Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Soaps...

princessfuzzball

Recommended Posts

princessfuzzball Rookie
princessfuzzball
Posted

Allright, well I had this little silly incident in class where my professor was using goldfish crackers to explain a statistical thing in class. It didn't bug me to take a handful of crackers, but I knew that I would have to wash my hands as soon as I was done... I didn't want to get sick from that...

Anyways, I went into the bathroom and washed my hands only to realize--- What if the handsoap is not gluten free???!!!

Long story short, I went over and asked a few questions to the people in physical plant, and I got a no gluten here answer, good to know.

Now, I'm paranoid-What about other public bathrooms???

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

I know that some people here carry Purell - anit-bacterial with them in their purses all the time.

Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted

How dumb am I? I never even thought of that either. My house has gluten-free soap. I wash my hands on campus constantly and then of course I have to eat. Wow, maybe the soap sometimes gives me grief.

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

Do many soaps contain gluten?

princessfuzzball Rookie
princessfuzzball
Posted
  • Author
Do many soaps contain gluten?

I found that a lot more of the really creamy "lotion" sopas have them.... I wanted to be sure because I septnd three days a week on campus and I'm always washing my hands and chewing on my nails...

I know that some people here carry Purell - anit-bacterial with them in their purses all the time.

Purell won't work if for some reason you got gluten on your hands because it will just push it aroung. I don't want to risk that, and don't get me started on how bad that antibacterial gel is on your skin and whatnot....

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

We have to wash our hands everywhere we go, so esentially we could be washing our hands with gluten! That can't be safe! Why does soap need gluten anyway? I have an idea! Replace the gluten with carrots :D

Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted

It's better to use an alcohol based hand sanitizer not an antibacterial one for obvious reasons.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 1 year later...
ReneCox Contributor
ReneCox
Posted

so does anyone know what brands of hand soaps DO contain gluten??

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
so does anyone know what brands of hand soaps DO contain gluten??

Off hand, I can't think of brands, but alot of the fancy soaps contain wheat and oats.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I would avoid all soaps that claim that they have moisturizers in them. The likelihood of that being wheat germ oil is high.

And it is true that those antibacterial cleanses are useless, since gluten is not a bacterium. And the alcohol based one is just as useless, unless you rinse your hands with water afterwards. If you don't rinse your hands, the gluten is still present. You need to wash it off, not rub it around!

Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted
so does anyone know what brands of hand soaps DO contain gluten??

Some of the Canus Goat's Milk soaps have wheat in them.

Moelle Newbie
Moelle
Posted

Wow, I find this REALLY interesting. Long post ahead... grin.

I'm a brand new member here who happens to be an artisan soapmaker by trade... and discovering gluten intolerance! I'm 37 and a 10-year vegetarian, immersed in health care as a separate career of 12 years, also a yoga teacher (busy me!), and I'm starting my journey toward narrowing my problems down.

Anyway, this thread is sort of making me think out loud. Let me just share some of that, and maybe something will come of it.

I've read in a few sources that it requires actual contact with the digestive system for a celiac to be affected by a gluten-containing substance. I don't personally have enough info to have formed a solid opinion, and clearly the postings of people on this board indicate otherwise. It's possible that a gluten-containing soap (if soap is the substance in question) was accidentally ingested, or that the things I've read are incorrect.

As far as soap ingredients, there are very few gluten-containing materials that even are used in soapmaking. Soap is a combination of fats or oils and lye (sodium hydroxide). The only oil I can think of that would obviously be a factor is wheat germ oil. I've used it rarely in soapmaking, and dermal contact has never caused a problem for me. Indeed, I've put oats in soap, and they could be CC'd, and I suppose some of my other base oils could be CC'd. As for other additives (scents, essential oils, botanicals), they are gluten free, unless you are using wheat germ or bran as an additive, and this very rarely occurs in a soap. I personally do not sell any soaps presently (though might in the future here and there) with gluten-containing ingredients in them. It's just SO rare. They're expensive and the benefit they provide to the skin isn't that amazing to spend the money. Wheat germ oil is not as great soap additive as, say, avocado or apricot kernel oil. The latter are far more commonly used. Besides, soap isn't moisturizing. It's just milder than detergent.

