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Gluten Skin and Your Health. This is What You Need to Know

A while ago we wrote about ‘Gluten Face’ (yes it’s a thing!) and now, let’s look at the relationship between gluten skin and your health. Learn more below! Shop All Apothekari Is Gluten Really Bad for You? Over the past few years, gluten has taken a real bashing when it comes to your health. A protein found in grains like wheat, rye and barley, it also can turn up in other foods, through cross contamination. (ie, other grains like oats). Know why we love bread so much? Yup, gluten. It gives baked goods their chewy deliciousness. It may taste great, but sadly, eating it may not be so good for some people. Not so serious, is gluten intolerance, which comes with a long range of symptoms when gluten-containing foods are consumed. Far more serious is Celiac Disease, a genetic, autoimmune condition, that occurs in people where eating gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. Nutrients can’t be absorbed properly into the body and long-term health complications follow, including: Iron deficiency anemia Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia Infertility and miscarriage Lactose intolerance Vitamin and mineral deficiencies Nervous system disorders Gastrointestinal cancers Neurological issues including epileptic seizures, dementia, migraine, etc Gluten Skin Implications You Should Know About Whether you’re gluten intolerant or have Celiac Disease, the symptoms may be the same. And some individuals, especially those with Celiac Disease, may have no symptoms at all: Digestive issues such as gas, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Ongoing low energy levels, “brain fog,” chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma or multiple sclerosis. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling off balance. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS, delayed menstruation onset and stunted growth. Migraines and/or frequent headaches. Joint pain, inflammation and swelling, particularly in fingers, knees or hips Gluten skin issues include eczema, rosacea, skin rashes, psoriasis and keratosis pilaris (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). Avoid Gluten in Skincare? Should you avoid gluten in your skincare products if you’re intolerant or have Celiac Disease? The answer may surprise you. Turns out that applying vs ingesting gluten, are two very different things. According to Dr. Alessio Fasano, Medical Director of the Center for Celiac Research, University of Maryland, “If you have Celiac Disease, then the application of gluten containing products to the skin should not be a problem, unless you have skin lesions that allow gluten to be absorbed systemically in great quantities.” This advice can be carried over to lipstick and lip products, as they are easily ingested. Last, if you have active dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin condition associated with Celiac Disease, or any cuts or open lesion, then use gluten-free skincare products to prevent its absorption. One caveat: If you have skin issues that won’t clear up no matter what you do, cut out gluten containing skincare products to see if it may help. The following Apothekari products don’t contain any gluten: Glow Getter 3, AHA-Mazing Clean Exfoliating Cleanser, Daily Infusion Moisturizer, Natural Deodorants. They are not certified gluten free. Should You Follow A Gluten Free Diet? Following a gluten free diet is essential if you’ve tested positive for Celiac Disease. It’s not the same with gluten intolerance. Consumption doesn’t carry the same long-term health implications, but you’ll likely feel better if you avoid or restrict it in your diet. I’ve heard ‘experts’ suggest that you shouldn’t go gluten free unless you have Celiac Disease because a gluten free diet is expensive and that you’re going to load up on gluten free crackers, cookies and cakes. To which I say, REALLY? I don’t know about you, but if I’m switching up my diet because of my health, it’s highly unlikely I’ll be loading up on Cheetos. In my family, we have two gluten intolerant individuals. And no, IT.IS.NOT.IN.THEIR.HEADS! Following a gluten free diet is essential to their wellbeing and as the primary food shopper and cook in our house, I’ve learned how to prepare nourishing and delicious meals. Focus on foods that are naturally gluten free, which also tend to be great for your overall wellness: Meat, poultry, and eggs Fish and seafood Beans and legumes Fruits and vegetables Grains and starches including, corn, rice, buckwheat, millet, tapioca, oats (ensure not contaminate) Nuts Dairy Potatoes Vinegars and oils Herbs and spices Gluten Skin & Health Resources You know yourself best so if you need to go gluten free for your health, do it. And, don’t let anyone question why. Check in with a trusted healthcare professional if you need guidance. And, visit the many trustworthy resources online. Here are some to get you started: National Celiac Organization. A non-profit organization dedicated to educating and advocating for individuals with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivities, Celiac Disease Foundation. (CDF) is a nonprofit that helps fund research, education, and advocacy programs. Learn more about celiac disease and how to live gluten free. NIH. National Institutes of Health link to help you start on your GF journey US FDA. Information to help you read food labels. Gluten Intolearnce Group. Information for individuals with a gluten sensitivity. The Inspired RD. Alysa Bajenaru, a Registered Dietitian’s blog on navigating Celiac Disease. Great recipe inspiration.

