Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Dry Hair

lyoung2

By lyoung2
in Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Recommended Posts

lyoung2 Rookie
lyoung2
Posted

Hello All, I am an unconfirmed Celiac and have been gluten-free since August of 2004. After a few months I noticed that my normally fairly smooth hair was getting kinky and very dry. I do not have any skin problems. After reading some of the posts, those of you with DH have sores on your scalp. So I'm wondering if the dry hair could simply be a lack of nutrition or is it a sign of DH?

I have only gone gluten-free with food, not any beauty products.

Thanks for your input.

LauraY

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

Are you symptom free (other than the dry hair)? Did you have bad symptoms before going gluten-free that have gone away? Its possible you're still getting some gluten since you didn't change your beauty products. Have you had your thyroid checked...that is another possibility.

lyoung2 Rookie
lyoung2
Posted
  • Author

I have been symptom free for a good 8 months. Prior to going gluten-free I wasn't as bad as some folks, but was sick quite frequently. I have accidentally had gluten a few times but know it immediately, so I don't believe I'm getting gluten somewhere (except possibly the beauty products). I'm just not sure if the products would cause this seeing as I was using them prior to the diet and didn't have dry hair.

My thyroid was checked a few years ago for another problem, and it was fine.

I don't know that much about the DH part of Celiac so wasn't sure if the dry hair was a symptom at all. Should a person with celiac disease automatically change their beauty products as well as food?

Thank for your response.

LauraY

aaascr Apprentice
aaascr
Posted
I have been symptom free for a good 8 months.  Prior to going gluten-free I wasn't as bad as some folks, but was sick quite frequently.  I have accidentally had gluten a few times but know it immediately, so I don't believe I'm getting gluten somewhere (except possibly the beauty products).  I'm just not sure if the products would cause this seeing as I was using them prior to the diet and didn't have dry hair. 

My thyroid was checked a few years ago for another problem, and it was fine. 

I don't know that much about the DH part of Celiac so wasn't sure if the dry hair was a symptom at all.  Should a person with celiac disease automatically change their beauty products as well as food?

Thank for your response.

LauraY

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you getting enough protein in your diet?

Dry hair - nails etc. is a lack of kerotin(sp?)

If you aren't absorbing enough protein - this

could one possibility.

  • 3 weeks later...
ShortStuff2309 Apprentice
ShortStuff2309
Posted

I am having the same exact problem!! I have been gluten-free since July, am getting enough of everything (protein, etc) and my hair has turned from silky and shiny to extremely dry and coarse. I just had to have 5 INCHES cut off because it looked so bad!!! My hairdresser did a conditioning treatment on me and even that didn't work. (And yes, they were all wheat-free products.) I've done hot oil treatments, I've put conditioner in my hair and wrapped it up in a towel for an hour, I've done it all and nothing worked. Cutting my hair so far has made a big difference, probably because there's not so much for my body to try to keep up with. I had just spent the last 6 years growing it out and now I have to start all over again. :( It all started as soon as I went gluten-free so that has to be the problem. I have been taking vitamins and all that, I've been doing absolutely everything right. So there has to be an issue with not having as much grain in my diet.

Claire Collaborator
Claire
Posted
I don't know that much about the DH part of Celiac so wasn't sure if the dry hair was a symptom at all.  Should a person with celiac disease automatically change their beauty products as well as food?

Thank for your response.

LauraY

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DH is very, very nasty. If you had it you would know it. Nothing so subtle as dry hair.

carrielynn Apprentice
carrielynn
Posted
Hello All, I am an unconfirmed Celiac and have been gluten-free since August of 2004.  After a few months I noticed that my normally fairly smooth hair was getting kinky and very dry.  I do not have any skin problems.  After reading some of the posts, those of you with DH have sores on your scalp.  So I'm wondering if the dry hair could simply be a lack of nutrition or is it a sign of DH?

I have only gone gluten-free with food, not any beauty products.

Thanks for your input.

LauraY

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just posted this in the Dry Skin thread, but it seems to be relevant here:

***************************************************

I was reading Dr. Whitaker's Health and Healing newsletter for this month and there was an item about supplementing with silicon in your diet. It says:

"Although you get silicon in your diet, especially from whole grains, absorption diminishes with age. The first signs of silicon deficiency are brittle hair and nails and loss of skin elasticity. That's why supplementing with the most bioavailable form of silicon, stabilized orthosilic acid, is a great way to improve your skin, hair and nails. In a recent study of 40-65 year old women with prematurely aged or sun-damaged skin, this supplement was shown to improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkle depth, and ameliorate brittleness in nails and hair. A good brand is BioSil from Jarrow Formulas, available in health food stores..."

What caught my eye is that you get silicon from whole grains. If you're not eating whole wheat anymore, then it seems you're not getting the silicon you used to be getting and maybe that affects skin moisture [and also hair]. I don't know, it just seemed that there could be a connection in my mind.

The PhD nutritionist who diagnosed my son with celiac disease (although he has not been "formally" dx with DH, we just think that's what he has) "prescribed" Biosil for him, so he's been taking that for about a month or so. The PhD said it takes 3 months to notice results, so we're being patient.

