Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFor Skin CareFor Skin ConditionsMilk TypesHow ToMilk Bath ProductsFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

For Skin Care

For Skin Conditions

Milk Types

How To

Milk Bath Products

Frequently Asked Questions

A long, hot soak in a milk bath may seem like a strange concept if you’ve never tried it, but people have been enjoying the benefits of milk baths for centuries.

This article will go over the benefits of milk baths. You’ll also learn some tips for making a milk bath, as well as what they can be used for.

JGI / Jamie Grill / Getty Images

Woman’s hand trying out a milk bath.

Skin Benefits of Milk Baths

No good scientific studies on the effects of milk baths have been conducted. There is anecdotal evidence, though, suggesting that milk baths may have skincare benefits.

Milk baths can make your skin feel softer and smoother because fats in the milk cling to the skin. You’ll notice a silky, but not oily, feeling over your skin after a milk bath.

Bathing in milk can also give light, gentle exfoliation. Milk, especially soured milk like buttermilk, contains lactic acid. Lactic acid is analpha hydroxy acidcommonly used in skin care products and cosmeceuticals.

Milk baths can be good for your skin because the lactic acid helps dissolve the intercellular “glue” that holdsdead skin cellstogether. These cells slough off more effectively, making the skin’s surface smoother and brighter.

Is Lactic Acid in a Milk Bath Good for Your Skin?

Be aware though, that taking a milk bath won’t have the same potency as using lactic acid lotions or moisturizing creams. These products are designed and formulated to give a specific result and contain a much higher percentage of lactic acid than does milk.

Milk baths can make your skin feel less dry—at least temporarily—thanks to the gentle exfoliation they provide coupled with milk’s skin smoothing fats and proteins.

Of course, we can’t forget the psychological effects of milk baths. When blended with fragrance or herbs, milk baths smell good and feel opulent and luxurious. Soaking in a milk bath is a nice way to relax and unwind.

Best Face Washes for Dry Skin

Milk Baths and Skin Conditions

Milk baths are cosmetic or beauty remedies; they will not treat any skin condition.​

Milk has been used as a folk remedy for things likesunburn, skin irritations,hyperpigmentation,eczema, andpsoriasis.However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that milk baths help improve any of these skin problems.

The effect that topical milk products have on eczema has been studied, but the research is conflicting. Furthermore, most studies have been done with human breast milk, rather than, say, cow or goat’s milk.

If you need help treating any skin problem, don’t rely on milk baths. See a healthcare provider instead.

Will an Emollient Moisturizer Help Your Dry Skin?

Types of Milk Used in Milk Baths

You can use real milk, (the stuff you drink) to make a milk bath. There are manydifferent types of milkat your disposal, and each will give the milk bath a slightly different look and feel.

A bath in store-bought milk would be costly (not to mention sticky). To make a milk bath, dilute these milks into your warm bathwater:

How to Draw an Oatmeal Bath for Rash

How to Make a Milk Bath

Milk baths are super easy to make. It’s as simple as pouring your chosen milk into warm bath water and soaking. However, unless you want thin, thready bubbles in your milk bath, add the milk after you’ve finished filling the tub.

The measurements for a milk bath don’t need to be exact, but here are some guidelines to get you started:

If you’re feeling creative, you can customize your milk bath. For example, try adding a handful of finely ground oats, lavender buds, rose petals (fresh or dried), 1/2 cupEpsom saltsor sea salt; a few drops of skin-safe essential oils, or a tablespoon of honey. You could even package these ingredients up ahead of time to make milk bath bombs that are ready to go whenever you need to destress.

If you prefer a prepackaged milk bath, you have many choices. Ready-to-take milk baths run the gamut from handcrafted products made with natural ingredients to foaming products similar to bubble baths.

To make sure that getting what you want from any milk bath product, take a peek at the label. Milk or milk protein does not need to be the first ingredient, but it should be listed high on the ingredients list.

The Best Body Washes for Dry Skin

Summary

Milk baths are very gentle and safe, and most people can use them without any problem. The exception might be if you have a true milk allergy, in which case soaking in a milk bath could cause a skin reaction.

While milk baths are nice cosmetic treatments that make your skin feel soft and smooth, they won’t heal skin conditions.

Frequently Asked QuestionsYou can. But if you find that taking one daily is causing irritation, you may want to do it less often. Know, too, that if you add other ingredients to the water, like essential oils, they may be what’s causing the skin irritation. Try a “plain” milk bath instead.Yes. Rinsing your body (and tub) after a milk bath helps prevent any residue from sticking around and causing odor or irritation.There isn’t a lot of scientific research on the subject, but some people do use milk to soften their hair.Milk-based ingredients—whether from plant-based or dairy milks—are also in some haircare products. Examples include Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Shampoo and Milk_Shake Leave-In Conditioner.Lactose is found in milk sourced from animals. In most cases, taking a bath in one of these milks is fine if you’re lactose-intolerant. However, you should avoid this if you have a truemilk allergy, as it can cause a reaction like itching, rashes, or hives.Learn MoreUnderstanding Lactose Intolerance

You can. But if you find that taking one daily is causing irritation, you may want to do it less often. Know, too, that if you add other ingredients to the water, like essential oils, they may be what’s causing the skin irritation. Try a “plain” milk bath instead.

Yes. Rinsing your body (and tub) after a milk bath helps prevent any residue from sticking around and causing odor or irritation.

