Ingredient glossary / Skin protectant
Colloidal oatmeal
On the label: Avena Sativa Kernel Flour · Skin protectant
What it is
Finely ground oats; an FDA skin protectant for itching and irritation, and the base of oat baths.
Skin protectants: Skin protectants are the handful of ingredients the FDA recognises as protecting skin from irritation (an over-the-counter drug category).
In the research
48 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Colloidal Oatmeal in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis and Related Xerotic Dermatoses: A Case Series · Cureus, 2026
- Prevention and Management of Pediatric Sensitive Skin Conditions in India: A Modified Delphi Consensus · Cureus, 2026
- Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Indian Dermatologists Regarding Sensitive Skin Conditions and Their Management With Colloidal Oats Among Indian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Sur · Cureus, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other skin protectants
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.