I recently researched some home remedies to treat constant itching and scratching by a particular family member – the dog – after a summer of lying in the long grass and being bitten from top to toe.
I was particularly surprised by one in particular that we were able to try straight away, since we had the key ingredient in the cupboard already. Oatmeal is a really effective natural remedy for itchy skin.
Strange as it might seem, adding oatmeal to bathwater is a tried and tested way to relieve itchy, dry skin in humans, as well as in dogs! It works by creating a natural emollient that soothes skin and has anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties.
Many parents have witnessed the benefits that oatmeal baths can bring to children with eczema and other skin conditions, and with all-natural ingredients, it can be a gentle way to soothe itching and irritation.
If you want to try it at home – for dogs or humans – there are several ways you can use this natural remedy for itchy skin.
You can stuff a sock or muslin pouch with oats, tie at the end and submerge in the bath or run under the tap such that the emollient ingredients are filtered out into the water, leaving the large oats behind.
