<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> I have received many responses. In summary, there seems to be some connection between DH and skin contact with gluten-containing products. I wonder, too, if some people are ingesting hidden sources of gluten without realizing it, or maybe they are sensitive to other proteins, like myself, with dairy protein, and because they can't understand what's making them sick they suspect skin absorption or inhalation..... Personally, I do not seem to have had any reactions to skin contact with wheat or gluten. Interestingly enough, I sleep every night with "wheat bags" which are cotton fabric bags filled with kernels of wheat - I warm them in the microwave and place them in my bed to keep me warm. I am very sensitive, however, to anything I ingest. I'm sure if I had a problem with skin contact, I would have experienced a terrible reaction by now.... Here are some of the messages I received: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Some seem to be very sensitive. Others have the dermatitis herpetiformis manifestation of celiac. Switching toothpaste is good; watch out for lipstick and any preparation around your mouth. Lips get licked and saliva swallowed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Absorption of the skin is not a problem. It has to be ingested and make contact with your digestive system. But some people bite their nails, lips, etc. Lipstick may contain gluten, I do try to get gluten free lipstick. I use gluten in lotion, shampoo and other items that are totally external. I am very sensitive and I have had no problems what so ever. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- I get swollen gums from regular toothpaste, my scalp breaks out from shampoo with wheat additives ( had this since I was a teen but never knew why) Lipstick causes a gluten reaction (probably gets ingested) so does foundation makeup........ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- I don't believe there have ever been any studies done about skin absorption of gluten, but it just seems to me that so many things can be absorbed through the skin so why not gluten. Once something is in the system, it is carried around by the blood stream to everywhere. Until it is proved to be absolutely safe, I choose to be gluten free all over. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- I don't quite understand it either, but I have had allergies to tape and Band-aids for many years and have only known about my celiac for 16 months. About 4 years ago I discovered through trial and error that 3M's Nexcare Bandaids don't make my skin break out. After learning about my celiac disease, I read somewhere that those bandages are gluten free. I just now called the customer service number on the package to verify it and they are indeed gluten free. Is it just a coincidence that these are the only bandages that don't leave me with blisters? I don't think so. I guess if the gut can't handle the gliadin, maybe the rest of the body can't either. Gluten doesn't normally leave visible destruction on the rest of the body. It's only my theory. Draw your own conclusions. Also on the lipstick, I think that's important to be gluten free b/c we women swallow something like 7 lbs. of lipstick in our lifetimes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Some people (like me) can have reactions in the blood stream - I suspect this is an allergy on top of celiac. People with DH probably also have a good chance of reacting. I get a rash and my skin cracks if I handle wheat containing items. Everybody is different. The question is, do you want to take a chance? It is not a good thing to keep your immune system constantly reacting. Also, if there is some DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) in your skin (say from a lotion or suntan lotion), then you could definitely take gluten through the skin. Everybody is different in this syndrome - likely because celiac is a group of conditions which have not been researched enough to determine their individual characteristics. Maybe in a few hundred years they will know enough about it to determine which kind of celiac you have and what you have to be careful with. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- You are quite correct - the proteins we need to worry about are _far_ too large to be absorbed thru the skin. People can be sensitive to products separate and apart from gluten concerns, of course. My own not-so-humble opinion is that people worry about soaps and household cleaners way too much. However, cosmetics can be a concern, not because of absorption thru the skin, but because of a certain potential for ingestion. Lipstick for instance can certainly wind up getting carried in on food, drinks, etc. And, depending on how much you touch your face and then put your fingers in your mouth, that could be a factor. I use Chapstick, which is GF, but I don't use regular lipstick (there are some gluten-free ones out there - check the archives for particular brands). I don't worry about my foundation, blush, etc. So, definitely make your own judgment call on this one - hope this helps. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Some individuals are sensitive enough that microscopic amounts of gluten can cause a reaction. The gluten that may be present in soaps (residues will typically be left on fingers, dishes, glassware, and flatware), shampoo (when was the last time that you rinsed shampoo out of your hair in the shower and it did not come in contact with your lips?), and cosmetics (lipstick, chapstick) can all cause a problem for these individuals. Some persons also have dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and frequently react to gluten through skin contact. Most soaps and detergents are okay, but it never hurts to check. The tendency today is for manufacturers to put fillers, scenting agents, and color dyes in their products to increase the market appeal, and these are all recognized as pathways for hidden gluten. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- You are correct. Gluten must go through the digestive system to be a probem unless you have DH. Do not worry about topical products. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Some products are absorbed sneakily, through the eyes (which drain into the throat), or accidentally through the mouth in shampoos, etc. But the main sufferers from non-gf products on the skin are those with Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH), a skin condition directly related to gluten intolerance. Skin contact alone can cause symptoms for them. Iodine is also an issue. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Some products are absorbed sneakily, through the eyes (which drain into the throat), or accidentally through the mouth in shampoos, etc. But the main sufferers from non-gf products on the skin are those with Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH), a skin condition directly related to gluten intolerance. Skin contact alone can cause symptoms for them. Iodine is also an issue. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Lots of Celiacs also have dermatitis herpitformis which causes bumps and rashes on the skin. This condition is aggravated by ingestion of iodine, gluten and sometimes by contact with soaps, cosmetics and clothes washed with regular detergents. Some Celiacs feel that gluten can be absorbed through the skin to affect CD. I personally don't believe that. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- As a newbie, you will find various degrees of concerns. I have NEVER worried about external items except like you, toothpaste or mouthwash. We have a disease of the small intestine and something must be ingested before it can do us damage. Other people are afraid to walk by a bakery. There are different attitudes about Celiac Disease. Some people are also more sensitive than others. We each have to decide for ourselves. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Janice, normal celiacs are not bothered by gluten unless they eat it. But those who are also allergic to wheat, or have a tendency to dermatitis herpetiformis (a rash that a minority of celiacs are plagued with), may be bothered by topical applications. If it doesn't bother you, don't sweat it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- There is another aspect of cd called dh...a skin condition. Most of the reactions are due to Vit E which is usually wheat based. There is also the possibility of inhalation of gluten...makes its way to digestive system and we get reactions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- *Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List*