Moisturizers are meant to keep the skin hydrated, supple and soft in order to prevent dry skin. They usually are made of oil, cream and plant extracts and can be enriched with vitamins or other ingredients.
Unfortunately for people who are gluten intolerant, some of those plant extracts could come from wheat or other grains, which may in turn contain gluten, therefore they need to choose gluten free moisturizers.
Moisturizers Can Contain Gluten
While moisturizers are meant to be healthy, if someone has celiac disease or is otherwise sensitive to gluten, moisturizers containing gluten can cause symptoms of:
- Redness
- Irritation
- Inflammation
- Blisters
- Itching
Since moisturizers are absorbed immediately into the skin, this process can introduce gluten into the body similar to when someone eats a food containing gluten. That means that there is a need for gluten free moisturizers to be used by those with celiac disease or who have a gluten sensitivity.
Moisturizers With Gluten Trigger Allergy Response
Studies done in 2011 presented at a meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology showed that even if someone doesn’t actually eat gluten, it can still cause issues if someone is extremely sensitive since it can be absorbed into the skin on contact.
It was shown to aggravate the skin and cause assorted skin conditions. One type of reaction that can be caused by gluten in products like moisturizers is called dermatitis herpetiformis or sometimes just DH, which causes rashes, redness, itching and irritation.
Hydrolyzed gluten is found in some types of beauty products, such as lotions, moisturizers, etc. to act as a stabilizer or emulsifier. Therefore, those with gluten intolerance must shop for gluten free moisturizers. The culprit is usually some type of wheat or oat gluten. It is vital to maintain a gluten free environment by using gluten free moisturizers when people in the household have celiac disease or are otherwise sensitive to gluten.
Removing Gluten From Your Daily Beauty Regime
Removing gluten, whether it is in the diet or in beauty products such as moisturizers through the use of gluten free moisturizers is the key to clearer skin in those who are sensitive to gluten. This can be done by diligently reading the labels of various types of skin moisturizers and seeking out those that are gluten free, as manufacturers of moisturizers are creating these gluten free products for their customers.
The bottom line is that if you are suffering from strange rashes, skin irritation and inflammation and are sensitive to gluten, then you should also strive to add gluten free moisturizers to your list of things to buy along with gluten free food products and see if that solves your skin problems.
