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Active ingredient

Colloidal Oatmeal

INCI · Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour

Colloidal oatmeal is a finely milled Avena sativa preparation listed by the FDA as an OTC skin protectant for itch and irritation. Its avenanthramides reduce inflammatory cytokine signalling, while beta-glucan supports the moisture barrier. Pairs broadly with most actives. No major conflicts.

Last reviewed by BIOSAR Scientific Team, PharmD, Cosmetic Chemistry, Pharmacy practice on .

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

No specific caution is known for cosmetic use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Topical colloidal oatmeal is considered safe during pregnancy and lactation per Mother to Baby. FDA recognises colloidal oatmeal as a Category I OTC skin protectant; its safety profile is well established for general and infant care.

Mechanism in detail

What Colloidal Oatmeal does

Finely-ground oat. Soothes the appearance of irritation and supports the skin barrier. Common in dry and sensitive formulas.

Evidence

What the research says

  • −54%1% oat cream in mild-to-moderate eczema, 14 days

    A randomised trial in 61 patients with mild-to-moderate eczema: a 1% colloidal oat cream lowered two severity scores by 51% and 54% in 14 days and improved skin pH and barrier function. No scores are given for the comparison moisturiser.

    A clinical study in patients, in a medical setting. It is shown for the science of the ingredient, not as an example of cosmetic use.

    Read the study

    J Drugs Dermatol 2020

Where it helps

Concerns Colloidal Oatmeal addresses

  • Dryness

    Dryness is a barrier dysfunction in which skin loses water faster than it can retain or replenish it, presenting as flaking, tightness, dullness, and roughness. Mild dryness reflects routine over-cleansing or environmental exposure; chronic dryness signals a deeper deficit in skin lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) and humectant content (the natural moisturising factor). Effective treatment hydrates and replenishes the barrier through three layered actions: humectants that draw water in, occlusives that seal it in, and barrier actives that rebuild the lipid mortar. The BIOSAR Hydraderm range delivers this layered hydration and visibly plumps dehydrated skin.

  • Sensitivity

    If you have sensitive skin, you have probably been told it is in your head — by a product that says "gentle" on the label, by a friend whose skin tolerates everything yours cannot, sometimes by a professional who could not find a visible cause for the symptoms. It is not in your head. The mechanisms are measurable, the biology is mapped, and the care that follows from understanding them is what the Sensimed range was built around.

  • Sun Damage

    Sun damage is the cumulative photoaging caused by ultraviolet radiation, presenting as solar lentigines, irregular pigmentation, fine lines, deeper wrinkles, leathery texture, and elevated skin cancer risk. UVA penetrates the dermis and drives collagen breakdown; UVB damages epidermal DNA and triggers melanin overproduction. Extrinsic factors, with UV exposure carrying the largest share, account for an estimated 80% of premature visible skin aging. Daily broad-spectrum SPF, antioxidant serums, and pigmentation correctors reverse early damage and prevent further progression. The BIOSAR Sunprotex range delivers broad-spectrum UVA + UVB protection layered with antioxidants for measurably stronger photoprotection.

From the BIOSAR catalog

Products formulated with Colloidal Oatmeal

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