Dry Hair

[lyoung2]

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

[Rachel--24]

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]

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]

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.

[ShortStuff2309]

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]

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]

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:

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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

[LauraZ]

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.