There isn’t a lot of scientific research on the subject, but some people do use milk to soften their hair.Milk-based ingredients—whether from plant-based or dairy milks—are also in some haircare products. Examples include Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Shampoo and Milk_Shake Leave-In Conditioner.

Lactose is found in milk sourced from animals. In most cases, taking a bath in one of these milks is fine if you’re lactose-intolerant. However, you should avoid this if you have a truemilk allergy, as it can cause a reaction like itching, rashes, or hives.Learn MoreUnderstanding Lactose Intolerance

Lactose is found in milk sourced from animals. In most cases, taking a bath in one of these milks is fine if you’re lactose-intolerant. However, you should avoid this if you have a truemilk allergy, as it can cause a reaction like itching, rashes, or hives.

Learn MoreUnderstanding Lactose Intolerance

How to Use Oatmeal Baths for Eczema

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tang SC, Yang JH.Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4). doi:10.3390/molecules23040863Surber C, Kottner J.Skin care products: What do they promise, what do they deliver?Journal of Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.006Kasrae H, Amiri Farahani L, Yousefi P.Efficacy of topical application of human breast milk on atopic eczema healing among infants: a randomized clinical trial.International Journal of Dermatology. 2015;54(8):966-71. doi:10.1111/ijd.12764Seifi B, Jalali S, Heidari M.Assessment effect of breast milk on diaper dermatitis.Dermatol Reports. 2017;9(1):7044. doi:10.4081/dr.2017.7044Berents TL, Rønnevig J, Søyland E, Gaustad P, Nylander G, Løland BF.Topical treatment with fresh human milk versus emollient on atopic eczema spots in young children: a small, randomized, split body, controlled, blinded pilot study.BMC Dermatol. 2015;15:7. doi:10.1186/s12895-015-0027-9Lin T, Meletharayil G, Kapoor R, Abbaspourrad A.Bioactives in bovine milk: chemistry, technology, and applications.Nutr Rev. 2021;79(Suppl 2):48-69. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab099American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Milk & Diary.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tang SC, Yang JH.Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4). doi:10.3390/molecules23040863Surber C, Kottner J.Skin care products: What do they promise, what do they deliver?Journal of Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.006Kasrae H, Amiri Farahani L, Yousefi P.Efficacy of topical application of human breast milk on atopic eczema healing among infants: a randomized clinical trial.International Journal of Dermatology. 2015;54(8):966-71. doi:10.1111/ijd.12764Seifi B, Jalali S, Heidari M.Assessment effect of breast milk on diaper dermatitis.Dermatol Reports. 2017;9(1):7044. doi:10.4081/dr.2017.7044Berents TL, Rønnevig J, Søyland E, Gaustad P, Nylander G, Løland BF.Topical treatment with fresh human milk versus emollient on atopic eczema spots in young children: a small, randomized, split body, controlled, blinded pilot study.BMC Dermatol. 2015;15:7. doi:10.1186/s12895-015-0027-9Lin T, Meletharayil G, Kapoor R, Abbaspourrad A.Bioactives in bovine milk: chemistry, technology, and applications.Nutr Rev. 2021;79(Suppl 2):48-69. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab099American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Milk & Diary.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Tang SC, Yang JH.Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4). doi:10.3390/molecules23040863Surber C, Kottner J.Skin care products: What do they promise, what do they deliver?Journal of Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.006Kasrae H, Amiri Farahani L, Yousefi P.Efficacy of topical application of human breast milk on atopic eczema healing among infants: a randomized clinical trial.International Journal of Dermatology. 2015;54(8):966-71. doi:10.1111/ijd.12764Seifi B, Jalali S, Heidari M.Assessment effect of breast milk on diaper dermatitis.Dermatol Reports. 2017;9(1):7044. doi:10.4081/dr.2017.7044Berents TL, Rønnevig J, Søyland E, Gaustad P, Nylander G, Løland BF.Topical treatment with fresh human milk versus emollient on atopic eczema spots in young children: a small, randomized, split body, controlled, blinded pilot study.BMC Dermatol. 2015;15:7. doi:10.1186/s12895-015-0027-9Lin T, Meletharayil G, Kapoor R, Abbaspourrad A.Bioactives in bovine milk: chemistry, technology, and applications.Nutr Rev. 2021;79(Suppl 2):48-69. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab099American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Milk & Diary.

Tang SC, Yang JH.Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin. Molecules. 2018;23(4). doi:10.3390/molecules23040863

Surber C, Kottner J.Skin care products: What do they promise, what do they deliver?Journal of Tissue Viability. 2017;26(1):29-36. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.03.006

Kasrae H, Amiri Farahani L, Yousefi P.Efficacy of topical application of human breast milk on atopic eczema healing among infants: a randomized clinical trial.International Journal of Dermatology. 2015;54(8):966-71. doi:10.1111/ijd.12764

Seifi B, Jalali S, Heidari M.Assessment effect of breast milk on diaper dermatitis.Dermatol Reports. 2017;9(1):7044. doi:10.4081/dr.2017.7044

Berents TL, Rønnevig J, Søyland E, Gaustad P, Nylander G, Løland BF.Topical treatment with fresh human milk versus emollient on atopic eczema spots in young children: a small, randomized, split body, controlled, blinded pilot study.BMC Dermatol. 2015;15:7. doi:10.1186/s12895-015-0027-9

Lin T, Meletharayil G, Kapoor R, Abbaspourrad A.Bioactives in bovine milk: chemistry, technology, and applications.Nutr Rev. 2021;79(Suppl 2):48-69. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuab099

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Milk & Diary.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?