Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFacts About Oat IngredientsSymptomsOat Allergies in ChildrenDiagnosisTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Facts About Oat Ingredients

Symptoms

Oat Allergies in Children

Diagnosis

Treatment

If you have an oat allergy, it’s not just food exposure that can lead to allergy symptoms. Aveeno, Nature’s Gate, and other over-the-counter skin care products often contain oats that can lead to a skin reaction in people with an oat sensitivity.

Many popular brands list oat proteins as an ingredient in products meant to treat dry or irritated skin. It is often referred to ascolloidal, or finely milled,oatmeal. But people with an oat allergy, both adults and children alike, may experience an itchy rash oreczemasymptoms when using these products.

This article explains why skin products may cause oat allergy symptoms. It details how an allergic reaction to oats is diagnosed and treated, including what to do if a severe allergic reaction occurs.

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Quick Facts About Oat Ingredients

Usually, skin care products that contain oats are meant totreatconditions likeatopic dermatitis, a chronic type of eczema skin rash—and in many cases, they do relieve symptoms.

For people with oat sensitivity, though, these products may actually be the cause of an allergic reaction. Many types of oats, along with other grains like barley, containavenin.

This protein is known to cause an immune system response in some people who avoid gluten. People with afood allergyto oatmeal may experience symptoms including:

These systemic, or body-wide symptoms, are more likely when someone with an oat allergy eats oat products rather than being exposed through the skin. This includes small children, who can develop food-protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) from eating certain grains, including oats.

In the United States, the Food & Drug Administration requires colloidal oatmeal to be listed on the label of any over-the-counter skin product that claims to treat atopic dermatitis.

How Eczema and Food Allergies Are Linked

Oat Allergy Symptoms

People with an oat allergy will typically experience red, blotchy spots on the skin calledurticaria, orhives. In some cases, an outbreak may occur if a person accidentally touches oats and then other parts of the body.

For people with eczema, skin reactions range from the mild to severe. Symptoms can include:

Allergic contact dermatitis may cause a delayed reaction to contact with oats. Symptoms of a delayed reaction may happen anywhere from a few hours to three days later.

Not all sources of contact with oats will come from foods or skin care products. For example, many latex-freeexam glovesalso contain colloidal oatmeal. If you have symptoms ofcontact dermatitisfrom an oat allergy, discuss the possible sources with your healthcare provider.

Differences Between Atopic and Contact Dermatitis

When to Seek Immediate Care

If any of the symptoms of anaphylaxis develop, whether you have been knowingly exposed to oats or not, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you have been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector (an Epi-Pen), use it as directed. If treatment is delayed, the condition can get worse and lead to anaphylactic shock and even death.

What Is Anaphylaxis?

Oat Skin Allergies in Children

Many skin care products are marketed as especially for children. But many of these products include oats, wheat, and other food-allergy triggers that may cause a reaction when used on sensitive skin.

One study of 276 different skin care products for children found that more than a third of the product labels listed a food-related allergen. There were 156 such ingredients, including almonds, egg, milk, and peanuts. Oats was listed as an ingredient in 8.3% of the products studied.

Some experts have questioned whether all children (or children with other allergies) need to avoid oatmeal exposure in moisturizers. Many healthcare providers support their use in patients who have no known oat sensitivity.

One in seven children with atopic dermatitis who were included in a 2007 study already had a contact sensitization to oats. That number rose to about one in three when looking only at children who previously were exposed to an oat-based moisturizer.

What Are Allergens?

It’s important to confirm any oat allergy symptoms that you or your child experience. If you have severe enough symptoms around oat, chances are you have already begun avoiding oat and would likely require testing with an allergist. Talk with your healthcare provider if you think you may need testing.

Other ways to diagnose an oat sensitivity include skin tests, such as thepatch testfor a contact allergy.In this test, a patch with a small amount of the suspected allergy-causing substance is placed on the skin for several days to see if there is a reaction.

If tests confirm an oat allergy, you’ll want to avoid exposure to the foods and skin products that contain oats. Most people might easily identify oatmeal, but other products include:

Since oat is not one of the top eight food allergens (milk,soy,egg,wheat,peanut,tree nut,fish, andshellfish), manufacturers don’t have to highlight it on nutrition facts labels. But they must still list it as an ingredient.

If you or your child develop any allergy symptoms after using an oat-based skin care product, you’ll want to start treatment right away.

Skin Care

Where the skin is irritated or has a rash, wash it right away with cool water and a mild soap. If the rash is mild and covers a small area, you can try an over-the-counter 1%hydrocortisone creamto help relieve swelling and itching.