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Gluten Face. Do You Have It?

Gluten face – deny it all you want, but there is such a thing. And, no I’m not going all “goop” on you; research shows that even if you are not afflicted with Celiac Disease (CD), that gluten can have an impact on your health, including that of your skin. Shop All Apothekari What is a Gluten Face? Gluten is the protein found in many grains including wheat, rye and barley, which has binding properties that give baked goods their delicious chewiness. However, it’s something that many people can be quite sensitive to. Individuals with CD can’t eat gluten without getting severely ill. However, it’s possible that you may be gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant, with more subtle consequences. A separate condition called Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) has recently been identified. Patients with NCGS test negative for the autoimmune condition of Celiac Disease, because they don’t have a classic response to wheat. But people with NCGS experience all the same unpleasant symptoms, and respond favorably to a gluten-free diet. Without getting too technical, studies show that the protein gluten breaks into smaller proteins (gliadin for example), once it enters your digestive tract. Gliadin has been implicated with creating microscopic holes and getting into your bloodstream. Your body recognizes gliadin as a foreign invader and starts producing antibodies to fight against this attack wherever it has attached itself. Your immune system is just doing its job – thankfully. But, your body pays the price. Gluten sensitivity can manifest itself in a number of ways: Irritable bowel (including diarrhea, gas and constipation) Brain fog. Forgetting thoughts mid-sentence, difficulty finding words, poor concentration Bad Moods. Gluten can impact your neurotransmitters leading to depression and anxiety amongst other mood disorders. It has also been implicated with a range of other disorders including psoriatic arthritis, Lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, dermatitis, ataxia, schizophrenia, attention deficit, peripheral neuropathy, muscle pain, headaches, bipolar, fatigue, Hashimoto’s, elevated TPO antibodies, hypothyroidism and more. You guessed it, gluten can also be bad for your face—and skin on other parts of your body too. What is Gluten Skin? When it comes to skin, a painful rash called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is unique to CD, but individuals with CD or NCGS can encounter other common gluten face conditions, including: Psoriasis. It is one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases in the United States as well as one of the most readily visible affecting 7.5 million people in the U.S. The red, silvery patches of scaly skin may be accompanied by dryness, cracking and bleeding. The National Psoriasis Foundation states that up to 25% of people who have psoriasis also may be sensitive to gluten. Eczema. An extremely common skin condition, eczema results in itchy, inflamed skin. Although gluten has been implicated with eczema, that’s not the case for everyone. Many sufferers have found that eliminating offending foods such as gluten and dairy, as well as other common allergens such soy, citrus, peanuts, fish, eggs, corn and tomatoes can make a real difference. Acne. It’s thought that the inflammatory response that begins in the gut’s reaction to gluten then spreads to other parts of the body, which in turn can result in acne. This kind of immune response also triggers the release of insulin, which results in raised hormone levels, another cause of acne. Not everyone who has acne is gluten sensitive and there is little published research showing a link but many acne sufferers have reported relief from ‘gluten face’ by going gluten-free. Dry Skin. Many people with CD and gluten sensitivity suffer from very dry skin, and in some cases this clears up after adopting a gluten-free diet. Although not clear what causes the dry skin, it’s been suggested that the malabsorption associated with untreated CD can rob your skin of needed nutrients. How Long Does it Take For Gluten Face to Go Away? If you suspect that your gluten face or any other symptom is a result of CD or NCGS, you should visit your doctor to get tested. Several blood tests are available that screen for CD antibodies, but you must be consuming gluten for the test to work. If test results are negative, you may have NCGS. As there are currently no tests available to screen for NCGS, you may be asked to try an elimination diet for several months to see if your symptoms improve upon removal of gluten from your diet. Improvement won’t happen overnight and can take several weeks to months, depending on how sensitive you are and how strictly you follow a gluten free diet. While it’s highly unlikely for topically applied gluten to cause any issues if you have a gluten sensitivity—unless applied to broken skin—Apothekari offers a few gluten-free products including: Bespoke Vitamin C Serum AHA-Mazing Clean Exfoliating Cleanser Daily Infusion Moisturizer Natural Deodorants. They are not certified gluten free.

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