Oat

Oatmeal for AcneWhen the sebaceous gland produces too much sebum—the natural oil that moisturizes skin—it clogs pores and causes bacterial infections that result in acne. Dirt, makeup, dead skin cells, and other impurities also clog pores, exacerbating the problem. Acne is caused by hormonal imbalances, stress, poor hygiene, poor diet, and certain medications.

When it comes to treating acne, natural remedies are always better than commercial acne treatments. They are affordable and effective, and they do not cause unwanted side effects. Oatmeal is one of the best natural remedies for acne. You’re about to learn how to use it, but first, let’s take a look at why it works.

Does Oatmeal Work For Acne?

  • Oatmeal absorbs excess oil, preventing it from clogging pores.
  • It also exfoliates, removing other toxins that clog pores. It removes dry and dead skin cells to prevent acne.
  • Oatmeal has anti – inflammatory property that reduces swelling, redness, and irritation caused by acne breakouts.
  • Raw oatmeal works as an effective exfoliate and cooked or colloidal oatmeal soothes the skin by preventing the irritation and inflammation.
  • It dries up blemishes, shrinking them until they vanish.
  • It reduces the acne breakouts and prevents the formations of zits, pimples and blackheads.
  • Oatmeal washes away toxins and impurities, encouraging new skin cell growth.
  • It helps skin retain natural moisture.
  • Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, omega–3 fatty acids, iron, thiamine, and beta–glucan, which support the immune system and help regulate blood sugar levels.
  • It contains anti-microbial agents that kill the bacteria that cause acne.
  • Oatmeal contains powerful anti-oxidants that prevent skin damage and help skin retain firmness and elasticity.
  • It contains magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, and zinc, which help regulate oil production and restore hormonal balance.
  • Oatmeal contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, and folate, which are essential to skin cell regeneration.
  • The polysaccharides in oatmeal nourish skin, keeping it firm and tight.

How to Use Oatmeal to Treat Acne:

Oatmeal can be used alone and in combination with other natural ingredients that keep skin healthy. Try the methods below until you find the one that works best for you!

1. Oatmeal

  • Following the instructions on the package, cook 1 cup of serving of plain oatmeal.
  • Stir in 1-2 teaspoons of raw, organic honey.
  • Let cool to room temperature.
  • Use fingertips to apply oatmeal to skin.
  • Leave on 20-30 minutes, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
  • Apply oil-free moisturizer.
  • Repeat regularly.

2. Oatmeal and Baking Soda

Baking soda cleanses skin and restores its pH balance.

  • Grind or blend 2 tablespoons of oatmeal to make a powder.
  • Mix powder with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 3-5 tablespoons of water to make a paste.
  • Use fingertips to apply to on acne affected
  • Leave on until dry.
  • Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
  • Rinse with cold water to close pores.
  • Repeat daily to prevent acne.

3. Oatmeal,Turmeric, and Lentils

This mask helps to reduce the redness, pain and irritation caused by acne on the skin.

  • Mix 1 tablespoon of oatmeal flour, ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder, and 1 tablespoon of lentil powder.
  • Stir in enough water to make a paste.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 30 minutes.
  • Rinse with water and pat dry.
  • Repeat 2 to 3 times a week.

4. Oatmeal and Avocado

  • Mix ¼ cup of uncooked oatmeal, ½ piece of mashed avocado, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons of honey, and the juice of 1 lemon.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 20 minutes.
  • Rinse with water and pat dry.
  • Repeat regularly to get rid of acne.

5. Oatmeal with Rice Flour

  • Mix equal quantities of oat flour and rice flour.
  • Add enough water to make a thin paste.
  • Massage gently into face and neck, using circular motions.
  • Leave on until dry, then rinse with water.
  • Repeat 3 times weekly.

6. Oatmeal-Egg White Mask

Egg white tightens skin and shrinks pores while olive oil moisturizes the skin.

  • Mix 1 egg white, ½ cup of cooked oatmeal, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 30 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
  • Repeat regularly.

7. Oatmeal and Tomato

Tomato cleanses and shrinks pores.

  • Blend 1 tablespoon of oatmeal, 1 tomato and lemon juice.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 15 minutes.
  • Remove it with a warm wet cloth.
  • Repeat daily.

8. Oatmeal with Lemon, Honey, and Tea Tree Oil

Lemon kills the bacteria that cause acne, honey moisturizes skin, and tea tree oil reduces inflammation.

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal, ½ tablespoon of lemon juice, 4-6 drops of tea tree oil, and 2 tablespoons of raw honey.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 10-15 minutes.
  • Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
  • Repeat daily.
  • Store leftovers in refrigerator for further use.

