I've E-mailed Several Companies Re:gluten

[filititi]

Thanks for your interest in Max Factor, Brandy.

We know Celiac is a serious disease, so we want to give you clear information regarding the use of our beauty care products. If wheat and/or gluten aren't directly added to a product by us, these ingredients won't be listed on our packages. Like many companies, we often purchase the scents for fragranced products from outside suppliers, and the components of these substances are proprietary information belonging to those companies. Therefore it's possible that a very small amount (generally parts per million) of gluten may be present.

We sought advice from physicians; they told us it would be very unlikely a person with Celiac disease would have a reaction from a trace amount of gluten coming into contact with his skin or hair. This is because wheat, rye, barley and/or gluten generally cause symptoms when they're ingested. Since our beauty care products are designed to be used externally on the skin, their use shouldn't be an issue for someone with this disease.

Since gluten sensitivity can vary among people, it would be best if you consulted with your physician about the use of all types of consumable goods, if you haven't already. You might even consider using one of our fragrance free products that doesn't list gluten or wheat extracts on the label.

Thanks for getting in touch with us. I hope this response has been helpful to you.

Chrisie

Beauty Care Team

[erica]

Their response is really upsetting. It absolutely is possible to have a reaction to gluten that isn't ingested. I recently used a new soap that had gluten without knowing and now my entire body is covered in a painful and itchy rash i can't seem to get rid of. I would suggest staying away from gluten in anything- it's just not worth the suffering it can cause- especially in makeup.

[filititi]

That's the exact reason that I started e-mailing companies in the first place.

I came to this site searching for help with this horribly itchy rash that I had and people suggested that I look at my bath products...sure enough there was wheat in it.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies that just don't seem to care.

[erica]

Filititi,

Did your rash go away once you stopped using your soap or did you have to take something? How long did it take to go away? I am feeling extremely helpless so any advice you could offer would be extremely appreciated.

Thanks,

Erica

[filititi]

It improved right away when I got rid of all the offending products, but I still itch a bit. I stopped using the products about a month ago, so I know how you feel.

It helps me to use Vaseline Lotion with Aloe...but as soon as it rubs off I'm itchy again. I'm in the medical field and refuse to use a cortisone based product (even though I know it would help the itching) because it delays healing and I've scratched myself raw in places. I've also been on high dose oral cortisone (before they discovered that I was a Celiac) so I don't heal that well anyway.

A cortisone based ointment may help you though, as long as you don't have healing issues to begin with.

Sorry that I'm not more help.

Fil

[erica]

Thanks for replying. At least I know it will go away sooner or later. I have an appt wit a dermotologist this morning- hoping he can help.

[lil-nurse]

I have had the same problem in the past and it took me over a month to get my rash under control!!!. I learned that the best thing to do is take a warm bath in epsom salt . It relieves the itch. Another thing that helps is bath salts that contain dead sea salts from the dead sea. I now use these salts on a daily bases!!! I hope this information helps all of you. I know its miserable to be itching all the time.

Rhonda

[erica]

Thanks lil-nurse! I will definitely try those ideas. They did a skin biopsy but I won't get the results back for 7-10 days and I am going insane. I have to give 3 presentations at work this week and I am not sure how on earth I will survive thru them without scratching myself silly. My Dr prescribed a strong cortisone cream and an antihistamine but neither seem to be working yet.