Colloidal Oatmeal for Baby Eczema: How It Works and When to Use It

Is there anything smoother to the touch than a baby’s skin?

While babies have enviably soft skin, this often comes with increased sensitivity, as their epidermis is still developing.  This sensitivity makes your baby’s skin more susceptible to irritation, rashes, or skin conditions like eczema. In fact, up to 1 in 4 babies develop eczema, often within the first few months of their lives. 

Baby eczema manifests as red, dry, itchy, and flaky skin. Seeing your little one go through visible discomfort due to eczema can be stressful and make you feel helpless. And trying to find a gentle product without any harmful chemicals that can irritate your baby’s skin further can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

Enter: colloidal oatmeal, a plant-based baby eczema ingredient that’s shown to help soothe your little one’s itchy skin. Here’s the down-low on what colloidal oatmeal for baby eczema is, how it works, and when to use it. 

What is Colloidal Oatmeal? Why is It Effective for Baby Eczema?

Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground whole oat grain suspended in liquid (mostly water) and boiled. This favorite skincare ingredient is made by turning whole oat groats (i.e. unprocessed oats with the bran and germ intact) into a very fine powder that mixes evenly with water. 

It’s worth noting that you need to use whole oat groats as opposed to rolled or steel-cut oats, as only the former has all of its nutrients intact. It’s these nutrients that will support your baby’s skin health.

The word “colloidal” here refers to the fine powder’s ability to stay suspended in the liquid instead of clumping together or sinking to the bottom. This property allows it to spread evenly over your baby’s skin, making it an effective natural skincare ingredient.

How to Make Colloidal Oatmeal 

To prepare colloidal oatmeal at home:

1. Grind the oat groats using a blender until you get a fine powder. 

2. To test whether it’s blended enough, mix a spoonful of the powder with water. The water should turn milky white and feel silky to the touch. If it doesn’t, back into the blender it goes. 

3. Once the powder is ready, mix it with water and boil it, as that’s what helps bring out the skin-helping colloidal materials. 

4. Your home-made colloidal oatmeal is done.

Colloidal oatmeal is celebrated as a pediatric skincare ingredient because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moisturizing properties. It’s also gentle enough to use on a baby’s delicate skin. In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorized it as a skin protectant, while Health Canada recognizes it as a natural health product skin protectant. You’ll find it in baby skincare products, such as shampoos, lotions, cleansers, and eczema creams (such as Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel). 

How Does Colloidal Oatmeal Help Baby Eczema?

Dr. John Papastergiou, Assistant Professor at Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, says that true colloidal oatmeal is exceptionally gentle and soothing. “When used correctly, it’s one of the safest first steps for calming baby skin irritation,” he says.

Here’s the science behind how colloidal oatmeal soothes baby eczema.

1. Supports Skin Barrier Protection

The skin is made up of layers, with the outermost layer (known as the skin barrier or moisture barrier) playing a crucial role in maintaining skin health by performing the following functions:

• Prevents water loss from your skin, keeping it hydrated

• Acts as a shield against external irritants, allergens, and bacteria, making sure they can’t get in

In people with eczema, this barrier is compromised, letting external irritants get under the skin and trigger a flare-up. Infants naturally have a thinner moisture barrier, making their skin more prone to irritation, which can lead to frequent eczema flare-ups. 

Source.

This means repairing the skin barrier is one of the first steps to soothing baby eczema. Colloidal oatmeal works to strengthen your baby’s skin barrier by:

• Creating a shield over your baby’s skin, preventing moisture loss

• Boosting the production of proteins and fatty acids that are important in preserving the integrity of the moisture barrier

• Promoting a balanced skin pH, which protects skin against harmful bacteria

2. Moisturizes Skin

A thinner skin barrier results in increased water loss from your little one’s skin, leading to dry and flaky skin. The water loss causes the cells that make up the moisture barrier to shrivel, giving way to gaps within the outermost layer. This makes it easier for outside irritants to get under your baby’s skin, causing itching, irritation, or redness. 

Colloidal oatmeal contains complex natural sugars (known as beta-glucans) and starches that pull water into the skin and help it stay there by creating an invisible, breathable layer over the skin. This not only reduces dryness by giving your baby’s skin the hydration it needs, but also softens and smoothens the skin texture. 

