Are Topicals Really That Important?

[lilred1]

I have always checked to see whether topicals that I use are gluten free yet I have never understood why? Is there really that much systemic absorption? Can that trigger a reaction? Thank you for any replys in advance

[Guest j_mommy]

I personally do not have problems with topicals. There has been much debate over this issue. My shampoo has wheat germ in it and I have used it for a long time with no problems. TP, paper towl ect I don't worry about either and have had no problems.

This said, I do not have DH and my skin is not sensitive.

Each person has to decide for themselves if they are going to worry about topicals.

[Guest j_mommy]

Also want to add....I do use gluten-free toothpaste and lipstick. (Both of these I could ingest).....I wash my hair over the side of the tub and have never had problems with shampoo getting in my mouth!

[ab123]

I dont worry about lotions, make up, and things like that. I do watch out for shampoo and toothpaste. The only reason for shampoo is because I have pretty long hair so I use alot of shampoo and have gotten it in my mouth on accident before (and my mouth broke out in huge ulcers!!)

[ravenwoodglass]

I am very careful of topicals. Anything that can get on your skin or hair can get into your body. Have you ever used a lotion or something with sparkles in it? Even though you may wash your hands multiple times during the day you will most likely find those sparkles on your fingers countless times. If you eat with your fingers, wipe your hands across your lips, get your hair in your mouth when the wind blows. Well you get the picture. If you have had autoimmune involvement by the time you were diagnosed it takes very little to start the immune system wrecking havoc again.

[Franceen]

Yes, much debated this is! I have DH and sensitive skin and I have never watched out for gluten stuff in topicals and I've never had a problem. Iodine-containing things were a problem until I got the DH under control (during active break-out).

I don't use lipstick but maybe once a week and I don't get shampoo in my mouth.

I have avoided oatmeal lotions and shampoos, just because I've never liked oatmeal!

Most of the stuff I use doesn't seem to have anything in it, but considering the labeling laws for cosmetics and health and beauty aids are less than for food, products probably DO have wheat/barley in them. (Haven't used sparkly stuff either).

But, never had a problem.

[silly celiac]

I have noticed improvement in the condition of my hair and skin since switching to gluten-free products, and personally, after all the work I have done to keep my guts safe, I would hate to risk accidentally ingesting something, regardless of whether the improvements are real or not. I do not want to take the chance of reacting! And if I have a reaction sometime... I would assume it was something that I ate- not that I accidentally got a little lotion in my mouth- and it could be quite maddening trying to eliminate different foods that might be suspect when all along it was the lotion! I'd rather avoid the stress.

[hathor]

I did notice an improvement once I switched from using hair styling products that contained wheat. But then, these things are designed to act like glue. Did I carefully scrub it all off of my fingers, including under the nails? (If gluten sticks in colanders and the like, why wouldn't it cling around one's nails?) How often did I touch my hair and NOT wash my hands? I even would pouf my hair with wet fingers to help restyle it ... I shudder to think about it now. Certainly one's hands, or things one's hands touch, go into one's mouth repeatedly during the day. Just think about it: taking pills, flossing, eating food with one's hands, preparing food, rubbing one's lips.

Fact is, one can find products that don't have gluten in them. Even if I hadn't noticed improvement, I don't know if it made any sense for me to be walking around all day with gluten glue on my head when I didn't have to.