Massage

[JBaby]

I am a Massage student and wondering if anyone knows if the following is a possibility. I am looking for facts. If you can notate resources it would be great. I know I need to be sure i use lotions that are gluten free. What about the people I work on? What if they use lotions and body wash that have gluten on their skin the day they see me. Do you think I am at risk?

[GlutenFreeManna]

Do you have skin reactions to gluten in your own lotions? I am very sensitive and I think I may also be allergic to wheat because I broke out in hives when I put on lotion with wheat germ oil in it. HOWEVER, if you do not have a skin reaction (i.e. an allergy), then gluten in lotions can only hurt you if accidentally touch your mouth or eyes or you have an open cut. The gluten has to get into your system somehow. Many people don't have to worry about gluten in cosmetics. So I would not worry about it unless you start having obvious reactions from doing massages. It seems like the chances of getting glutened by residue from the someone's skin is very slim. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I don't think it's likely. Just be very careful not to touch your lips, nose, eyes and wash your hands very well after the massage and you should be fine.

[curiousgirl]

Do you have skin reactions to gluten in your own lotions? I am very sensitive and I think I may also be allergic to wheat because I broke out in hives when I put on lotion with wheat germ oil in it. HOWEVER, if you do not have a skin reaction (i.e. an allergy), then gluten in lotions can only hurt you if accidentally touch your mouth or eyes or you have an open cut. The gluten has to get into your system somehow. Many people don't have to worry about gluten in cosmetics. So I would not worry about it unless you start having obvious reactions from doing massages. It seems like the chances of getting glutened by residue from the someone's skin is very slim. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I don't think it's likely. Just be very careful not to touch your lips, nose, eyes and wash your hands very well after the massage and you should be fine.

I've wondered the same thing. I actually have a client (I'm a cmt, for 26 years) who farms wheat (corn, etc.) and I've wondered if that could be an issue. Geeezzzz!

[JBaby]

I have always made sure lotions and shampoo etc are gluten free just for safety sake. I did have skin issues which I only attributed to eating gluten like breakouts on back etc but recently learned that for me, it is a reaction to corn syrup, HFCS and red dye 40. Since I eliminated those, breakouts stop, itching stops unless i ingest those ingredients. But I dont know about wheat germ oil since i never tested for that directly on skin, I only assumed it was gluten. guess I need to apply it to my skin to get my answer. What product has this in it? Or any wheat/gluten product I can test?

[GlutenFreeManna]

The product I reacted to was lotion from Bath and Body Works. You're brave for wanting to test it out, I would not want to do that on purpose. If you really want to, though you could go in the store, read the ingredients on the tester samples and test a small amount with wheat germ oil on your arm or some place you won't accidentally lick. Lots of celiacs have no skin reaction and don't have to worry about all their personal care products. I always recommend that people try to get gluten free personal care products anyway because it is possible for things like shampoos to get in your mouth. But in your line of work you can't control what your clients use. Maybe you could find a line of lotions that are all 100% gluten free and recommend them to your regulars.

[kareng]

I have always made sure lotions and shampoo etc are gluten free just for safety sake. I did have skin issues which I only attributed to eating gluten like breakouts on back etc but recently learned that for me, it is a reaction to corn syrup, HFCS and red dye 40. Since I eliminated those, breakouts stop, itching stops unless i ingest those ingredients. But I dont know about wheat germ oil since i never tested for that directly on skin, I only assumed it was gluten. guess I need to apply it to my skin to get my answer. What product has this in it? Or any wheat/gluten product I can test?

Massage lotions with wheat most likely won't bother your skin (a few people it does). What I would worry about is you are rubbing that oil/lotion into your hands as you massage (unless you wear gloves?). It would be hard to wash it off completely, I would think. Since most lotion is meant to stay on skin. Then you touch your food, or bite that annoying broken fingernail.....

[heatherjane]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it if you don't have a skin reaction from gluten. Are you washing your hands between clients? A good scrubbing would remove any possible gluten.

I would hope that you're doing that anyway just to keep things hygenic.

[JBaby]

The product I reacted to was lotion from Bath and Body Works. You're brave for wanting to test it out, I would not want to do that on purpose. If you really want to, though you could go in the store, read the ingredients on the tester samples and test a small amount with wheat germ oil on your arm or some place you won't accidentally lick. Lots of celiacs have no skin reaction and don't have to worry about all their personal care products. I always recommend that people try to get gluten free personal care products anyway because it is possible for things like shampoos to get in your mouth. But in your line of work you can't control what your clients use. Maybe you could find a line of lotions that are all 100% gluten free and recommend them to your regulars.

