Gluten in Cosmetic Hidden Threats For Celiac Patients

News Health Articles : Gluten in Cosmetic Hidden Threats For Celiac Patients. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and seeds are often used in cosmetics such as lipstick and powder. But for people with Celiac, using cosmetics that contain gluten can make the disease worse.

Symptoms of celiac disease may include diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, and joint pain. The only way to treat celiac disease is to avoid foods that contain gluten.

The researchers cautioned that, people with celiac disease should not only be alert to the gluten in their diet, but also be aware that gluten is also found in cosmetics and toiletries.

News Health Articles : Gluten in Cosmetic Hidden Threats For Celiac Patients

Food labels is almost always accompanied by statements or information on whether products contain gluten. But the packaging body lotions and other beauty products rarely provide such information, although many such products contain substances derived from cereals

"Lipstick, powder, and foundation are cosmetics that may contain gluten. Meanwhile, the consumer usually never see the composition of these products," said Pia Prakash, MD, a specialist in internal medicine student from George Washington University as reported from CNNHealth, Monday ( 07/11/2011).

Prakash and his colleagues have observed 10 of the leading cosmetics company. Prakash said that 10 of the leading cosmetic companies do not really provide information on the gluten content of its products.

About 2 million people in the United States have a history of celiac disease. When people who have a history of celiac disease, while consuming gluten, their immune system will attack the structures that line the small intestine and is essential for absorbing nutrients from food.

At the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Prakash and his colleagues presented a case report of a 28-year-old woman with celiac disease are controlled for several years.

Symptoms of celiac disease in women can be controlled by limiting the amount of gluten in the diet daily. But after the woman began using new body lotion, then she experienced itching, rash, abdominal bloating and diarrhea. And symptoms disappeared once she stopped using the body lotion.

"Quite a few people who are sensitive to gluten that can undergo the same reaction," says Marie Borum, MD, a professor of medicine from George Washington University.

Gluten can not be absorbed through the skin, but someone may inadvertently ingest a small amount of lotion, lipstick or other cosmetic products. Cosmetic products that contain gluten can be ingested possibly because usually someone using cosmetic products by hand or use them around their mouths.