We were referred a question from a Sephora store and wanted to give you some feedback on it, should you come across this question yourselves. The question had to do with a customer looking for gluten free skin care.
There are only 2 reasons I know of that someone needs to avoid gluten; they have a GI condition called Celiac Sprue, or they have a blistering skin condition known as DH (Dermatitis Herpetiformis). Both conditions are set off by the oral CONSUMPTION of gluten, not the topical application.
According to the Mayo Clinic, those who need to be on a gluten-free diet such as anyone with Celiac Sprue or Dermatitis Herpetiformis do not need to use gluten-free skin care products as gluten is not absorbed through the skin. Gluten is only absorbed through the GI tract. Products containing gluten should not be applied to the lips or about the mouth as they might be accidentally consumed. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/AN01623/rss=1
Should someone be allergic to wheat or other grain and develop a rash when products containing these are applied to the skin, then they need to avoid that specific grain, not gluten.
- Tags: gluten free
23 Responses to “Gluten Free Skincare?”
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Interesting! I have several friends with celiac or gluten intollerance, including myself, and whether or not to avoid skin care products containing gluten was always a mystery to me. Thank you for clearing this up – and I will pass on the info to my friends!
I think one should always look for side effect and consequences before using any product even skin care products.
I just received an order from the doctor today to have a blood test, to check for gluten sensitivity. Surprised to come across this article tonight. Glad to know that it is not absorbed through the skin.
My dr. said celiacs can have reactions to topically applied products with gluten in them. I have celiac & I got DH from a body wash I used that had wheat germ oil as an ingredient.
Hi Lindsay, Certainly we recommend that you follow your physicians advice with regard to skin care product recommendations. This article was intended as general information…there are always exceptions. Take care!
I am 46. Just found out I am gluten sensitve. I haven’t been able to wear lipstick for over 15 yrs. because my lips peal almost as soon as I apply it. Guess what? Many lipsticks contain wheat! Some shampoos and conditioners have made my scalp itch in the past. Guess what? After reading the labels I found out they contained wheat.
Your skin is the the largest organ in your body. It absorbs whatever you put on it. I am staying away from any and all health and beauty aids that contain wheat from now on!!!
I have to agree with Jennifer, your skin is the largest organ in our body and it absorbs whatever you put on it!! I was diagnosed with celiac last May. for the past few months I have be using a very well known line of cosmetics (initials MK). I was using their skin care products and makeup and this last week I think it has all come to a head. About 2 hours after I use the products I get very ill. I discontinued to use the products for about 4 days, and I felt great by the 4th day. During the 4 days, I talked to the company and they said they could not guarentee their products are gluten free. They faxed me a list of ingredients that may contain gluten. So the next day I used the products that weren’t on the list and I still got sick. I don’t know what is going on, I am very fustrated. I guess I will have to buy gluten free cosmetics from now on.
I also believe that the skin may absorb the gluten from the various grains. I keep having a time of it and so frustrated myself. If I totally avoid everything made from wheat gluten, I still have problems from the hidden stuff. I’ve even resorted to making my own soaps and lotions to try and help. There I can be more sure of the ingredients, just like in food recipes I myself create. Eating out is a chore, just like reading labels at the grocery -which drives the hubby nuts. If I’m right, though, he’s been even more problematic than I for the last twenty plus years and his is all visible. Found this posting while looking at Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). If even the mild case of this stuff is his problem, perhaps I’ll get some relief sooner rather than later. Good luck everyone!
i am into Gluten-Free diet because i am allergic to gluten. when baking bread, i always use Guar Gum or Xanthan Gum
i have been in a gluten free diet ever since last year because i have food allergy.
I was on a gluten free diet for allergies for about 10 years. The trick is not to cheat. I also had allergies to dairy and corn syrup which is pretty much everything you can think of lol.
i have an allergy to Gluten and most of the time i use guar gum or xanthan gum for baking. these gums are good substitute for wheat,
I started working out 45min a day 5 times a week, and at first I would just starve myself, I would eat like an apple and some juice, for the day. I lost weight, but once the weekend hit I totally caved, and I was like oh well I can just diet again once the week starts, but I would really like to know what food and how much of it I should eat.