Medication

An oralantihistaminecan sometimes help, particularly if you notice mild hives. For children, an over-the-counter product like cetirizine (generic Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (generic Benadryl) can usually do the trick. Other antihistamines include Claritin (loratadine) and Allegra (fexofenadine).

However, if the rash is severe or blisters begin to develop, call your healthcare provider immediately or visit the nearest emergency room.

If your child is under age 2, speak with your pediatrician or other healthcare provider before using any anti-allergy or anti-inflammatory product.

Summary

Sometimes, people with a food allergy need to be as careful about the products they put on their bodies as they are with the foods they put in it. That’s the case for people with oat allergy symptoms.

These symptoms, such as a red rash and itchy or irritated skin, can arise when your skin comes in contact with oats. Oats may be an ingredient in skin creams and moisturizers, especially for children.

In many cases, the symptoms will clear up with simple treatments and over-the-counter drugs. If you have a severe allergic reaction to an oat product, though, you need medical help right away.

A Word From Verywell

You may be surprised to learn that oat-based skin care products meant to bring relief for dry, itchy skin can actually cause symptoms for you or your child. If they do, suspect an oat sensitivity and contact your healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually, oats are a good food choice for people with diarrhea. In some forms of allergy, oat can cause diarrhea. If you have a food allergy to oats, you should avoid them.“Learn MoreA Guide to the BRAT Diet

Usually, oats are a good food choice for people with diarrhea. In some forms of allergy, oat can cause diarrhea. If you have a food allergy to oats, you should avoid them.”

Learn MoreA Guide to the BRAT Diet

When you can’t eat or use oat-based products, you may need to look for alternatives beyond gluten-free oatmeal. Considergluten-free grainssuch as quinoa or brown rice. If you need skin care, makeup, pet food, and other products without oats, shop around. There are many oat- and gluten-free items on the market.Learn MoreGluten-Free Makeup Brands List

When you can’t eat or use oat-based products, you may need to look for alternatives beyond gluten-free oatmeal. Considergluten-free grainssuch as quinoa or brown rice. If you need skin care, makeup, pet food, and other products without oats, shop around. There are many oat- and gluten-free items on the market.

Learn MoreGluten-Free Makeup Brands List

Learn MoreKeep a Food Diary to Identify Food Triggers

9 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.Hebert AA, Rippke F, Weber TM, Nicol NH.Efficacy of nonprescription moisturizers for atopic dermatitis: an updated review of clinical evidence.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(5):641-655. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00529-9Dvořáček V, Kotrbová-Kozak A, Kozová-Doležalová J, et al.Specific avenin cross-reactivity with G12 antibody in a wide range of current oat cultivars.Foods. 2022;11(4):567. doi:10.3390/foods11040567Ludwig H, Krogulska A.Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) - a rare disease with frequent symptoms - the practitioner’s compendium.Dev Period Med. 2019;23(1):67-78. doi:10.34763/devperiodmed.20192301.6778Food & Drug Administration.Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use.National Eczema Society.Allergy factsheet.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.AnaphylaxisAdomaite I, Vitkuviene A, Petraitiene S, Rudzeviciene O.Food allergens in skincare products marketed for children.Contact Dermatitis. 2020;83(4):271-276. doi:10.1111/cod.13645Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF, et al.British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017.Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(2):317-329. doi:10.1111/bjd.15239Pien LC, Colbert CY.Time to develop more clinician-educators in allergy and immunology.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2020;145(2):456-62. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.008Additional ReadingBoussault P, Léauté-Labrèze C, Saubusse E, et al.Oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: prevalence, risks and associated factors.Allergy. 2007;62(11):1251-1256. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01527.xFerreira MS, Sousa Lobo JM, Almeida IF.Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight.Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022;44(1):56-73. doi: 10.1111/ics.12754González-Afonso M, Cañas JA, Sastre B, et al.A case of anaphylaxis after oats ingestion: Research for new allergens.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol.2022;32(6). doi:10.18176/jiaci.0798

