Is My Mother Wrong Or Right?

[Mal]

I've been Celiac for about a month now and learned a tremendous amount from this website, and my mother said 2 me yesterday that I can only get glutened via my gut......but isn't that wrong? What about shampoo and lipstick and even touching gluten. Is she right and I'm wrong, someone help...I'm very confused.

[CarlaB]

Shampoo and lipstick can get in your mouth, as can hand lotion. The only body care product I don't worry about is nail polish because I only use it on my toes! Anything else can get in your mouth ... either when you use it, or, for example, when you touch your hair, then eat finger food like potato chips.

So, you're both right, it does the damage via the gut; however, body care products can get in your mouth.

[Guest cassidy]

The issue with shampoo and lipstick is getting it in your mouth. Someone posted a while ago how surprisingly often shampoo gets in your mouth. If you use lotion with gluten and put your hands in your mouth, that can get you as well. Even licking envelopes can be bad if there is glue in the gluten.

Some people are very sensitive to using gluten on their skin (usually those with dh) and even smelling it.

So, technically I don't know if what your mouth absorbs goes into your gut, but either way, you should avoid products that contain gluten.

[lovegrov]

Touching gluten certainly isn't a problem for me as long as I wash and don't put it in my mouth. And I had DH.

richard

[Guest nini]

some people like my daughter break out in hives from just touching gluten. Me, I can touch it as long as I wash my hands really well before I eat after handling any gluten. I don't wear makeup or use any personal care products with it though because I don't want to kiss or hug my daughter and have her break out in hives.

[Rusla]

As for nail polish even that I check for gluten. If even a minute amount of it flakes off into something I am eating and it has gluten in it I am sick. For me a minute amount of crumbs that may get on my hand then if I eat something I am sick. It takes such a small amount to make me very ill and have my DH break out.

[Ursa Major]

When I was still using shampoo with wheat germ oil, my scalp was covered in a rash and excruciatingly itchy. I don't know if it was DH or not, but it doesn't really matter. When I switched to gluten-free shampoo and conditioner (Dove), that problem slowly went away. My head rarely gets that itchy now.

So, whether the shampoo got into my mouth or not I don't know, but the gluten in it was affecting my skin.

[TinkerbellSwt]

I seem not to have a problem with my hair care products that contain wheat. I am a hair twirler too. I just wash my hands alot, especially before a meal. I dont wear lipstick that contains gluten, as I am sure I will ingest that. I know I probably shouldnt be using the shampoo, in fact Carla gave me a good one to try. As soon as I have the money to go and buy it (its on the expensive side) I will be trying it.

So ... please dont go by my example. I am by no means saying I dont get gluten in my system because of my hair care products.. I personally wouldnt recommend it to anyone.. I say this as though I dont use the stuff...

[Guest cassidy]

As for nail polish even that I check for gluten. If even a minute amount of it flakes off into something I am eating and it has gluten in it I am sick. For me a minute amount of crumbs that may get on my hand then if I eat something I am sick. It takes such a small amount to make me very ill and have my DH break out.

I never thought of that. I usually just paint my toes so I would hope there is no way for my toe nail polish to get into my food. If I ever paint my fingers I will remember to check that. Talk about hidden gluten!

[zansu]

I usually just paint my toes so I would hope there is no way for my toe nail polish to get into my food.

[2kids4me]

mY daughter gets a deep red rash followed by excema if she touches wheat flour - found that out when the class did school project and made paper mache masks.

She came home from school and her hands were red, she had blotches anywhere she had scratched herself with her glutened hands.

You can't get villous atrophy from coming into contact with it - but it can make you sick - skin reaction or systemic symptoms. Varies with each individual.

Sandy

[darlindeb25]

I too break out in hives if wheat is on my skin. It is a well known fact that inhaling gluten can make us sick--although, they aren't sure if in inhaling it, it may be that the person is a mouth breather and the air particles are getting in their mouth and swallowed--I do know that most gluten intolerant can not work in bakeries.

Ursula, as I was reading your post about your itchy head from a shampoo with wheat germ, a light came on in my mind. I had purchsed VO5 shampoo for a very good price. It is strawberries and cream and smells so wonderful--I even thought I checked the ingredients and I did, I do not believe there is gluten in it, yet just now, I reread the ingredients and there is the culprit for me: soybean extract! I quit using it a few weeks ago because my head started itching. Because the cooler season is upon us, I also thought maybe it was from the temps, yet the itching stopped after I went back to my Pantene. Now I realize, the VO5 was the problem. Sometimes the simpliest answer is so close and yet so hard to see. Thank you.

[moomama18]

My daughter kept reacting even after we had eliminated all gluten from her diet. I read an article about shampoos/lotions so I decided to switch her shampoo and voie laz (sp?). She was a happy camper, started napping for the first time in her life and stopped having gluten poops. This past summer she reacted to suntan lotion as well. So, I would definitely be careful with shampoos/lotions/skin care products.

[CarlaB]

in fact Carla gave me a good one to try. As soon as I have the money to go and buy it (its on the expensive side) I will be trying it.

I just went to buy Alterna Caviar today ... they added wheat and oats to it. I bought Kenra instead ... don't know if I like it yet.

It's a good thing I've learned my lesson that you need to read the ingredients EVERY time you purchase a product!! They change formulas/recipes all the time!!