If you experience itchy, inflamed skin, try making an easy oatmeal paste to help relieve the itch of diaper rash, shingles, hives, poison ivy, eczema, psoriasis, or bug bites.
Or add 1 cup of oats to a bath and soak for 10-15 minutes. To avoid clogging the drain, put the oats in a mesh bag (paid link) or thin sock tied at the open end rather than putting oats directly in the water.
In 1989, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved colloidal oatmeal (powdered oats) as a safe and effective over-the-counter drug. In 2003, the FDA noted that colloidal oatmeal could relieve irritation and itching, providing temporary skin protection.
Oatmeal is great for the skin, which is why we put colloidal oatmeal in so many Corum personal care products. Oats are a powerful ingredient because they:
Pour 1/3-1 cup rolled oats or colloidal oatmeal (powdered oats) into a muslin or nylon bag or a thin sock.
Soak in warm water for about a minute.
Work the water throughout the oats and squeeze out excess.
Apply to the inflamed area for 10-15 minutes. Remove, rinse, and pat dry.
Immediately apply Corum Soothing Malassezia Moisturizer or plain MCT oil (paid link) to the area.
Use Corum Barrier Repair Malassezia-safe No-rinse Hydrating Cleanser once or twice a day to cleanse the area.
If symptoms persist for more than a few days, seek medical attention.
If you experience swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing, or light-headedness, seek medical attention immediately.
If you are trying to help a child with skin irritation or an allergic reaction, please seek advice from your child’s pediatrician to determine the cause of the problem.
To relieve discomfort for a child under the age of 2, I would start with an oatmeal bath or paste, depending on how much of the skin is affected by the rash, and then several times a day I would apply MCT oil (paid link) that would seal in moisture but not compromise the skin flora balance.
For children over age 2, once a day I would cleanse my child’s skin with a soft wet cloth and Corum Malassezia-Safe Barrier Repair Oil Cleanser and follow with Corum Lavender & Rose Malassezia Moisturizer twice a day. I would expect to see improvement over the next few days.
Once the skin barrier returns to normal I would begin to use a more nourishing, but still minimalistic skincare routine.