 9. Oatmeal and Onion Mask

  • Peel and chop 1 onion, then puree it in a blender.
  • Mix with ½ cup plain cooked oatmeal, 2 tablespoons raw honey, and enough water to make a paste.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 20 minutes.
  • Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
  • Repeat 3 times weekly.

10. Oatmeal with Cucumber

  • Blend 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal, ½ a cucumber, 1 teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and mix until smooth.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 20 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
  • Repeat regularly.

11. Oatmeal, Egg, and Lemon Juice

The vitamin E in eggs helps to tighten the skin, and the lemon juice kills bacteria that cause acne.

  • Cook ½ cup of oatmeal, then cool it in the refrigerator.
  • Mix oatmeal with 1 raw egg and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
  • Apply to skin and leave on until your face feels dry and tight.
  • Rinse with warm water, massaging in circular motions.
  • Repeat daily.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator.

12. Oatmeal and Yogurt

Yogurt cleanses, disinfects, and moisturizes skin.

  • Mix 1 tablespoon of powdered oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of yogurt, and 1 teaspoon of honey.
  • Wash your face and pat dry.
  • Apply mixture to skin and leave on 20 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
  • Repeat 3 times weekly.
  • Or you can apply oatmeal and yogurt mixture without honey and leave on 25 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water.
  • Note: You can add pureed strawberries for extra benefits.

13. Oatmeal with Milk

  • Cook oatmeal with milk.
  • Let cool to room temperature.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 15 minutes.
  • Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Repeat daily.
  • Note: add a few drops of rosewater and a teaspoon of raw honey for added benefit.

14. Oatmeal and Turmeric

Turmeric kills the bacteria that cause acne.

  • Mix enough oatmeal, turmeric powder, and water to make a paste.
  • Apply to skin and leave on until dry.
  • Rinse with warm water, massaging in circular motions.
  • Pat dry.
  • Repeat 3 times weekly.

15. Oatmeal for Back Acne

Oatmeal baths cleanse away excess sebum, dirt, oil, and other impurities while moisturizing and rejuvenating skin.

  • Grind 3 tablespoons of oatmeal to make a powder.
  • Take little oatmeal separately and pour in clean sock or muslin sack and tie.
  • Pour powder oatmeal in bath tub and stir well.
  • Run a warm bath and throw in the sock or sack of oatmeal.
  • Get in and soak 15-30 minutes, using sock to scrub skin.
  • After bath, rinse with plain water in the shower.
  • Repeat 3 times weekly to get rid of body and back acne.

16. Oatmeal with Apple Cider Vinegar

 It helps to treat acne breakouts and make sure to apply only on acne affected area.

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of powdered oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to make a paste.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 5 minutes.
  • Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
  • Repeat daily.

17. Oatmeal-Banana-Milk Mask

Banana moisturizes and milk nourishes the skin to evens skin tone.

  • In a blender, puree 1 tablespoon of powdered oatmeal, ½ banana, and 1 teaspoon of milk to make a smooth paste.
  • Wash face with warm water and dry your face.
  • Apply to skin, massaging in circular motions, and leave on 15 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water and then cool water and pat dry.
  • Repeat regularly to reduce acne and scars.

18. Oatmeal and Lemon

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of oatmeal, 1 teaspoon of honey, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
  • Apply mask on the cleansed face and neck.
  • Massage gently in circular motions, and leave on 15 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
  • Repeat regularly to cure acne.

19. Oatmeal with White Vinegar

Vinegar helps to regulate the skin’s pH levels, lemon diminishes the dark skin spots and honey hydrates the skin.

  • Mix 3 tablespoons of colloidal oatmeal, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar.
  • Apply to skin, massaging gently in circular motions.
  • Leave on 15 minutes, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
  • Repeat 3 times weekly.

20. Oatmeal and Essential Oil

Adjust this recipe according to your own needs, using the essential oils of your choice. It’s good for all types of acne and all skin types.

  • Cook ½ cup of plain oatmeal and let cool to room temperature.
  • Stir in 4-6 drops of essential oil.
  • Apply to skin and leave on 10 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
  • Repeat regularly to prevent acne and other skin problems.

Tips and Precautions:

For best results, follow the advice below when using oatmeal to treat acne.

