And only 7-10 days. What to do the other 20 days i dont know. Tried herb, oatmeal, bleach, bay leaves baths. Will try your receipy. His skin is still red and sooo dry and it is all over his body(
Sarah
Hi Aliya, I’m not sure if it would still be food-related when he’s so young, though it may be possible if you’re breastfeeding. Eczema has so many different triggers, that it could be anything from the products you use on his skin, to the detergent you wash his clothes in, to the wipes you use when you change his diaper. We actually went to a naturopathic doctor who helped us tremendously, so that’s where I would look because they help you get to the root cause of the issue instead of just prescribing a cream that only works temporarily.
So, if you haven’t already, try switching to a natural (or homemade) laundry detergent, be very mindful of what you use on his skin (coconut oil, calendula cream, and chamomile are really great, healing, and moisturizing), and try to keep his skin moisturized constantly.
I reviewed some products from a great company called The Eczema Company (http://www.eczemacompany.com/) not too long ago. Check out their site, and try emailing Jennifer, the owner/founder, as she’s also really helpful and may have more info and tips for you since she also has little ones with eczema.
I know the weather is cooling down, which means drier air, which means itchier skin. My son’s skin is slowly starting to flare up now, even though he’s been completely clear for the past 6 months. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for eczema – just ways to manage it and keep it under control. The good news is there are lots of resources out there, so it’s just a matter of finding the right one for your specific case.
I hope I’ve helped a tiny bit, and I’m really praying for you and your son to find some relief.
Jennette
My 9 month old daughter just broke out last month. I’ve brought her to our family doctor, purchased the creams and lotions I was advised and just as I get one section under control she breaks out in another area. I have been reading up on eczema for the past few days trying to find tips and resources and my lord Sara, you maybe a life saver.
I will be trying this oatmeal bath first thing in the morning. I will be praying very hard this evening that it works for her.
Thank you for sharing ❤️
Sarah UmmYusuf
I hope it works for her, Jennette!
flora baes
im 27 and i suffer from eczema and allergies since im a kid, im from Brazil and my skin always had ups and downs there…now i live in Dublin, Ireland and the winter makes my skin so bad….im glad to have found this here, it really helps, my irish husband is so surprised… love it!
Sarah
So happy you’ve found some relief, Flora!
LeaNecia Montgomery
What would the recipe be for my husband. He is 6 feet and 2 dermatologists say he had dry skin and we have tried so many products. His itching is so bad he ends up with sores and it is driving him crazy. I have racked my brain and today I remembered hearing years back about oatmeal baths so I looked up on computer tonight and saw this sight. I would like to try this for my husband but don’t know how much to use for a bathtub. HELP!
Sarah UmmYusuf
LeaNecia, the main recipe is for a regular bath tub. You could of course increase some of the ingredients if you feel he needs it. Hope he feels some relief soon!
Pyra-Danny
Because of this page I’ve added Oatmeal Baths to my list of homemade treatments for beating eczema. The first time I tried it I didn’t grind the Oatmeal enough AND I used a fast-cooking Oatmeal.
After my bath I walked away as the tub drained. When I returned I thought someone had vomited all over my tub… and realized it was just the Oatmeal remaining. Geez I felt sick after looking at it.
In referencing Oatmeal Bahts I added a link on my blog to this page.
http://wp.me/ps91S-uW
katherine Finucane
Would this remedy work well for my 4 year old who has just developed chicken pox but also has eczema? X
Sarah
I’m not sure. I have no experience with chicken pox (except getting them when I was 7 years old, lol). I hope your LO is doing better now.
Monique
My son had a horrible, itchy heat rash all over his neck for weeks and this bath is the only thing that made it dry up. Thank you for sharing! My son thanks you too
Sarah
Oh Monique, I’m so glad it’s helping your son!
Kristen
Thank you for this recipe! We tried the soak this afternoon on our 5-year old, and it worked like magic! Better than any Rx cream! Going back for soak #2 tonight, followed by coconut oil applied directly to irritated areas.
Sarah
That’s great, Kristen! Happy to hear it!
