This has been a post I've been meaning to write for two years, but seems more appropriate now because May is Celiac awareness month.
Did you know that 300,000 people have a wheat allergy, another 3 million have celiac disease, and a full 20 million are gluten sensitive, all of which are reactions to gluten? These numbers are thought to continue to increase because it is theorized that we were never designed to digest gluten in the first place.
So what is wheat allergy/gluten sensitivity/ Celiacs' disease?
Celiacs' disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition that affects both children and adults, and can present itself at any age. When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, a protein found in all forms of wheat (durum, semolina, kamut, spelt, farro), rye and barley, the body triggers a reaction that causes damage to the small intestine. Over time, the damage to the intestine prevents food from being absorbed, leading to nutrition deficiencies and their associated health problems. Untreated celiac disease can also lead to many other ailments and autoimmune disorders. Wheat allergy and gluten sensitivity are similar conditions.
Well that just means they can't eat stuff that contains gluten, right? I mean why is a soap maker writing about this?
It's true that having CD/sensitivity means you can not ingest gluten containing foods...but it has more far reaching implications than you'd think. What you put on the outside of your body matters just as much and for several reasons. Gluten and gluten containing ingredients hide in places you wouldn't expect, household cleaners, laundry detergent, soaps and body washes, shampoos, conditioners, hair dye, lip balm and many other everyday products such as medicines, vitamins.
So what? They're not eating the soap.
While it is true that the gluten molecule is too large to penetrate the skin and cause internal damage to the body it can and does exasperate and cause many skin conditions in those with the sensitivity (boy I can speak from experience on that one).
Also keep in mind anything that touches the body can also touch food and end up in the mouth. It is also a concern that a person can be contaminated by kissing or other close contact.
What are the most common personal care products that have glutinous ingredients?
The easiest ones off the top of my head are shampoos and conditioners since about 90% of those on the market contain hydrolyzed wheat protein, which can be to those who aren't sensitive an excellent hair strengthening ingredient but to those with Celiacs and contribute to many a hair, scalp, and skin issue most often noticed by itching and small bumps.
Another is any personal care product that contains oats or oat derived ingredients. While oats themselves don't contain gluten, unless certified gluten free, they are often grown and processed with wheat so the cross contamination level is very high.
Anything containing vitamin E. Vitamin E is another amazing skin ingredient with many beneficial properties, but unless certified gluten free, is usually derived from wheat germ oil-and I think it's pretty easy to see the issue there.
Last but certainly not least, and probably the one to be most concerned about is lip balm, gloss, and lipstick. The gluten in these products is of more concern because whether we like to think of it or not, they are partially ingested so they can not only irritate the skin but contribute to internal damage. The gluten in these products oft hides in some of their conditioning ingredients, "flavors" and as mentioned above the vitamin E.
The list of gluten containing ingredients in personal and house hold products is extensive, for full listings you can check
here. There is some argument over some of the ingredients because of their extensive processing, as to if they do or do not still contain gluten. But the science on that has not come back yet; until then it's better to be safe than sorry.
It's pretty simple to see that if you or a loved one have any sort of gluten/wheat sensitivity that it needs to be avoided both inside and on your body.
This is something Dreaming Tree takes VERY seriously.
Two years ago now, when working with doctors trying to figure out the cause of my recurrent infusion site infections and several other unresolved maladies I was diagnosed with Celiac's disease. But even after adopting a strict gluten free diet the infections persisted, we couldn't figure out why until it was suggested to take a look at what I was putting ON my skin. Upon further inspection I discovered that my shampoo and conditioner at the time not only contained
hydrolyzed wheat protein, but wheat germ oil too, and the adhesive used on my infusion sets also contained gluten containing ingredients. Since these things have been eliminated-- not one infection.
Part of Dreaming Tree's mission has always been to provide those with skin issues an enjoyable and comfortable experience beyond the unscented and we've always taken sensitivities seriously, where potential allergen containing soaps (like those with nut oils) were processed and stored separately from other products and clearly labeled. But now, my dedication to bring not only myself but my customers (whom for many I was already doing gluten free formulations) safe, gentle, effective, and now gluten free products, was brought to a whole new level.
Hundreds of hours where spent re-evaluating our supply train and tracing ingredients to ensure that our ingredients where indeed gluten free. We have been and are continuing now to be a gluten free company while sacrificing absolutely no quality. For those of you without CD well, you're still getting only the absolute best.
So DTS has your body safely covered from shampoo bars, luxury soaps, lotions, scrubs and YES 100% gluten free lip balms--- what about painting your face?
Over the years since the awareness for Celiacs has grown ---gluten freedom has also spread to indie beauty and I'm happy one of my favorite cosmetic companies is gluten free too:
Geek Chic Cosmetics---and they've got you covered from fab foundations, stand out eye shadows, and lip sticks and gloss.
Here's to gluten-freedom for all!
Lots of soapy love,
-Meghan
Because I have to put this here by law: Products are not meant to prevent, treat, or cure any medical condition. Consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition. All skin or health benefits associated with the products are for information purposes only and do not substitute for medical advice. Dreaming Tree Soapworks is not responsible for any health issue arising or perceiving to arise from any Dreaming Tree Soapworks products or information given in relation to them.
