Could it be possible ???

[Kari]

Well, I think I may have discovered another small piece of the puzzle on the road to recovery. Lately, I have had trouble with my hair - losing more hair than normal, and the consistency has been kind of strange - sort of sticky and hard to comb. I have been using the same shampoo for a few years, and had not thought to question it, but a couple of days ago I decided to check the ingredient list. Just looking at it gave me a headache, but I went through it and BINGO - there it was - I've been glutened!!! One of the ingredients is wheat germ!!!

I ceremoniously took it to the dumpster and chucked it, and then went on the internet to research an "everything free" replacement. I ended up buying a bottle of Magique Botanicals, and after using it, my hair felt really, really clean for the first time in a while, and was easier to pull the comb through.

Now for the big question: Is it possible that now that my system has been "purified" with no gluten for 7 months (along with dropping so many of my other reactive foods), it has become sensitive enough to react to my shampoo??? It sure feels that way to me, as dropping the shampoo coincides with starting to recover from my latest flare.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Love,
Kari

[Zizzle]

Hi Kari,
I've read of celiacs avoiding all gluten-containing body products for fear of contamination, but the jury seems to be out on skin absorption being an issue. I think the main thing is to avoid lipsticks and lip balms since you swallow them, but I've never heard anything about shampoo actually causing a flare or even hair loss. Mostly just people avoiding it out of an abundance of caution. Then again, if your skin is similar to the "skin" in your gut, I suppose it could react there too. I buy Aubrey Organics products but used an old Biolage conditioner this morning. After I used it, lo and behold, it had "wheat amino acids" (but not gluten I'm guessing) and "hydrolyzed soy protein." (hydrolyzed being OK I thnk). Back to label reading!

I hope your hair continues it's return to fullness and luster with the new shampoo!

[Gabes-Apg]

Kari
about 9 months into my refined diet (GF/YF/DF/SF) and i was having issues with my lips, they would get irritated and sores. that was when i realised that my moisterisers and lip balms all had high level of Soy based Vit E ingredients.

I now buy the moisterisers that the Vit E is one of the lowest ingredients and use a paw paw ointment on my lips and viola things have improved greatly.
and the same for shampoos, avoid those with wheat in them.

as i went on the search for the moisterisers that would suit me, one of the organic brands actually had yeast as one of its ingredients...
I cant get many products that are totally Vit E free, but I am coping ok with those where it is quite low in the ingredient list.
one product I have been using pure rose hip oil and it doesnt have any Vit E in it.

[TooManyHats]

For what it's worth, one of the gluten-free places I found had this to say:

an excerpt from my article for Celiac.com

I did notice that gluten-containing shampoos and conditioners tended to cause breakouts around my hairline, but still I thought that for gluten to adversely affect me, it probably had to be eaten and pass through my digestive tract. In the many gluten-free books I read, I found mention of gluten in the diet causing acne, rosacea, rashes, eczema, dermatitis herpetiformis.

So I consulted the renowned Dr. Fine, creator of EnteroLab.com, whose site has helped scores of patients in accurately diagnosing food sensitivities such as gluten, cow’s milk, eggs and dietary yeast intolerances. Here is what he had to say:

Gluten sensitivity is a systemic immune reaction to gluten anywhere in the body, not just that entering the body via the gut. Therefore, topically applied lotions, creams, shampoos, etc. containing gluten would indeed provide a source of gluten to the body, and we therefore recommend all such products be discontinued for optimal health.

It's from this site: http://naturallydahling.com/Food_Allergies.html

[Kari]

Thanks for your replies - since our very favorite Dr. Fine warns against topical products with gluten and other allergens, it seems to be a very legitimate concern. I have been diligent in getting "clean" products for my skin and makeup since my body lotion incident, but forgot all about the shampoo until the light bulb went off a couple of days ago. Also, thinking back, I realize that I had been lathering and massaging with extra vigor the last few times I washed my hair, since it felt like I could never get my hair quite clean enough .

Love,
Kari

[mbeezie]

Kari,

Since you have determined you are sensitive to coconut you might also need to watch out for sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, which is derived from coconut. I have heard of coconut sensitive people having skin reactions.

Take care,

Mary Beth

[TooManyHats]

That stuff is in a LOT of toothpastes too.

[Kari]

Thanks Mary Beth - it will be added to my list of offenders :).

Love,
Kari

[klhale]

Kari, before blaiming it on the shampoo, you may have a B12 deficiency or a thyroid problem. You might want to get both checked.

Karen

[tex]

Arlene,

Thanks for that link, to the response by Dr. Fine. I had never seen that before.

Tex

[TooManyHats]

Arlene,

Thanks for that link, to the response by Dr. Fine. I had never seen that before.

Tex

Of course you haven't. How often do you peruse the cosmetics sites, Tex? LOL! <3

[tex]

LOL. I was referring to the comment by Dr. Fine, about the effects of skin contact with gluten. But you're right, of course - I haven't spent any time perusing the cosmetics sites, either.

Tex

[MaggieRedwings]

Morning Kari,

I have found that I really cannot deal with any "body" products or make-up that may contain gluten. I usually break out and and in general just feel off.

LOve, Maggie

[hoosier1]

Karen,

...as I just came home with a bottle of shampoo that has similar ingredients in it...

Who'da thunk it?

Good catch.

Rich