What's the difference between colloidal oatmeal and oatmeal?
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), colloidal oatmeal has been officially recognized as a safe and effective over-the-counter skin protectant since 2003. This fact immediately highlights the fundamental distinction: the difference between colloidal oatmeal and oatmeal lies in their specific purpose and how they are processed.