A life that requires avoiding gluten necessitates being meticulous in almost every aspect. So much so that gluten, which mostly comes to the fore in nutrition, actually requires further research in a different field: Make-up materials!
Applying make-up and being well-groomed is one of the most important issues for women. However, if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, you may need to be selective about make-up products. You ask why? It may be surprising, but gluten is not only found in foods. Cosmetics and care products may also contain gluten, which celiac patients should avoid. So, if you are a person who needs to stay away from gluten, should you definitely choose gluten-free cosmetic products? What details can you take into consideration in this regard? Let’s examine all of this together!
Can Celiac Patients Use Cosmetic Products?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, you may have already begun to reexamine every choice in your life. It is natural at this point that one of the issues that will come to your mind is cosmetic preferences! Because the products that women use most in daily life are cosmetics and care products. At this point, it is of great importance to do research in order not to make a choice that will trigger the symptoms.
That is, there is no harm in using cosmetic products for celiac patients and people with non-celiac gluten intolerance. At this point, what is more important is which cosmetic products are preferred. There is currently no risk in the use of gluten-free cosmetic products. So, what kind of impact do you think gluten-containing cosmetic product choices might have on these people?
Why is Cosmetic Product Selection Important for Celiac Patients?
People with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity experience various symptoms when exposed to gluten through food. It is highly wondered whether gluten-containing make-up materials that come into contact with the skin will cause any effects in these people. Namely, it is known that the gluten protein is too large to be absorbed by the skin. For this reason, it is thought that there will be no problems in the use of gluten-containing make-up materials that come into contact with the skin.
On the other hand, it is known that in some cases, gluten in cosmetic products can trigger various symptoms in people. For example; lipstick etc. containing gluten. products can cause gluten to be ingested. However, a study conducted by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel in 2018 shared that the amount of gluten found in cosmetic products will not cause hypersensitivity.
| The importance of choosing cosmetic products for celiac patients varies depending on the person’s level of sensitivity to gluten. It may be more ideal for people who are hypersensitive to gluten or who do not want to worry about it, to choose cosmetic products sold with the “gluten-free” label. |
Should Celiac Patients Only Use Organic Cosmetic Products?
Organic cosmetic products refer to products made from organic production certified raw materials and do not contain any chemical ingredients. When it comes to celiac patients and people with gluten sensitivity, it does not matter whether they choose organic cosmetic products or not. It is more important for these people to prefer products with the optional “gluten-free” or “gluten-free” label.
Since organic cosmetic products are produced from natural ingredients, they may contain hydrolyzed wheat protein, wheat kernel or oat oil. For this reason, people who want to choose gluten-free cosmetic products may need to stay away from some organic cosmetic products. Of course, there is no harm in choosing organic cosmetic products whose labels state that they are gluten-free.
Do Grain-Based Cosmetic Products Trigger Celiac Disease?
of the National Celiac Association on the website As mentioned, celiac disease specialist Dr. Alessio Fasano states that gluten, which is used in cosmetics and is not swallowed, does not pose any problems for people. According to Fasano, only oral intake of gluten triggers symptoms of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Although the use of cosmetic products containing gluten around the mouth may have a risk of triggering the symptoms of the disease, it is stated that this probability is quite low.
However, the use of grain-based cosmetic products may cause skin sensitivity such as rash and redness in some people. However, it is shared that these reactions that develop when using grain-based cosmetic products may be more related to wheat allergy rather than gluten sensitivity. It is very important to follow the following recommendations to ensure that cosmetic products do not trigger symptoms of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity:
- Wash your hands every time you come into contact with cosmetic products containing gluten.
- Keep your nails short and do not touch your mouth.
- Choose gluten-free cosmetic products, especially around the mouth.
- If you use lipstick that contains gluten, be careful not to lick or bite your lips.
- Be careful not to use powders and sprays containing gluten, as they may enter the body through the air.
| The use of gluten-containing cosmetic products may be more risky in babies with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Especially when babies come into contact with personal care products containing gluten, frequently putting their hands in their mouths can trigger disease symptoms. |
What are the statements that indicate that cosmetic products contain gluten?
- Wheat / Triticum vulgare (Wheat)
- Wheat bran
- Wheat amino acids
- Wheat germ / Wheat germ extract
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein / Wheat protein
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein / Vegetable protein
- Barley / Hordeum vulgare (Barley)
- Barley extract
- Malt (Malt)
- Malt extract
- Rye / Secale cereale (Rye)
Should a Doctor be Consulted for Skin Products?
As we mentioned, the reaction of people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to gluten-containing skin and cosmetic products may vary depending on how sensitive they are to gluten. For this reason, consulting a doctor is the best choice for choosing cosmetics and skin products. After the doctor’s opinion, products suitable for people’s use can be easily selected.
| To learn more about gluten-free living Is There Gluten? Don’t forget to follow our category regularly! |
*The explanations on this page do not constitute health advice or warning and are for informational purposes only.
Resources:
“Do I have to use gluten-free skincare and body products?”, National Celiac Association.(online)