I'd be interested in hearing other people's experiences with BioSil (or equivalent).

Carrie

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 4 weeks later...
LauraZ Rookie
LauraZ
Posted
Hello All, I am an unconfirmed Celiac and have been gluten-free since August of 2004.  After a few months I noticed that my normally fairly smooth hair was getting kinky and very dry.  I do not have any skin problems.  After reading some of the posts, those of you with DH have sores on your scalp.  So I'm wondering if the dry hair could simply be a lack of nutrition or is it a sign of DH?

I have only gone gluten-free with food, not any beauty products.

Thanks for your input.

LauraY

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you taking any oil supplements (fish oil, borage oil?). My naturopath put me on those as I was starting my gluten-free diet and it did seem to help. Once my other scalp/skin problems started to recede on the gluten-free diet, I cut back the oils and my hair seems to be back to normal now.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

      Ferritin levels. And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic? You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests. I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial...
    2. Mari
      - Mari replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      New here

      Hi Katht - I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was...
    3. Colleen H
      - Colleen H replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

      Yes thyroid was tested.. negative Iron ...I'm. Not sure ... Would that fall under red blood count? If so I was ok Thank you for the detailed response..☺️
    4. Colleen H
      - Colleen H posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      0

      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      Hi all !! Did anyone ever get prescribed methylprednisone steroids for inflammation of stomach and intestines? Did it work ?? Thank you !!
    5. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

      Hi Colleen Are you supplementing B12/having injections? I have learned recently that sometimes when you start addressing a B12 deficiency, it can temporarily make your symptoms worse. But it is important not to stop the treatment. Regarding your problems with anxiety, again that is another symptom of a B12 deficiency. I didn't know...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,879
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Peta Dunn
    Newest Member
    Peta Dunn
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Ibuprofen

      By cristiana · Posted

      Ferritin levels.  And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic?  You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests.  I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial ordered an iron infusion for me as he felt my levels were too low and if he  raised them to 40, it would help.   Because you are not feeling 100% it might be worth looking at your levels, then discussing with your doctor if they are low normal.  But I stress, don't supplement iron without your levels being monitored, too much is dangerous.
    • Mari
      New here

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Katht -  I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal  function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was very true for me. I am still elimination foods from my diet. One person suggested you keep a food diary and that is a good idea but it is probably best just to do an elimination diet. There are several ne and maybe one for celiacs. I used one for a while and started with plain rice and zucchini and then added back other foods to see if I reacted or not. That helped a great deal but what I did not realise that it would only very small amounts of some foods to cause inflammation in my intestine. Within the last few years I have stopped eating any trace amounts of hot peppers, corn and soy(mostly in supplements) and nuts, (the corn in Tylenol was giving me stomach aches and the nuts were causing foot pains). Starting an elimination diet with white rice is better than brown rice that has some natural toxins. In addition it is very important to drink sufficient plain water. You can find out how much to drink for your height and weight online. I do have difficulty drinking 48 ounces of water but just recently have found an electrolyte supplement that helps me stay well hydrated, Adding the water and electrolytes may reduce muscle cramps and gag spams you wrote about. . Also buy some anti-gluten enzyme capsules to take with meals. I use GliadinX advertised here. These are a lot of things to do at one time as they reflect my 20 years of experience. I hope you do what you can manage to do over time. Good luck and take care.
    • Colleen H
      Ibuprofen

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Yes thyroid was tested.. negative  Iron ...I'm. Not sure ... Would that fall under red blood count?  If so I was ok  Thank you for the detailed response..☺️
    • Colleen H
      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Hi all !! Did anyone ever get prescribed methylprednisone steroids for inflammation of stomach and intestines?  Did it work ??  Thank you !! 
    • cristiana
      Ibuprofen

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi Colleen Are you supplementing B12/having injections? I have learned recently that sometimes when you start addressing a B12 deficiency, it can temporarily make your symptoms worse.  But it is important not to stop the treatment.  Regarding your problems with anxiety, again that is another symptom of a B12 deficiency.   I didn't know what anxiety was until it hit me like a train several months before gastrointestinal issues began, so I can certainly relate.   Two books which helped me hugely were At Last A Life by Paul David (there is a website you can look up) and The Depression Cure: The Six-Step Programme to Beat Depression Without Drugs by Dr Steve Llardi.  Although his book is aimed at people who have depression, following the principals he sets out was so helpful in lessening my anxiety.  Llardi suggests we need to focus on getting enough: - physical exercise - omega-3 fatty acids - natural sunlight exposure - restorative sleep - social connectedness - meaningful, engaging activity   ... and we should feel a lot better. That is not to stay you must stop taking medication for depression or anxiety if you have been prescribed it, but adopting the changes Dr Llardi sets out in the book should really help. Can I just ask two more questions:  1) you say that you are B12 deficient, did they test your iron levels too?  If not, you really ought to be checked for deficiency and, 2) did they check your thyroid function, as an overactive thyroid can be cause rapid heartbeat and a lot of coeliacs have thyroid issues? Cristiana        
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.