Here's the other thing I have to wonder about. There's a chemical reaction called saponification, when the lye eats up the oil/fat molecules, and turns the whole mess into soap. Even if any ingredients were CC'd, at that point, is there any gluten remaining, or did the chemical reaction mutate them? I think only lab analysis would tell us, and sadly I can't afford that! :o Do milk soaps still contain active casein? I personally use only soymilk, but it's another good question.

The other thing is this. Most commercial soap isn't soap at all. It's synthetic detergent in bar form. So it's also possible that it is a reaction to synthetic ingredients. Anytime you see "moisturizing bar", legally that is not true soap. A soap can make claims of being moisturizing etc., but rarely does, because then the FDA calls it a cosmetic and it's subject to some seeerious testing and labeling requirements. So, read the label and make sure you are getting what you pay for ;)

In theory, it's easy to make a gluten-free soap, and in theory, all of mine and most of other soapmakers I know, are gluten-free. So... use gluten-free substances. Use separate utensils (even though all utensils used in soapmaking must be stainless steel and are sterilized), a dedicated working area, and gluten-free base oils... but here, the problem comes in of confirming they are "clean". I've never seen such info listed for suppliers, and remember I'm not buying oils at the grocery store... I'm buying them in 55-pound barrels at restaurant supply or soapmaker supply places. But it is an interesting thought.

That's more than anyone wanted to know about soap! I hope some info was useful.

This is such a fabulous resource here... been reading for 1 1/2 hours! It's very nice to meet everyone. Finally I realize I'm not crazy!

hershey Newbie
hershey
Posted
That's more than anyone wanted to know about soap! I hope some info was useful.

This is such a fabulous resource here... been reading for 1 1/2 hours! It's very nice to meet everyone. Finally I realize I'm not crazy!

That was very interesting! Thanks for posting it, Moelle. I'm new here too, and was about to scream

SOAP TOO??

What else is left? Good grief!

OK, I've calmed down and am now relatively assured that the inexpensive "deodorant bar" type soaps that I buy are not making me or my son sick.

Thanks for all the information on this forum :)

Mel

Moelle Newbie
Moelle
Posted
That was very interesting! Thanks for posting it, Moelle. I'm new here too, and was about to scream

SOAP TOO??

What else is left? Good grief!

OK, I've calmed down and am now relatively assured that the inexpensive "deodorant bar" type soaps that I buy are not making me or my son sick.

Thanks for all the information on this forum :)

Mel

I know, I did the same thing. I'm like, am I out of a career?? LOL Everyone is different though, so I make no claims as to what others experience. I think it's safe to assume that what you're buying is gluten-free.

wowzer Community Regular
wowzer
Posted

Thank you for all the information about soap. It's always great to learn something new.

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

I checked the soap ingredients at my work, too! I've never seen an industrial soap that has gluten. Not to say they don't exist, but I think it's rare. It's all the specialty soaps that have "all natural wheat and oat ingredients to soothe and moisturize your hands." :) I don't worry about using soap in public places. If you're soy intolerant, then I think you would have a problem since most industrial soaps do contain soy.

ArtGirl Enthusiast
ArtGirl
Posted

I've never gotten glutened from washing my hands in a public/office restroom, but I use the "soap" sparingly and really rinse well, along with rubbing my hands well on the paper towel when drying (and not just blotting). I feel like I've eliminated gluten even if it were in the soap, which it probably isn't. But some places use moisturizing liquid "soap" which could be suspect, I guess.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,964
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Cbear
    Newest Member
    Cbear
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Does anyone here also have Afib

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      If black seed oil is working for his Afib, stick to it, but if not, I can say that ablation therapy is no big deal--my mother was out of the procedure in about 1 hour and went home that evening, and had zero negative effects from the treatment. PS - I would recommend that your husband get an Apple watch to monitor his Afib--there is an app and it will take readings 24/7 and give reports on how much of the time he's in it. Actual data like this should be what should guide his treatment.
    • Jacki Espo
      Covid caused reoccurrence of DH without eating gluten