Tammy derose
Hi there my 3 month old has eczema from head to toe.We’ve tried steroid creams but it just gave him temporary relief.his doc told me to switch to soy formula it got even worse,so I stopped it on my own and so far his skin has improved. well now I know that dairy and soy is not good for him. My question is what can I feed him with since I barely have breastmilk
Sarah
Hi Tammy, so sorry your little one is struggling! I don’t have experience with such young babies and eczema (especially with regards to formula, etc.), so I would advise that you consult with a naturopath who specializes in pediatrics and skin issues. Best of luck!
Kalyn
Do we bath them with soap during the bath after we soak or before or no?
Also are toys in the tub fine?
Sarah
Hi Kalyn, if you must use soap, I would do it before the soak, only because you don’t want to wash off all the oil and oatmeal since that’s where all the soothing action is. After the soak, just give a quick rinse with water and then pat the skin dry. The water does get pretty oily so any bath toys will definitely become greasy as well.
When I used this for my son, it wasn’t a nightly bath type of thing – more like a couple times a week. Also, be mindful of which soaps you’re using to bathe your child to make sure they’re not doing more harm than good! I highly recommend http://www.eczemacompany.com for these kinds of products, and especially their Emily Skin Soothers line, which has worked great for my son.
Hope that helps!
Maria
I have done all of these just not all the same time, first time I did the oatmeal bath I just threw it in lol ya come out with oatmeal all over ya. Also good when kids are sick add rosemary oil or lavender or lemon oil all have a soothing effect on ya mood except one of my sons came out red head to toe from the rosemary oil he was fine just a little reaction did not bother any one else.
Sarah
Oh no! I’ve totally had oatmeal mishaps in the bath before too, haha! And glad your little guy was ok!
Maggie R
My 4 month old has eczema all over his chest, back, and scalp (like bad cradle cap). We tried this bath for the first time tonight and it definitely felt more soothing than just water! My son is all about eating his hands and is very active, even in the bath! Is this safe for a baby that young? He’s not like drinking the bath water but it did get on his hands and therefore in his mouth- as much as I tried to prevent it! Thanks!
Sarah
I know all about babies getting bath water in their mouths – my youngest is 18 months and still insists on drinking the water, lol. But the small amount from his hands should be ok – it’s all edible ingredients, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it as long as he’s not taking big gulps of it. Hope your little guys gets some relief soon! I would highly recommend checking out The Eczema Company for anything eczema related – http://www.eczemacompany.com
Jana Smith
This was the best thing I have come across. My son was diagnosed with slapped cheek. It’s a big rash that takes 7-10 days to disappear. He wouldn’t stop clawing himself and none of the OTC lotions were giving him relief. Had him soak in this last night and it instantly took the redness away! He slept so good last night. We will do this nightly until he is better
Sarah
Oh that’s so great, Jana! Glad your little guy has found some relief!
Gene
Just tried this! My skin is still dry and itchy from this passing winter and this bath really did the trick. My skin feels so soft and moisturized, I’ll definitely do it again!
Sarah UmmYusuf
Yay! So happy it worked for you, Gene!
Deb
I did this, even blended the oats to a powder, and it clogged the drain! Now I have to figure out how to fix that while trying to comfort my itching child!
Sarah UmmYusuf
Aww Deb, sorry it clogged the drain for you! I’ve never had that happen before as long as I finely blend them up. You might want to try putting the oats in a muslin bag next time and throwing the bag right into the water.
But, clogged drain aside, how did the bath work for you child? Hope he/she got some relief.
Julia
Do we need to rinse off ?
Sarah UmmYusuf
Yes, rinse off with warm water, but avoid using soap so it doesn’t remove all the oils.
Toccara
My nine month have it in his scalp and he’s scratching sore I’ve put grease and Vaseline on it no help is there something I could use
Sarah UmmYusuf
I would keep away from Vaseline and use something more breathable like Aquaphor or California Baby’s eczema cream. You might also consider getting him tested for food allergies, or doing an elimination diet and keeping a food journal to find out which foods might be causing his flare ups. Also consider some of the other tips we have in this post: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/how-im-managing-my-toddlers-eczema/
Gemma O'Brien
I would like to try this to manage my eczema.
