Getting Acne From Cosmetics With Gluten?

[Mewmew]

Hello

 

I'm new on this site and haven't been to the doctor yet to get tested for celiac disease.

 

But I have a question for you: Do any of you get (something that to me looks like) acne on your skin when you use a product (for example shampoo, conditioner, skin care etc.) that contains gluten?

 

I used a shampoo for 10 years (it had Behenoyl PG-Trimonium Chloride) and had acne on my back because of it. After that I switched to a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner because I thought that the sulfates might be the reason for my break out. It wasn't. The new conditioner broke me out too (it contained hydrolyzed wheat protein). I can't find something else the products had in common except for gluten.

 

I got interested in no poo shampoo and stopped using shampoo's from the store. The skin on my back got clear within two months by using literally nothing. I still have acne on my face and is about to switch out all my products to more natural alternatives that I know my skin likes.

 

Have any of you experienced something like that? Because I'm thinking that maybe my acne isn't "acne" but just sort of looks like it.

[LauraTX]

Welcome to the forum, MewMew!

 

There are many things in personal care products that can cause acne and acne-like rashes.  It is important to know that Celiac disease is not a topical allergy to gluten.  Wheat allergies do exist, but that is a separate condition.  Someone with Celiac disease can touch gluten, cook with it, even use gluten-containing products like shampoo, as long as it doesn't get in their mouth.   Since hair and shampoo can both get into the mouth by accident, many Celiacs choose to make all their personal care products gluten-free.  

 

What you are describing just sounds like a very common reaction to something in the body product.  It could be a fragrance that is not specifically listed, as well as just a buildup of something on the skin that could be causing the acne.  Ever use a shampoo that had more moisturizer in it than you needed and your hair gets greasy after a while?  Same thing can happen on the skin. Try washing your hair in the sink and not getting the shampoo on your skin, or if you can't do that, thoroughly wash the skin on your back with a facial wash after using shampoo and conditioner, to get that buildup off.  Conditioner that coats hair surfaces with moisturizer is good for the hair but not so much for the skin.  You also may just have an acne issue that comes from within, and certain products may aggravate it.  Keep using the process of elimination with products, and if you are thinking about going gluten-free, please get tested for Celiac disease before trying out a gluten-free diet.  The tests are not accurate if you are not consuming gluten.