      By Jacki Espo · Posted

      This happened to me as well. What’s weirder is that within a couple hours of taking paxlovid it subsided. I thought maybe I got glutened but after reading your post not so sure. 
    • Mari
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Tiffany. Thank you for writing your dituation and  circumstancesin such detail and so well writte, too. I particularly noticed what you wrote about brain for and feeling like your brain is swelling and I know from my own experiences that's how it feel and your brain really does swell and you get migraines.    Way back when I was in my 20s I read a book by 2 MD allergist and they described their patient who came in complaining that her brain, inside her cranium, was swelling  and it happened when she smelled a certain chemical she used in her home. She kept coming back and insisting her brain actually swelled in her head. The Drs couldn't explain this problem so they, with her permission, performed an operation where they made a small opening through her cranium, exposed her to the chemical then watched as she brain did swell into the opening. The DRs were amazed but then were able to advise her to avoid chemicals that made her brain swell. I remember that because I occasionally had brain fog then but it was not a serious problem. I also realized that I was becoming more sensitive to chemicals I used in my work in medical laboratories. By my mid forties the brain fog and chemicals forced me to leave my  profession and move to a rural area with little pollution. I did not have migraines. I was told a little later that I had a more porous blood brain barrier than other people. Chemicals in the air would go up into my sinused and leak through the blood brain barrier into my brain. We have 2 arteries  in our neck that carry blood with the nutrients and oxygen into the brain. To remove the fluids and used blood from the brain there are only capillaries and no large veins to carry it away so all those fluids ooze out much more slowly than they came in and since the small capillaries can't take care of extra fluid it results in swelling in the face, especially around the eyes. My blood flow into my brain is different from most other people as I have an arterial ischema, adefectiveartery on one side.   I have to go forward about 20 or more years when I learned that I had glaucoma, an eye problem that causes blindness and more years until I learned I had celiac disease.  The eye Dr described my glaucoma as a very slow loss of vision that I wouldn't  notice until had noticeable loss of sight.  I could have my eye pressure checked regularly or it would be best to have the cataracts removed from both eyes. I kept putting off the surgery then just overnight lost most of the vision in my left eye. I thought at the I had been exposed to some chemical and found out a little later the person who livedbehind me was using some chemicals to build kayaks in a shed behind my house. I did not realize the signifance  of this until I started having appointments with a Dr. in a new building. New buildings give me brain fog, loss of balance and other problems I know about this time I experienced visual disturbances very similar to those experienced by people with migraines. I looked further online and read that people with glaucoma can suffer rapid loss of sight if they have silent migraines (no headache). The remedy for migraines is to identify and avoid the triggers. I already know most of my triggers - aromatic chemicals, some cleaning materials, gasoline and exhaust and mold toxins. I am very careful about using cleaning agents using mostly borax and baking powder. Anything that has any fragrance or smell I avoid. There is one brand of dishwashing detergent that I can use and several brands of  scouring powder. I hope you find some of this helpful and useful. I have not seen any evidence that Celiac Disease is involved with migraines or glaucoma. Please come back if you have questions or if what I wrote doesn't make senseto you. We sometimes haveto learn by experience and finding out why we have some problems. Take care.       The report did not mention migraines. 
    • Mari
      My only proof

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Jmartes71 That is so much like my story! You probably know where Laytonville is and that's where I was living just before my 60th birthday when the new Dr. suggested I could have Celiacs. I didn't go on a gluten challange diet before having the Celiac panel blood test drawn. The results came back as equivical as one antibody level was very high but another, tissue transaminasewas normal. Itdid show I was  allergic to cows milk and I think hot peppers. I immediately went gluten free but did not go in for an endoscopy. I found an online lab online that would do the test to show if I had a main celiac gene (enterolab.com). The report came back that I had inherited a main celiac gene, DQ8, from one parent and a D!6 from the other parent. That combination is knows to sym[tons of celiac worse than just inheriting one main celiac gene. With my version of celiac disease I was mostly constipated but after going gluten-free I would have diarrhea the few times I was glutened either by cross contamination or eating some food containing gluten. I have stayed gluten-free for almost 20 years now and knew within a few days that it was right for me although my recovery has been slow.   When I go to see a  medical provide and tell them I have celiacs they don't believe me. The same when I tell them that I carry a main celiac gene, the DQ8. It is only when I tell them that I get diarrhea after eating gluten that they realize that I might have celiac disease. Then they will order th Vitamin B12 and D3 that I need to monitor as my B12 levels can go down very fast if I'm not taking enough of it. Medical providers haven't been much help in my recovery. They are not well trained in this problem. I really hope this helps ypu. Take care.      
    • knitty kitty
      Does anyone here also have Afib

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Fascinating.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.