I live in Perth, Western Australia and I’n just wondering if bicarbonate soda is the same as baking soda? Could I use it instead?
Thanks
Sarah UmmYusuf
Yes it is!
Nehha Agarwal
Hii sarah..
This is nehha here from India..i m 30 years old and suffering from eczema on my hands neck and face…i read ur article and can understand ..even i hav a 14 months older daughter .cant touch and love her with my itchy skin…i just want to knw can i apply ur pack directly on skin..plz reply…i want my daughter my world back into my arms…
Sarah UmmYusuf
Hi Nehha, Thanks for reaching out, and I’m praying for relief for you soon! This recipe is made just for a bath, so it can’t be used as a pack on it’s own, unfortunately. It seems like your eczema may be pretty severe, and for that I would recommend getting in touch with my friend, Jennifer, at http://www.eczemacompany.com. She has a whole store with all kinds of products made just for those suffering with eczema. I’ve used some of her products in the past, which work great, and she is also available through email to answer questions and help you find the right products for you. Hope that helps, and best of luck to you!
Marcus
I pray this works for my daughter her eczema is so bad and she’s light skinned….it’s all over her entire body and she had such beautiful skin please God I hope this works for her
Sarah UmmYusuf
Oh Marcus, I hope this gives her some relief as well, poor thing. How old is your daughter? Have you pinpointed the underlying cause of her eczema yet? This bath is meant to be part of a whole treatment plan to help give relief while you work towards removing whatever triggers are causing her skin to flare up in the first place. Praying that she feels better soon.
Sara
I am 16 years old and I hv eczema. Instead of taking oatmeal bath can I use it as a face wash every morning? Will this work?
Sarah UmmYusuf
Hi Sara, this is mean to be used as a soak so the ingredients can have time to penetrate the skin and leave a protective layer over it. So no, I don’t think this will work as a face wash at all.
Tamara
Try adding powdered goats milk to the recipe also. I’ve added peppermint and lavender essential oils also.
Sarah UmmYusuf
Powdered goat’s milk – now that’s something I never thought of! Sounds very nourishing. I like adding essential oils as well, but make sure you’re mixing them with the ingredients, and not just putting them right into the water, so they disperse better. Also, if you’re using this for kids, I’d skip the essential oils completely, just to be safe.
Cassandra Chua
Hi
thanks for sharing about the oatmeal bath. I have eczema for many years, and due to long period of using steroids cream, that damage my skin top layer, left ugly skin tone on my legs. however, in order not to make it worst, can I
soak my legs into a pail instead of using bath tub? and after soaking , still able to apply moisturizer ?
kindly advise
thank you.
Sarah UmmYusuf
Oh Cassandra, steroids can be so rough on the body, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Yes, you can definitely soak just your legs in a pail and then moisturize afterwards, but you would cut down the amount of ingredients. You can use the baby bath tub recipe listed here.
toby
I was so sick of itchy skin that I would try anything but I now use the Aloe & Jojoba Therapy from Made From Earth. It has calmed my itchy skin it has a nice smell not over powering.
Monica
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for this article. I know this sounds silly but do you rinse your baby off after this bath?
Sarah UmmYusuf
Yes, I rinsed him off after with just plain water, lightly patted with a towel, and then rubbed some moisturizer on his skin immediately after.
Jenna
I’m 13 and I’ve had terrible eczema since I was an infant and it’s all on the back, front, the insides of my arms, under my knees, and on my bottom and back. I have tried so many things I’ve gone off gluten, dairy, and sugar and nothing has helped. I’ve done thi twice and haven’t seen any improvment. When should I start seeing improvment? Do you have any other ideas of anything that could help?