3. Reduces Inflammation and Itching

Inflammation and itching have a two-way relationship with eczema, where one can trigger the other. Colloidal oatmeal has plant chemicals with antioxidant properties called avenanthramides that calm inflammation and itching by suppressing the proteins (known as cytokines) that cause them in the first place. This reduces itching, swelling, redness, and inflammation, making colloidal oatmeal great for soothing a baby's eczema rash.

Colloidal oatmeal also has other antioxidant-rich compounds such as Vitamin E and ferulic acid that fight unstable molecules (known as free radicals) that can damage your baby’s skin and worsen inflammation.

Bottom line: Colloidal oatmeal helps provide relief during eczema flare-ups by strengthening your baby’s skin barrier, moisturizing skin, and calming symptoms like inflammation, itching, and redness (preventing them from feeding the eczema loop). 

And it’s not just an old wives’ tale, either. Several scientific studies have proven its efficacy in treating baby eczema. This study, conducted on a group of pediatric patients with eczema, found a significant improvement in skin barrier thickness, dryness, itching, and cracking after one month of using colloidal oatmeal. 

How to Use Colloidal Oatmeal for Baby Eczema

To soothe irritation and itchiness, you can either give your baby a colloidal oatmeal bath, apply a topical cream with colloidal oatmeal as one of its active ingredients, or do both. 

Here’s how to give an oatmeal bath for your baby:

1. Prepare a cup of fine colloidal oatmeal powder. You can either purchase a ready-made packet or DIY it with whole oat groats. 

2. Run a bath as you usually do with warm water. Make sure the water isn’t too hot, as that can dry your baby’s delicate skin. 

3. Once the tub is filled, start dissolving the oatmeal powder in the water one teaspoon at a time. Mix it with your hand. If you’re using a baby bathtub, 1/3rd of a cup of colloidal oatmeal should be enough. If you’re using a full bathtub, use a full cup of powder. 

4. Once the powder is completely dissolved, the water should look cloudy. Your baby’s colloidal oatmeal bath is ready. 

5. Place your baby in the bathtub and gently rinse them off with the colloidal oatmeal solution. Don’t use soap or any other cleansers, as colloidal oatmeal itself is a gentle cleanser that lifts away impurities without irritating the skin or stripping it of its natural oils. 

6. Let your baby soak for 10-15 minutes to give the oatmeal some time to soothe their skin. You can gently splash them with water and make bath time fun. Make sure to always hold on to your baby, though, as the colloidal oatmeal makes the tub slippery.

7. Once the time is up, pat (don’t rub) your little one dry with a soft cotton towel and apply a colloidal oatmeal-based moisturizer (such as Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel) to flare-up zones to further soothe and hydrate their skin. 

If your baby is experiencing an active eczema flare-up, you can add colloidal oatmeal baths and spot treatments for flare-up zones to their daily routine. It’s not necessary during non-flare-up times, and a gentle, hypoallergenic moisturizer will do. 

Choosing the Right Product

Whether you want to whip up some colloidal oatmeal yourself at home or go store-bought, the choice is entirely yours. There are some things you need to keep in mind, though. 

When DIY-ing it, make sure the oats are ground fine enough to avoid any chunky bits that could potentially rub against your infant’s skin and cause irritation. When buying ready-made packets or other colloidal oatmeal-based products, choose ones that are hypoallergenic, fragrance- and dye-free, and don’t contain any additives. Look for baby-specific ones that are 100% pure colloidal oatmeal. 

If this is your first time using colloidal oatmeal for your infant’s eczema, it’s natural to be anxious that it’ll end up irritating your baby’s skin. But, Dr. Papastergiou says that you don’t have anything to worry about, as it’s an extremely gentle and soothing natural remedy for baby eczema when appropriately used. “The key is making sure the product is pure, fragrance free, and actually contains colloidal, not just 'oat extract' or 'oat essence',” he says. 

He further adds that fragrances, even the ‘natural’ ones, are a big no-no as they’re the #1 offenders when it comes to irritating your baby’s skin. Some other ingredients that he recommends you avoid include sulfates, parabens, essential oils, and harsh preservatives like methylisothiazolinone. 

His advice is that for babies, simpler is always better. “Look for products with short, transparent ingredient lists, ideally with clinical or pediatric backing.”

When Colloidal Oatmeal Isn’t Enough

While colloidal oatmeal is great at soothing baby eczema, it’s not a magic cure. Nor does it tackle any internal issues that may be triggering your baby’s eczema, such as their gut and immune health. 