I am going to test tomorrow at a store. I need to know. I dont have trust in blood work/doctors anymore. No point in continuing with school if this will be a health issue for me. we used playdoh a couple times in class for muscle modeling on skeletons and i wore gloves since their is gluten in playdoh. I wasnt going to chance it. This is something I thought of in class the other day. I saw the mounds of makeup some of my classmates wear that could have gluten and if Iam working on them in the facial area wondered if i would be contaminating my fingers, if it would seep into me and make me sick. Better to find out now than after i invest much more into this and the debt afterwards. Can't do therapeutic massage with gloves and I would be an idiot if it is an issue and trust people to not use lotions and body washs on themselves that have wheat/gluten. Its not their problem.

[elk]

I am confused. It's my understanding that anything we put on our skin can be absorbed into the blood stream. Is it different for gluten?

[JBaby]

Elk, thats what I thought to. Its why I posted the question. I am confused too. This issue decides my future career. it sucks.

[curiousgirl]

Elk, thats what I thought to. Its why I posted the question. I am confused too. This issue decides my future career. it sucks.

I use Biotone Advanced Therapy. It's unscented and I haven't had a problem

[elk]

If that's the case, hopefully any CC would be highly unlikely if they used a lotion, etc. (and maybe it would have already absorbed into their skin?). Maybe you could ask them not to use any body lotions on the day of your appointment? I hope you don't have to pick a new career.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I am confused. It's my understanding that anything we put on our skin can be absorbed into the blood stream. Is it different for gluten?

All I know is some people here claim they do not have to worry about lotions, shampoos, soaps, etc. because it has to be digested or go directly in the blood to create antibodies. But for every person saying that there are several claiming the opposite experience, that they get sick from using personal hygiene products with gluten in them. Then some people also have a skin reaction like I have. It's possible to have no skin reaction but still get glutened if you put something on your skin and then lick your skin or the shampoo you are using gets in your mouth while you are in the shower. That's why you should have gluten free items for yourself, however some people claim they are not very sensitive and don't worry about it. If Jbaby tries the lotion on her skin and doesn't get a skin reaction and doesn't get any glutening symptoms for 72 hours I think it's safe to say she can massage her clients without worry (although she should still use gluten free products for herself and for the massages). She should just be careful not touch her mouth or accidentally lick her clients.

[JBaby]

Thanks for all the reply. They have been helpful.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I think my original question has been overlooked. My concern is the lotions and body wash's that the clients may wear as the the contaminate source for me. Not what I use on them. If they use aveeno or product that has wheat and gluten etc right before they see me and I touch them, can I get contaminated.

I'm not sure if this is directed at my comments but but I AM 100% clear on your question. The answer depends on how sensitive you are and how careful you are about washing your hands. I was trying to explain that to the other person asking questions.

I don't think the gluten can be absorbed through your skin. Gluten is not a drug, it's the protein in certain grains, so it's not going to be able to pass through the skin barrier. However some people have an allergic skin reaction to it anyway. And some people are just very sensitive to the point where they can get glutened from touching a surface and touching their mouth. So your question is not an unreasonable question at all. For a similar example, I met a friend at Panera Bread a couple weeks ago. I knew I couldn't eat anything there, but I figured the iced tea should be safe. I took precautions by choosing a table without a lot of visible crumbs, wiping it down throughly with some lysol wipes and then avoided touching the chair and table for the entire time I was there. I did not however wipe down the cup that was handed to me by someone that was probably handing bagels all morning. Nor did I wipe the Iced tea dispenser handle which had probably been touched by dozens of gluten-eating people before me. That's the ONLY reason I can think of for why I got sick with a glutening the next day. I touched the cup or some other surface that had been touched by employees or customers that had touched gluten. I have no doubt I could not work at Panera because I'm just too sensitive. However, there is someone on this board that worked there with diagnosed celiac and actually found things they could safely eat. Different people have different sensitivity levels when it comes to cc. I really hope you find you are not super sensitive and you can work in your field.

[JBaby]

Your responses are all very helpful. Thank you. Decided that my BF will lather up his shoulders with a known lotion that gluten or wheat germ oil in it, wait a little while to deep into him and then i will work his shoulders with my hands and forearms and see what happens. If anyone else wants to respond fel free. The diverse opinions are intresting.