HOME REMEDIES

From oatmeal baths to olive oil, here are the best cures you can whip up at home

- Lisa Bendall

FOR DRY, ITCHY SKIN: TAKE AN OATMEAL BATH

Several studies show the benefits of this traditional breakfast grain for treating skin symptoms. One 2020 trial, for instance, found that patients with eczema showed more improvement when their hand creams contained colloidal oatmeal (colloidal means the grains are pulverised into dust and mixed thoroughly into the lotion or solution).

“Oatmeal has anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, soothing properties, and it improves the skin’s direct barrier,” says Dr Sandy Skotnicki, a dermatologist in the department of medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada. This is thanks to the grain’s natural antioxidants, proteins and other special compounds. The starch and fibre in oatmeal also help draw moisture to the skin. 

You can make your own colloidal oatmeal by breaking down rolled oats with a coffee grinder or blender. Tie one cup of the oats into a sachet bag and immerse it in lukewarm bathwater. Just be careful getting in—the bath might get a bit slippery. And don’t oversoak your skin, as this can cause irritation. 

“The data has shown that a quick bath of less than ten minutes every day can be helpful, followed by application of a moisturiser that helps repair the skin barrier,” says Dr Skotnicki, adding that it’s best to look for a product that says it treats eczema, even if that’s not what you have. “Not all moisturisers are created equal. Those are the best, in part because they’re formulated without allergens.”

FOR JOINT PAIN: GO ON A BRISK WALK