Aveeno® Professional

Oatmeal

History and Origin: Colloidal Oatmeal

The use of oats on skin care dates to ancient Egypt.¹ Whole or rolled oats were used in soothing baths. Oats used in this way did not disperse well in baths and were messy. In 1945, technological advances permitted the manufacture, by the Aveeno® Company, of colloidal oatmeal which is prepared from de-hulled oats ground to a fine powder. Colloidal oatmeal retains the moisturizing effects of the whole oat grain, but disperses more easily in bath water and can also be added to creams and lotions for use in topical products. Colloidal oatmeal added to bath water forms a viscous hydrocolloid gel on the skin surface.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

The Aveeno® Company (the name derives from the Latin name for oats (avena) was the originator of commercially formulated oat products for the skin. It began in the 1930's. Its original products were colloidal oatmeal bath products such as soaks. The Aveeno® line was acquired by Rydelle labs, a division of SC Johnson & Son in 1984. In 1999, Johnson & Johnson acquired the Aveeno® Company from S.C. Johnson.

Activity, Properties, Chemical Structure

Colloidal oatmeal contains 10% to 18% protein, 60% to 64% polysaccharides as well as lipids, enzymes, saponins, vitamins, flavonoids and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors.²

Oatmeal can restore normal pH in skin conditions where pH has increased. In this setting, it acts as a buffering agent, thereby aiding in the maintenance of a healthy skin barrier.

The moisturizing properties of colloidal oatmeal are provided by a hydrophilic film that forms at the skin surface. It consists of humectant and water-binding constituents and lipids.

Starches are one of the important constituents of colloidal oatmeal. They are highly hydrophilic and can absorb large quantities of water.^3,4 Proteins contained in colloidal oatmeal further contribute to its water affinity.^4,5 The unique lipid composition of colloidal oatmeal ⁶ participates in the formation of a film at the skin's surface.^7,8 Oat triglycerides and phospholipids, as well as oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids, which are contained in oat lipids are important stratum corneum components.⁷ Oat polysaccharides have been shown to have immunomodulatory activity.⁹ Buffered and alcoholic oat extracts were shown to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in vitro.¹⁰

Colloidal oatmeal provides gentle cleansing without loss of the skin's moisture content. It thus helps prevent skin dryness and the clinical signs associated with skin dryness.⁸

Oatmeal and its derivatives are among the few natural ingredients to have a US Food and Drug Administration monograph. It is classified as a skin protectant that "...provides temporary skin protection and relieves minor irritation and itching due to poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac and insect bites." ¹¹

Fig. 1: Chemical Structures of Major Epicatechins in Green Tea

Preclinical

The anti-inflammatory activity of 2 different oat extracts was compared in 12 individuals whose volar forearms were pretreated with the 2 extracts and occluded for 2 hours. Then a patch with a 1% sodium lauryl sulfate solution was applied to test sites for 24 hours. Irritation was measured by Chromametry and laser-Doppler. Both extracts caused a marked reduction in blood flow increase as well as inhibition of redness. This demonstrates the ability of oatmeal extracts to prevent skin irritation.¹³

When skin fragments were stimulated by a neuromediator, vasoactive intestinal peptide, vasodilation increased significantly following application. After treatment with oatmeal extract oligomer, the mean surface of dilated blood vessels and edema were both significantly decreased as were levels of TNF-α. These findings support the anti-inflammatory activity of oatmeal extracts.¹⁴

View Oatmeal Related Clinicals

Safety and Tolerability

Colloidal oatmeal is extremely tolerable even by patients with sensitive or irritated skin.

Early studies demonstrated its ability to soothe the dry or irritated skin of both geriatric and pediatric populations.

Under the Colloidal Oatmeal monograph, the FDA states that it has been shown safe and effective as a skin protecant ¹¹

References

1. Miller A. Oat derivatives in bath products. Cosmet Toiletries 1979;94:72-80.
2. Johnson & Johnson, Skillman, NJ; data on file.
3. Paton D. (1986) Oat starch: physical, chemical and structural properties. in Webster FH, ed., Oats: chemistry and technology. Saint Paul, MN, American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc.93-120.
4. Rawlings AV et al. (2002) Humectants. in Skin Moisturization. Leyden and Rawlings Eds. New York, NY. Marcel Dekker, Inc.; 245-266.
5. Peterson DM, Brinegar AC. Oat storage proteins. In: Webster FH, ed. Oats: Chemistry and Technology. St. Paul, Minn: American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 1986;153-203.
6. Youngs VL. Oat lipids and lipid-related enzymes. In: Webster FH, ed. Oats: Chemistry and Technology. St. Paul, MN; American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 1986; 205-226.
7. Zhou M, Robards K, Glennie-Holmes M et al. Oat lipids. J. Am Oil Chem Soc. 1999;76:159-169.
8. Grais ML. Role of colloidal oatmeal in dermatologic treatment of the aged. AMA Arch Derm Syphilol 1953; 68:402-407.
9. Estrada A, Yun CH, Van Kessel A et al. Immunomodulatory activities of oat β glucan in vitro and in vivo. Microbiol Immunol. 1997;41:991-998.
10. Saeed SA, Butt NM, Mcdonald-Gibson WJ et al. Inhibitor (s) of prostaglandin biosynthesis in extracts of oats (Avena sativa) seeds. Biochem Soc Tran. 1981;9:444.
11. 21 CFR 347 Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-The-Counter Human Use.
12. Downie J. Ancient skin remedies come of age for today's health-conscious consumers.The Role of Natural Ingredients in Dermatology. Skin & Allergy News. 2004;35.
13. Vie K, Cours-Darne S, Vienne MP et al. Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002;15: 120-124.
14. Boisnic S, Branchet-Gumila MC, Coutanceau C. Inhibitory effect of oatmeal extract oligomer on vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced inflammation in surviving human skin. Int. J. Tissue React. 2003;23: 41-46.
15. Nebus J, Smith G, Miller D, Wallo W, Kurtz ES. Alleviating dry, ashen skin in patients with skin of color. (Poster)
16. Johnson & Johnson, Skillman, NJ; data on file.