9 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.Hebert AA, Rippke F, Weber TM, Nicol NH.Efficacy of nonprescription moisturizers for atopic dermatitis: an updated review of clinical evidence.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(5):641-655. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00529-9Dvořáček V, Kotrbová-Kozak A, Kozová-Doležalová J, et al.Specific avenin cross-reactivity with G12 antibody in a wide range of current oat cultivars.Foods. 2022;11(4):567. doi:10.3390/foods11040567Ludwig H, Krogulska A.Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) - a rare disease with frequent symptoms - the practitioner’s compendium.Dev Period Med. 2019;23(1):67-78. doi:10.34763/devperiodmed.20192301.6778Food & Drug Administration.Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use.National Eczema Society.Allergy factsheet.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.AnaphylaxisAdomaite I, Vitkuviene A, Petraitiene S, Rudzeviciene O.Food allergens in skincare products marketed for children.Contact Dermatitis. 2020;83(4):271-276. doi:10.1111/cod.13645Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF, et al.British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017.Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(2):317-329. doi:10.1111/bjd.15239Pien LC, Colbert CY.Time to develop more clinician-educators in allergy and immunology.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2020;145(2):456-62. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.008Additional ReadingBoussault P, Léauté-Labrèze C, Saubusse E, et al.Oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: prevalence, risks and associated factors.Allergy. 2007;62(11):1251-1256. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01527.xFerreira MS, Sousa Lobo JM, Almeida IF.Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight.Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022;44(1):56-73. doi: 10.1111/ics.12754González-Afonso M, Cañas JA, Sastre B, et al.A case of anaphylaxis after oats ingestion: Research for new allergens.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol.2022;32(6). doi:10.18176/jiaci.0798

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.

Hebert AA, Rippke F, Weber TM, Nicol NH.Efficacy of nonprescription moisturizers for atopic dermatitis: an updated review of clinical evidence.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(5):641-655. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00529-9Dvořáček V, Kotrbová-Kozak A, Kozová-Doležalová J, et al.Specific avenin cross-reactivity with G12 antibody in a wide range of current oat cultivars.Foods. 2022;11(4):567. doi:10.3390/foods11040567Ludwig H, Krogulska A.Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) - a rare disease with frequent symptoms - the practitioner’s compendium.Dev Period Med. 2019;23(1):67-78. doi:10.34763/devperiodmed.20192301.6778Food & Drug Administration.Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use.National Eczema Society.Allergy factsheet.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.AnaphylaxisAdomaite I, Vitkuviene A, Petraitiene S, Rudzeviciene O.Food allergens in skincare products marketed for children.Contact Dermatitis. 2020;83(4):271-276. doi:10.1111/cod.13645Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF, et al.British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017.Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(2):317-329. doi:10.1111/bjd.15239Pien LC, Colbert CY.Time to develop more clinician-educators in allergy and immunology.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2020;145(2):456-62. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.008

Hebert AA, Rippke F, Weber TM, Nicol NH.Efficacy of nonprescription moisturizers for atopic dermatitis: an updated review of clinical evidence.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(5):641-655. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00529-9

Dvořáček V, Kotrbová-Kozak A, Kozová-Doležalová J, et al.Specific avenin cross-reactivity with G12 antibody in a wide range of current oat cultivars.Foods. 2022;11(4):567. doi:10.3390/foods11040567

Ludwig H, Krogulska A.Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) - a rare disease with frequent symptoms - the practitioner’s compendium.Dev Period Med. 2019;23(1):67-78. doi:10.34763/devperiodmed.20192301.6778

Food & Drug Administration.Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use.

National Eczema Society.Allergy factsheet.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Anaphylaxis

Adomaite I, Vitkuviene A, Petraitiene S, Rudzeviciene O.Food allergens in skincare products marketed for children.Contact Dermatitis. 2020;83(4):271-276. doi:10.1111/cod.13645

Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF, et al.British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017.Br J Dermatol. 2017;176(2):317-329. doi:10.1111/bjd.15239

Pien LC, Colbert CY.Time to develop more clinician-educators in allergy and immunology.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2020;145(2):456-62. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.008

Boussault P, Léauté-Labrèze C, Saubusse E, et al.Oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: prevalence, risks and associated factors.Allergy. 2007;62(11):1251-1256. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01527.xFerreira MS, Sousa Lobo JM, Almeida IF.Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight.Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022;44(1):56-73. doi: 10.1111/ics.12754González-Afonso M, Cañas JA, Sastre B, et al.A case of anaphylaxis after oats ingestion: Research for new allergens.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol.2022;32(6). doi:10.18176/jiaci.0798

Boussault P, Léauté-Labrèze C, Saubusse E, et al.Oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: prevalence, risks and associated factors.Allergy. 2007;62(11):1251-1256. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01527.x

Ferreira MS, Sousa Lobo JM, Almeida IF.Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight.Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022;44(1):56-73. doi: 10.1111/ics.12754

González-Afonso M, Cañas JA, Sastre B, et al.A case of anaphylaxis after oats ingestion: Research for new allergens.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol.2022;32(6). doi:10.18176/jiaci.0798

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