My experience is like Annette’s – I get very sick from cosmetics. Avoid them, and I feel healthy again. It’s a shame, because I was a performing artist. That was my passion, since I can remember. There is so much misinformation on this topic. Gluten in cosmetics CAN make celiacs sick. Trace amounts. And there ARE no laws protecting us from that. Cosmetics are all over your hands, all over your face, on your lips. Unless you’re a statue – you’re going to ingest it. That’s the reality.
If you have celiac, please consider avoiding gluten in all skin and hair care products as well as cosmetics. Obviously make sure each and every dental care item you use is gluten free, as well as any treatment or cosmetics you put on your lips, because you are ABSOLUTELY going to be ingesting those items.Keep in mind that when you rinse out your hair in the shower, anything you have into your hair could easily get in your mouth and mucous membranes. You put lotion on your hands and pick up a piece of friut or anything else you n in your hands and voila!…you’ve ingested gluten. So please don’t listen to anyone who tells you you’re just being paranoid to be careful about everything you may ingest, inhale, or apply to your body…they’re not the ones who have to deal with inflammation, malabsorption of nutrients, digestive pain and issues, increased risk of colon cancer, and likelihood of other allergies and autoimmune diseases due to exposure to gluten. It’s your life and your body, and your responsibility to protect them and make informed choices!
I have a gluten sensitivity that affects my digestion, but also when I use beauty products that contain wheat or gluten! I tried Aveeno shampoo (which lists Gluten as an ingredient) and broke out in an itchy rash all over my body. I don’t care what a Dr. would tell me, I KNOW what caused it!
This is absolutely UNTRUE…you CAN absorb gluten through cosmetics, soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer. I have Dermatitis Herptaforaris, a skin condition CAUSED by gluten. When you have this condition you ARE GLUTEN INTOLERANT SAME as CELIAC! I also believe it to be Gluten ALLERGY! I have gone totally gluten free with everything. I was getting cold sores from toothpaste with gluten, elimitated that! dermatitis from eating it, putting it on my skin and in my hair (getting bumps on my scalp) I use all gluten free products. I am positive that Keratosis pilaris is actually dermatitis herptaformaris. All of my skin problems went away after discontinuing use of gluten products. I tested NEGATIVE for the colon biopsy! this can be very NORMAL! get the antibody test for both tTG3 and tTG6! you can have both of them, or one and not the other. Most blood tests only test for tTG3 so if you have tTG6 it will be missed. Celiac disease runs in my family. It is genetic. 1 in 133 people have it, 99% of people don’t know they have it, many don’t even have symptoms, many think it is something else and if you have a immediate relative like I do, my dad, your chance is 1 in 22 of having it. I went 5 years of being very sick and thinking I had fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, abnormal periods, acne, herpes, IBS and lost 65 lbs in 8 months! Pretty scarey! All of these symptoms have all gone away. Please don’t ignore it! And like someone else said, it’s pretty easy to get skin/hair products in your mouth! Gluten is everywhere!
Wow that is absolutely false! Also, individuals with wheat and gluten allergies do exist and they are not necessarily diagnosed as having Celiac and those individuals most certainly have to avoid exposure to wheat or gluten.
I myself am Celiac as are three very close friends. Not one of us can use a product containing gluten without a severe adverse reaction. I once used a lotion on my hands containing wheat and broke out in large blisters all over my hands. Another time I used a shampoo containing wheat and had my scalp turn bright red and blister. Not to mention anywhere the shampoo had touched on my neck and back blistered as well. I also used to get chronic cold sores and once I was diagnosed with celiac I stopped using lip gloss and lipstick and guess what? No more cold sores.
If you were recently diagnosed and are looking for good information on what to avoid -this article is BAD advice. It is always best to avoid something containing wheat or gluten then be sorry.
I am very interested in a sugar-free living. I currently have a sweet-tooth, and am finding it difficult to find meal plans, what to eat for snacks, etc. While diabetes is not something that runs in my family, I am still concerned and would like to be smart and take a proactive approach to my health. Any tips or advice?
WAY more than two reasons to avoid gluten. those with hashimoto’s thyroiditis should as well (after talking with their doc, of course…)
me and my sister are both allergic to Gluten and we were always on a gluten-free diet ever since we were teenagers. .
I CAN tell you for a fact,gluten CAN be absorbed through the skin. I TODAY installed a house full of vinyl floor covering, useing an adhesive. I did get some glue on my hand, and by this evening, my hand looks like I ate a order of fries from McDonalds. I do not have stomach pain yet, BUT the skin reaction is the same. NO ONE will convince me that it was not caused by this.
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