Do I Have To Avoid Glutenous Toiletries If Not Dh?

[RachelisFacebook]

I was just wondering, if I don't get DH, do I have to worry about things such as face wash/body wash/things that DO NOT go near my lips if I'm not dh?

[Cypressmyst]

Yes. Gluten can get in through the skin. For years Docs said it was not possible but new studies indicate that it is. This is in addition to the numerous people who have had reactions (Myself included).

[modiddly16]

I'm not sure how accurate the gluten through the skin thing is. All of the studies I've ever seen says otherwise.

I do not avoid gluten containing products because I don't have DH and I've honestly never noticed any problems. Some people well say that you get shampoo in your mouth without realizing it, which is possible but even though I'm sensitive, its never caused a problem for me.

Its up to you and how you live your life!

[lovegrov]

Cypressmyst, can you please give us links or tell us where we can read about these studies. I've seen no such thing and I've used toiletries with gluten with no negative effect. I even have DH.

As to the original question, barring some evidence otherwise (and if I'm shown evidence otherwise I'll edit my answer), most if not all experts do not believe gluten is absorbed through the skin. The molecules are simply too large to pass through the skin barrier. And DH is not triggered by gluten on the skin, either. The main problem is whether or not the toiletries will somehow find their way into your mouth. When you shower will a little bit of that shampoo get in? If you use a soap or lotion with gluten will you then touch your mouth? And you definitely do not want to use lipstick or a lip balm with gluten.

richard

[Skylark]

Yes. Gluten can get in through the skin. For years Docs said it was not possible but new studies indicate that it is. This is in addition to the numerous people who have had reactions (Myself included).

Can you link those studies, please?

I avoid gluten in cosmetics and toiletries because I am slightly allergic and they tend to make me itch.

[Cypressmyst]

Sure thing guys, I've put a request in for my Doc to send a link or copy of the study and I'll post something when I hear back.

If it helps in the interim my doctor is Dr. Rick Petersen, author of the Gluten Effect. He isn't average Dr. Moron.

Up until 4 months ago he was towing the gluten can't break the skin line (While noting that a number of his patients did seem to be that sensitive) but new studies have made him rescind this.

I've had a reaction to lotion and hand sanitizer immediately upon contact with my skin and I don't have DH. Just got tingles in my hands and then the spaciness and headaches soon followed. No cuts on my hands to speak of either. So I didn't need a study to confirm what my own body was telling me....even though I'd much rather it not be true.

[Rowena]

Oh this is good to know, I don't have DH (though I do have very sensitive skin). I just started the gluten free diet and I was wondering this myself. My husband and I thought that it was kind of strange that I'd have to use gluten free products if I wasn't ingesting them, or putting them in my mouth. But yes I'm curious about these studies too.

[Cypressmyst]

Alright, here are a bunch of studies that Dr. Vikki Petersen sent me dealing with the issue along with her abridged notes on the topic. I've asked her to write something about this in her blog so hopefully she can help humanize it more there. Otherwise this is all very technical.

But I understand that a lot of you may understand much of this terminology so if you want to humanize it for us please feel free.

For me its enough to know that I have reactions to gluten on my skin and that my Docs back up this reaction (not that I would need their confirmation to tell me what my body knows but it is nice to have. ).

I should probably post this in its own thread so more people can find the info.

Properties of Skin

Has tight junctions like gut - act as barrier to damaging substances.

If gut is leaky, skin likely is as well.

Has extensive immune system like the gut.

-antimicrobial peptides enable epidermis to kill invading microbes.

-keratinocyte identifies pathogen(s) & triggers cytokine production to eliminate it.

World J Gastroenterol 2006 February 14;12(6):843-852

[Skylark]

Thanks so much for all the info! I really appreciate your posting this.

The papers cited don't really address this idea of "leaky skin", but rather support that the gluten-free diet can affect DH and psoriasis. As mentioned at the bottom, it's hard to sift whether the problem is from gluten that's been eaten, abnormal permeability to skin irritants, or a combination of both. The quick remission of psoriasis in some people who go gluten-free still suggests that the gut is the site of absorption.

Now the thing there that suggests celiacs should stay away from gluten-containing cosmetics is the paper that found anti-gliadin IgA and TG3 deposits in skin of celiacs with apparently healthy skin. If you consider the idea of "leaky skin" as a possibility, then gluten in cosmetics will be a problem for those celiacs. Your doctor is probably going with clinical experience with people like you to form the "leaky skin" idea rather than research. That's OK, as in the presence of IgA deposits it seems to be a reasonable hypothesis of how someone could react to gluten they didn't eat.