Oat Flour & Skin Care

Oat flour is a type of flour made from oats. It is gluten-free and some people use the flour as a replacement for traditional wheat flour. You can buy oat flour at health food stores or make your own by blending oats into a powder. In home medicine, oats have been used as a traditional skin treatment.

Benefits

Many cultures traditionally use oatmeal to soothe irritated skin. Herbalists have long recommended oats for a number of skin conditions. Oat flour may help to soften and moisturize your skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. You can also use oat flour to minimize scarring from acne or chicken pox. Oat flour helps to relieve itching associated with poison ivy or mosquito bites. Generally, oats act as an anti-inflammatory and prevent itching when applied topically.

Research

Eucerin Ingredients

Learn More

Research has validated claims that oats have potential skin benefits. A 2008 study published in the “Archives of Dermatological Research” examined oats to discover if oats do help the skin 1. Researchers found that the phytochemicals and avenanthramides in oats reduced inflammation and scratching in a murine itch model. Researchers concluded that oats contain active ingredients that soothe the skin by reducing irritants. A 2010 review in the “Journal of Drugs in Dermatology” stated that oats are effective in treating psoriasis, dermatitis and rashes.

Oat Flour Paste

Oat flour in the form of a paste can treat your skin when applied topically. Combine oat flour and hot water to form a paste. You can use as much water as you like depending on what type of consistency you would like for the paste. Leave the paste on for a few minutes and then rinse it off. You can use this as a daily moisturizing treatment. This paste also works for rashes, insect bites or other acute skin problems. You can also add oat flour to your bath for an all-over moisturizer or for itch relief.

Mask

How to Reduce Keratin

Learn More

You can use oat flour to make a beauty mask. Mix 2 tablespoons of oat flour in 2 tablespoons of hot water and ½ tablespoon of honey. Add a drop of lemon juice or sprinkle of cinnamon to the mixture. Allow the mixture to sit for five to ten minutes before you apply to your face. Rinse your face with warm water and apply the mask while your skin is still damp. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and rinse completely.