Ingredient guide
Colloidal oatmeal
INCI name · colloidal oatmeal
In short
Colloidal oatmeal is an FDA-monograph skin-protectant active. A complete 1% cream was non-inferior to a named prescription barrier cream over three weeks in children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.
What it is
FDA OTC Monograph M016 names colloidal oatmeal itself as a skin-protectant active at a minimum 0.007%, or 0.003% with mineral oil under the specified condition. In a randomized study of 90 children, a complete 1% colloidal oatmeal cream was non-inferior to a ceramide-based prescription barrier cream over three weeks (prespecified EASI margin 1.5). A separate hand-eczema study used a two-week fluocinolone lead-in before the oatmeal-versus-base phase. These complete-formula findings do not transfer to every oat flour, extract, isolate, beta-glucan or oil.
Evidence receipt
StrongColloidal oatmeal · applied to skin
Based on 3 sources
Open the citable recordA complete 1% colloidal oatmeal cream was non-inferior to a named prescription barrier cream over three weeks in 90 children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.
Studied as Colloidal oatmeal: complete 1% colloidal oatmeal cream, ceramide-based prescription barrier cream, fluocinolone 0.025% for two weeks followed by 1% colloidal oatmeal cream, fluocinolone 0.025% for two weeks followed by base cream, colloidal oatmeal at 0.007% minimum, colloidal oatmeal at 0.003% minimum with mineral oil.
The non-inferiority result applies to the tested complete 1% cream and its prescription barrier-cream comparator, not colloidal oatmeal in isolation. The hand-eczema study used fluocinolone for the first two weeks before the oatmeal-versus-base phase. FDA monograph concentrations are regulatory facts, not clinical efficacy thresholds.
See 3 sources
Double-blind randomized active-controlled study in 90 children over three weeks: the complete 1% colloidal oatmeal cream was non-inferior to the prescription barrier cream for EASI, using a prespecified 1.5-point non-inferiority margin.
eczema area and severity index, itch, global atopic-dermatitis assessment · complete 1% colloidal oatmeal cream, ceramide-based prescription barrier cream
J Dermatolog Treat, 2017Double-blind randomized study with 50 completers: both groups improved during the two-week fluocinolone lead-in; during the following four weeks, the oatmeal arm held improvement while symptoms in the base-cream arm returned toward baseline.
hand eczema severity, itch, dermatology life quality index · fluocinolone 0.025% for two weeks followed by 1% colloidal oatmeal cream, fluocinolone 0.025% for two weeks followed by base cream
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol, 2020The US OTC skin-protectant monograph names colloidal oatmeal itself as an active ingredient at a minimum 0.007%, or 0.003% when combined with mineral oil under the specified monograph condition.
skin-protectant regulatory status · colloidal oatmeal at 0.007% minimum, colloidal oatmeal at 0.003% minimum with mineral oil
FDA OTC Monograph M016, 2021
Affiliation note. Publication links report the study authors and their affiliations. MIRU does not infer independence from an affiliation alone.
Where it sits
Serums sit after toner and before moisturiser. Thinnest to thickest, water before oil.
- Cleanse
- Tone
- Colloidal oatmeal
- Moisturise
- SPF
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Check an ingredient listCommon questions
What does colloidal oatmeal do for skin?
In a randomized study of 90 children, the tested complete 1% colloidal oatmeal cream was non-inferior to a ceramide-based prescription barrier cream over three weeks for the prespecified EASI comparison.
What did the hand-eczema study show?
Both groups first used fluocinolone for two weeks. During the following four-week oatmeal-versus-base phase, the oatmeal group held its improvement while symptoms in the base-cream group returned toward baseline.
Is every oat extract the same as colloidal oatmeal?
No. These findings tested complete 1% colloidal oatmeal creams. Oat flour, oat kernel extract, avenanthramides, oat beta-glucan and oat oil are distinct identities and do not inherit this receipt.
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