  • Avoid contact with eyes.
  • Dry oatmeal will remove more dead skin cells, dirt, and oil from skin than cooked oatmeal, but it may cause redness, dryness, irritation, or itching. So, its better to use cooked oatmeal as a mask rather than raw oatmeal mask
  • Try massaging skin with dry oatmeal mixed with warm
  • Oatmeal also treats allergic rashes, itching, sunburn, and other skin damage.
  • Oatmeal is good for sensitive skin.
  • For quick results, use oatmeal treatments twice a week.
  • Sunlight helps kill the bacteria that cause acne, but you should limit time in the sun to one hour a day when using oatmeal to treat acne.
  • Use organic oatmeal for these treatments.
  • Try Aveeno brand oatmeal lotions and soaps.
  • If you suffer from seliac or are allergic to gluten, eating oatmeal may cause acne.
  • Before starting regular oatmeal treatments, do a patch test to make sure you’re not allergic to oatmeal.
  • Regular exfoliation with oatmeal may cause skin to become extremely sensitive.
  • If you don’t see results within a week of starting these treatments, consult a doctor.

As with other natural remedies, oatmeal is most effective when combined with a healthy diet, regular exercise and good hygiene. Drink plenty of water, avoid sugar and carbohydrates, and eat plenty of protein.

Have you tried any of these oatmeal remedies for acne? Which ones worked best for you? Share your experience with us!

38 comments
  1. Oats cured my 10 years Rosacea! I used the fallowing:

    Use the coffee grinder to grind 2 spoons of whole oats, Add green tea until you got a consistent mixture.
    Wash your face with very hot water for 4-5 minutes to open your pores then gently rub that mixture on your face for 4-5 minutes. Let your face dry and apply a small of extra virgin olive oil (try to use a cold-pressed oil – it should be cloudy). Use this every 3-4 days.

    Also, eat 1 can of sardines each 2-3 days, remove carbs from the diet and also take a natural probiotic daily (my favorite one is homemade goat milk kefir).

    1. Essential oil is an extract obtained through distillation process which will have the characteristic odour of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.

  2. I grind up my oatmeal before using on my face. Is it ok to use the dry oatmeal daily instead of cooked? I also add raw honey and/or lemon juice to my mixture. I do tend to get the ocassional breakout. I also use this mixture to help soften the scarring. Any suggestions? Thank you

  3. I have black spot for my forehead I want to know turmeric, ground oats, honey, n Lemmon can I use? How much quantities n how many days in a week please let me know

    1. Combine 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal and 1 tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice. Apply the mixture on the black spot and massage for few minutes. Leave it on for another few minutes and rinse off with water. Repeat the process regularly until you achieve the results.

  4. If using ground oatmeal, how long is the shelf life, if kept in bathroom? For oatmeal scrubs, pastes etc?

    1. If refrigerated, you can use the oatmeal scrub or paste within a week. If kept outside then it doesn’t long more than a day.

    1. We recommend consulting a doctor to find out the reason behind the itching and then forming into pimples. Once we find the root cause, we can provide you with right solution.

    1. Avoid using it every night as it can make the skin excessively dry which can trigger our sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. You can try the method 3 times in a week. It is completely safe to use it at night time for 20 minutes.

    1. Nope, Leaving the application overnight can strip off all the natural oils of the skin completely leaving a dry skin. This can again aggravate the oil production and lead to many skin ailments.

    1. Nope, using oatmeal mask daily can leave the skin excessively dry. This can trigger excess oil production and further lead to acne. So, it is better to repeat the process only 2 – 3 times in a week.

  5. Hii there
    I have very oily skin with pimples and scars
    How do I use oatmeal for my skin.
    Please reply.
    Thank you

    1. Try any method mentioned in this article – http://wellness.guide/oatmeal-for-oily-skin/. Apart from that eat foods that are rich in water content like cucumbers, watermelons, and others. Take omega 3 and zinc supplements to control the excess oil production. Reduce stress levels, avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol.

  6. Would this still work for skin congestion? I have dry skin and eczema and I don’t necessarily have the regular sized pimples, it’s more like little baby pimples everywhere, mostly along the perimeters of my face ( forehead chin and cheeks mostly). I have been trying to especially get rid of my forehead ones which seem to be the worst for quite a while now please help.
    Thank you

  7. Can I use any of these recipes as a facial scrub instead of a mask? I used to use a commercial one as teenager which they dont make anymore.

  8. Is it ok to use Maple & Brown Sugar and/or Apple & Cinn oatmeal? That’s all I have at the moment, if so, what one would be better to use for the mask? Thanks to anyone who can help me!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You May Also Like

How To Use Aloe Vera For Psoriasis? (12 Methods)

Psoriasis is a chronic, sometimes genetic, autoimmune disorder characterized by the buildup…

How To Use Tea Tree Oil To Get Rid Of Warts

Warts can affect people at any age, but are more common among…

How Effective is Neem for Acne? (No. 1 and 5 is Best)

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by swollen red breakouts that…