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What Are Your Reactions To Gluten In Non-Food Products?

AzizaRivers

By AzizaRivers
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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AzizaRivers Apprentice
AzizaRivers
Posted

I know not everyone is sensitive enough to have to worry about this, but I'm wondering how reactions typically go for those of you who do.

To start with, when I eat gluten, my reactions are pretty much all GI-related. I had no DH or neuro symptoms or anything. Now, for the past two weeks or so I've all of a sudden been itchy all over. The only visible indication of this was a patch of hives behind each ear. They didn't spread. But I found myself having trouble falling asleep because I kept having itchy spots all over my body, especially my scalp. I've also been breaking out with acne on my back, with I haven't had a problem with since my early teens. It's not really itchy except on dry spots, so I doubt it's anything but acne.

I was in the shower last night and decided on a whim to check the ingredients of the new shampoo bottle I've been using for oh, say, about two weeks. And what do you know? Hydrolyzed wheat protein right up near the top. And I thought "Hmm, I wonder if that's why..." and decided not to wash my hair this time.

I didn't think I was that sensitive, but the pieces fit together so perfectly. So I'm just wondering if my symptoms are plausibly a reaction to gluten in my shampoo. On the other hand...aren't our reactions to non-food items usually a result of it somehow getting in our mouths? Thoughts?

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Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

I know not everyone is sensitive enough to have to worry about this, but I'm wondering how reactions typically go for those of you who do.

To start with, when I eat gluten, my reactions are pretty much all GI-related. I had no DH or neuro symptoms or anything. Now, for the past two weeks or so I've all of a sudden been itchy all over. The only visible indication of this was a patch of hives behind each ear. They didn't spread. But I found myself having trouble falling asleep because I kept having itchy spots all over my body, especially my scalp. I've also been breaking out with acne on my back, with I haven't had a problem with since my early teens. It's not really itchy except on dry spots, so I doubt it's anything but acne.

I was in the shower last night and decided on a whim to check the ingredients of the new shampoo bottle I've been using for oh, say, about two weeks. And what do you know? Hydrolyzed wheat protein right up near the top. And I thought "Hmm, I wonder if that's why..." and decided not to wash my hair this time.

I didn't think I was that sensitive, but the pieces fit together so perfectly. So I'm just wondering if my symptoms are plausibly a reaction to gluten in my shampoo. On the other hand...aren't our reactions to non-food items usually a result of it somehow getting in our mouths? Thoughts?

If you are ingesting your shampoo, which would be pretty obvious because of the horrible taste, then you could very well be reacting to the shampoo. There is also the possibility that you have developed a contact allergy to an ingredient in the shampoo. The symptoms you describe match perfectly the effects of a contact allergy.

Many Celiacs automatically think they are ingesting gluten when things like this happen. It could be but could also be what I stated above. The only way to know is to have testing done for allergies to wheat/gluten or to stop using the product and then use it again to see what the reaction is. You cannot have a Celiac based internal reaction unless you ingest wheat into your GI tract. That could include getting shampoo into your eyes or nose because they are connected to your throat....which leads to your stomach.....you get the picture. To be honest, I am an extremely sensitive Celiac who only screens hand cream and lip products. I have become deathly ill from minute amounts of ingested crumbs yet have had no problem with topical products. Gluten does not absorb through the skin so as long as you are careful with ingesting topical products, it shouldn't be a problem. I know some people have trouble believing this is true but really....how hard is it not to eat your products? I know soap and make-up tastes pretty bad so I don't eat it.

It becomes second nature after a while and accidents don't happen. I have no other topical/contact allergies or issues so am lucky in that respect.

You may want to consider changing to a different product and if the reaction still happens, it might be another ingredient in the shampoo which is irritating your skin. Sometimes it takes a bit of investigating to figure it all out!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

While topical gluten can not cross intact skin, and if you have a rash it is not intact, contact with mucous membranes can cause a reaction. There are doctors who are now advising people to avoid it in topicals as well as food.

Topical gluten cross contamination will give me the same reaction as cross contamination in food. GI issues (which for me are delayed from the time of injestion), flare my neuro issues and cause an outbreak of DH.

Shampoos and conditioners leave a residue on your skin and hair. That is how they 'condition' your hair. You could also have an allergy as well as celiac.

Many of us do avoid gluten in topical items. Some have no issues but since you are it might be best to switch to a gluten free shampoo. Suave, Dove and Garneir will clearly label gluten ingredients. I use Garneir for both skin and hair care.

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

While topical gluten can not cross intact skin, and if you have a rash it is not intact, contact with mucous membranes can cause a reaction. There are doctors who are now advising people to avoid it in topicals as well as food.

Topical gluten cross contamination will give me the same reaction as cross contamination in food. GI issues (which for me are delayed from the time of injestion), flare my neuro issues and cause an outbreak of DH.

Shampoos and conditioners leave a residue on your skin and hair. That is how they 'condition' your hair. You could also have an allergy as well as celiac.

Many of us do avoid gluten in topical items. Some have no issues but since you are it might be best to switch to a gluten free shampoo. Suave, Dove and Garneir will clearly label gluten ingredients. I use Garneir for both skin and hair care.

Contact with mucous membranes, which the eyes, nose and mouth obviously are defined as, would cause a reaction because it's part of the GI tract. That makes sense. CC from supposed residue on your skin may also cause a problem if you ingest it. That's common sense also. However, if topicals do not come into contact with mucous membranes, it shouldn't be a problem, except for those with pre-disposed contact allergies and sensitivities. It would not be possible for me to be this healthy, have made the recovery I have made and have the blood work numbers I now have if this were not true. It all depends on comfort level. If a person is careful in applying creams and lotions and does not eat them, again, using common sense, it won't be a problem.

It is not necessary for all Celiacs to avoid topical gluten. Even extremely sensitive and symptomatic Celiacs can accomplish this quite easily. If you have topical issues including hives and rashes after using any topical product, you may too sensitive on the surface to use just anything. There are also many skin allergies that have absolutely nothing to do with gluten exposure....it's quite common actually. Every person has to figure out which products bother them and what they can safely do or not do. If you assume that all your reactions are caused by gluten exposure, whether internal or not, the real problem may never be figured out.

AzizaRivers Apprentice
AzizaRivers
Posted
  • Author

Okay, so pretty much whatever the reason for my reaction, I need to switch products anyway to make it go away.

I'm starting to wonder if it's not acne but if it is, in fact, DH. If not, I guess I just for some reason am sensitive to this product. Picked up some new shampoo today!

Thanks, everyone.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Okay, so pretty much whatever the reason for my reaction, I need to switch products anyway to make it go away.

I'm starting to wonder if it's not acne but if it is, in fact, DH. If not, I guess I just for some reason am sensitive to this product. Picked up some new shampoo today!

Thanks, everyone.

DH is generally very itchy and when it heals it will leave long lasting purplish scars. If it itches badly it may be DH. Hives will also itch but the lesions are usually the size of a mosquito bite, DH lesions tend to be smaller and if you can keep from scratching them you will often see blisters.

No matter what it is I think you have made the right choice to pass on this item. Hopefully it will clear up soon for you.

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