Dr. Papastergiou says that eczema isn’t just a surface-level issue. “While we see the redness and dryness on the skin, what’s happening internally, especially with the immune system and gut, can be just as important.” He further cautions that food sensitivities, stress, or even early immune dysregulation can all trigger inflammation in your baby, setting off an eczema flare-up. 

If your baby is experiencing frequent episodes, it might be a sign that they need broader, holistic care that addresses the underlying causes. Dr. Papastergiou says he often sees better results in baby eczema patients when a holistic approach to their treatment is taken, one that includes internal support and not just topical care. 

Even if the issue isn’t internal, colloidal oatmeal still may not be enough during severe flare-ups. In these cases, Dr. Papastergiou says layering your baby’s skin with barrier-repairing creams, using soothing botanicals like calendula or licorice root, and supporting the gut through gentle diet changes can make a big difference. "It's also important to reduce household triggers like synthetic detergents and environmental dryness,” he says.

You may also have heard of steroids as a fast-acting treatment option, but we generally recommend against them because of their side effects, especially with long-term use. Dr. Papastergiou says that he always encourages his patients to start with natural options when possible. “With consistent use of gentle, plant-based products and smart lifestyle changes, many families find they can manage eczema effectively without needing steroids daily,” he says.

Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel, formulated with gentle, plant-based ingredients, offers soothing eczema relief for your baby. Safe, steroid-free, and dermatologist-approved. 
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Additional Tips for Managing Baby Eczema Holistically

In addition to giving your baby colloidal oatmeal baths and using topical treatments, making these simple lifestyle changes may help ease your baby’s eczema symptoms further. 

• Keep baths short. Long and hot baths can dry out your little one’s skin, making eczema symptoms worse, so limit baths to 5-10 minutes and use warm water. 

• Treat flare-up zones. Applying spot treatment to your baby’s affected areas immediately after bathing will help lock in the moisture within their skin, providing extra relief. You can use a gentle, steroid-free, plant-based cream like Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel.

• Use cotton clothes. Dress your baby in loose-fitting clothes and avoid scratchy fabric. Cotton is your best bet as it’s a natural fabric that won’t irritate your baby’s skin. We recommend organic cotton clothes made without dyes or any harmful chemicals. 

• Add more anti-inflammatory foods to their diet: These include leafy greens, veggies and fruits, beans, and lentils. Not only do they help in suppressing inflammation, but they also promote good gut health and immunity, which is very important for a baby’s development. 

• Use a humidifier: When it’s dry outside (such as during winter), your baby’s skin also dries out. Use a humidifier to add more moisture to the air in the room, preventing dry skin. 

• Avoid harsh products: Be it soaps, cleansers, or detergents, make sure you only use fragrance-free, non-foaming, and hypoallergenic products for your baby. The goal here is to prevent products that use harsh chemicals that can irritate your infant’s skin and trigger a flare-up. 

When making these changes, consistency and patience are key. For best results, keep at it for at least 6-8 weeks. 

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult a pediatrician immediately:

• Fever

• Worsening rashes, redness, or flakiness despite trying the above-mentioned tips consistently

• Rashes that are warm to the touch

• Infection which shows up as pus-filled blisters, yellowed crusting and scabbing, or oozing skin

• Poor sleep 

Consult a pediatrician as soon as any baby eczema symptoms start to appear, even if you’re trying out natural remedies. Natural care can coexist with medical care. 

Seeing your little ones in distress can be difficult. Still, there are several plant-based options like colloidal oatmeal baths and topical creams formulated with colloidal oatmeal that can provide gentle baby eczema care. Add them to your baby’s skin care routine along with some lifestyle and dietary changes, and you’ll be able to see some tangible results within two months. 

Soothe baby eczema naturally by calming inflammation, reducing irritation, and strengthening your infant’s skin barrier with Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel. 
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FAQs

Is colloidal oatmeal good for baby eczema?

Yes, colloidal oatmeal is good for baby eczema as it moisturizes the baby’s skin, helps repair their compromised skin barrier, and reduces inflammation and itching. 

Is colloidal oatmeal safe for newborns?

Yes, pure colloidal oatmeal is generally safe for newborns when used as directed. Always choose a fragrance free, dye free formula specifically made for babies, and do a small patch test before the first full bath.

How to treat baby eczema holistically?

You can manage baby eczema naturally by providing external support (through colloidal oatmeal baths and spot treatment gels like Phoilex’s Active ReLeaf Spot Gel) and internal support (such as promoting gut and immune health).