Sarah UmmYusuf
Oh Jenna, that sounds just awful. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Have you seen a specialist for your eczema at all? It’s important to know that eczema is just an external expression of an internal problem – usually a gut bacteria imbalance. I would suggest finding yourself a naturopath who specializes in pediatric eczema, if at all possible. I also have another post here that talks about some other things we did to manage my (then) toddler’s eczema. Also another one here about my favorite products for treating eczema symptoms. Wishing you lots of love and healing!
kelly
I had an allergic reaction to hair dye and my head it extremely itchy could I soak my head in the bath as well
Sarah UmmYusuf
I would definitely not soak my head in this. Besides the discomfort of trying to figure out how that would work, lol, you’d be coating your hair in oil, which would need to be washed out with a good cleanser. Depending on how severe your reaction is, using shampoos would probably not be such a great idea right now.
Irma
Hello and thank you for sharing this recipe.
I was wondering – Can I use coconut oil instead of olive oil? Or skip the oil altogether?
Thank you
Sarah UmmYusuf
You’re welcome, Irma! You can absolutely skip the oil if you want. It’s in there for moisturizing effect and leaves a thin, moisture-locking layer on the skin. I’ve read that moisturizing no later than 3 minutes immediately after coming out of the bath can be very helpful as well. Hope that helps!
Medina
Hello My name is Medina. My son is 2 months old and has really bad dry skin. I do the oatmeal baths without the baking soda. My question is will the baking soda be too harsh on his skin?. Thank you
Sarah UmmYusuf
Hi Medina,
If you use the amounts recommended for the baby bath, that amount should be safe for his skin because it is very diluted in the water. Baking soda helps to ease the itching. You can also start with a smaller amount at first, and then work your way up. Hope that helps and best of luck to your little guy!
Fred Jones
I recently developed a severe skin rash from my neck to my toes. I and the surgeon attribute it to the bodywash product that was used 3 times prior to minor surgery on my leg. The product does say “don’t use it if you are allergic to it ” and also says that it shouldn’t be used repeatedly over large body areas unless otherwise indicated. I have been told that it was the hospital and doctors policy to do entire (except for head and genitals) body wash with each surgery.
Mopping down with peroxide and oatmeal baths have provided my only relief. If instructed to use DynaHex2 I recommend a thorough discussion with your doctor. Also do a test wash to determine whether you are allergic to the product.
Christina M.
As an adult with extremely sensitive skin I’m always looking for something to soothe my skin. This worked amazingly well!! I made a large batch of the finely ground oatmeal mixed with the baking soda and put it in a plastic container so it’s ready and handy anytime. Thanks so much for sharing.
Sarah UmmYusuf
So glad it worked for you, Christina! Love the pre-mixing idea too.
Laurie
I’m suffering from some kind of bites. They are very painful and itch like crazy. Any ideas. Prescriptions are not working. Help!
Sarah UmmYusuf
You might want to try some of the ideas in this post: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/natural-bee-sting-remedies/
annupamaa
can i use regular instant oatmeal?
Sarah UmmYusuf
I don’t see why not, it should be fine. Just know that instant oatmeal is highly processed so it may not be as nourishing since it’s been stripped of a lot of it’s nutrients.
Aminah
Assalamu alaikum sister, I did the oatmeal bath as stated above. I was wondering after the child soaks for 15-20minutes. Should you then wash him with whatever regular soap you use or just rince and take him out of the tub? Shukran
Sarah UmmYusuf
Wa alaikum assalam, sis. Just rinse him off with plain water and pat the skin dry. That way you don’t wash off all the oil and oatmeal, and it soaks into his skin to keep working after the bath.
Hind
I like it. My sking is so dry
Charmaine
Would it make a difference if it’s not the extra virgin olive oil but regular olive oil? Do I need to double or triple the amount if it’s a larger tub? My 18yr old has severe eczema all over his body and facial area that is weepy. Hes tried different medications that he’s become immune to a few and is now trying Protopic. Which is very expensive. Do u have a simple remedy for the facial area?
Sarah UmmYusuf
I don’t think it makes a difference which olive oil you use. I’m sorry, I don’t have a remedy for the facial area, but I’ll go ahead and point you to my favorite eczema resource, http://theeczemacompany.com, which has all kinds of products for different areas and issues related to eczema. Best of luck to you and your son!