As a passionate product formulation junkie I am noticing most women's personal care products quoting they are "FREE OF" ----- you know the list. Any person versed in cosmetic science knows that the danger of the 'bad chemicals' in our every day products may not be harmful in itself, but the issue comes when the products are used multiple times per day, for extending periods of time.
But I won’t get into that right now .....I am braving to share the following post that digs a little deeper into the "FREE OF GLUTEN" craze. I have mixed feelings on this topic and am very clued in on the real science of the claims on the market, the results of removing gluten from all nutritional/personal care products, etc. There are many different forms of beneficial plant proteins that deliver incredible results for the hair.
We have many clients that are on disciplined diets that avoid gluten. I don't touch it myself! "Hmmmmm .... what are your thoughts? I'm pondering....."
Celiac Disease: What is It?
The only known group of people that this particular subfield of skin care products affects is comprised of those with celiac disease (CD). This is because celiac disease is a disorder of the small intestine, where upon exposure to gliadin (a gluten protein found in foods such as wheat, barley, and rye), elicits an inflammatory immune response that involves the ubiquitous tissue transglutaminase enzyme. This can lead to chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even multiple ulcer formulations.
That’s not pretty. And we definitely don’t want to worsen the condition. Fortunately, since most gliadin proteins have molecular weights of between 16,000 to 50,000 Daltons, they are far too large to penetrate into the skin and be absorbed systemically.
Therefore, it can be concluded that gluten-containing skin care products do NOT affect the celiac condition itself, as supported by the Mayo Clinic. It was further suggested that a rare skin manifestation of celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, is also not affected by gluten-containing skin care products.
Celiac Disease: Contact Dermatitis
Remember, a lot of things can cause contact dermatitis. Always use caution when testing new products, no matter who you are.
However, it is important to explore the idea that those with celiac disease may have an increased susceptibility to experiencing contact dermatitis while using gluten-containing skin care products.
This is because theoretically, when gliadins (there are three main types) come into contact with the skin of a celiac patient, the tissue transglutaminase enzyme in skin cells can deamidate them into compounds such as glutamic acid. These compounds will then be recognized by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which will travel to a lymphatic node and label them as targets to be attacked by gluten-specific memory T-cells, which are part of the immune system.
How much of this translates to real-life scenarios is relatively unknown. Only one study that I know of demonstrates this concept, where 14 female celiac patients experienced contact dermatitis after using gluten-containing skin care products. Upon discontinuing use, their contact dermatitis subsided.
However, I have to note that this study only mildly supports the idea that those with celiac disease may have an increased tendency to experience contact dermatitis with gluten-containing skin care products. This is due in-part because of the small population size of the study; that the same products weren’t tested on non-celiac individuals; as well as the fact that the study was not vehicle-controlled (meaning that another class of ingredients like fragrances could have caused the reaction); nor were the patients or doctors blinded (meaning that the results could be due to the placebo effect; ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecies?).
Celiac Disease: What Should I Do?
Always test out new products on a small area of the skin!
If you have celiac disease, don’t panic! Know that gluten-containing skin care products will not affect the actual celiac condition. However, it may be prudent to test gluten-containing products on the inside of the wrist or behind the ear for several days, before applying them all over the skin. But don’t stress out over this rather small risk.
Besides, there are gazillions of excellent skin care products on the market that don’t contain gluten, without necessarily being labeled as “gluten-free.” And I have to stress that when I mean gluten, I mean that it actually contains a gliadin protein. Just because something is derived from wheat or rye, doesn’t mean that it will trigger a reaction. Like gliadin for example, ferulic acid can be derived from wheat. But its structure and functions are so far removed from gliadin that to equate them would be a mistake.
One more thing: it may also be prudent to use a separate skin care product for the eye area (it doesn’t have to be labeled as an “eye” cream) that’s been confirmed to be gluten-free, just to minimize exposure into the eyes. It’s most likely that any product that gets into the eye area (which shouldn’t be any!) won’t be at a concentration that’s sufficiently high enough to travel all the way to your small intestine and negatively affect that area. Also, make sure (and this should be common sense for those with celiac disease), to not use any lip products that contain gluten (gliadins).
I hope this gave some of you out there a reason to sigh in relief, or at least knowledge so that you may make a more informed decision.
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH AND BEAUTY
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About Author
John Su is s a stickler for accuracy, so you might find him correcting one thing or another! His goal is to provide unbiased, meaningful, and insightful information when it comes to skin care. The Triple Helixian (www.thetriplehelixian.com)!
Read on, Informed Beauty, and discover the top 6 reasons to get an organic facial.
tighter and more contoured. Increased circulation also helps to stimulate collagen and elastin production, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles.
