Gluten & Your Alligator Complexion

by Jen Springer

We all know about eating gluten free.  But for a long time there was one thing I forgot about … MY FACE!

Dermatitis herpetiformis is caused by the ingestion of gluten.  This itchy, blistery, insanely scratchy rash shows up on the elbows, knees, buttocks, and back of neck … most of the time.  It’s a common symptom of celiac, but this is not what this post is about.

It took me a few years to realize that even though I didn’t eat gluten, I should also not put it on my skin or hair!

Technically gluten can’t be absorbed through the skin, the protein molecule is too big.  But on the face it can create red pimply looking bumps that are really annoying and difficult to get rid of – especially if you don’t know what’s causing it.

On the scalp, it can create severe dandruff and even scaly sores!  Ask me how I know … found this out personally after purchasing organic “high protein” shampoo, conditioner, and hairspray.

As soon as I stopped the super high protein hair care my scalp cleared up.  But dealing my rashy face was a bit trickier.

Where the rash shows up on the face can give you an idea what organ is taking a big hit from food allergies. Mine always showed up on the corresponding lung points – cheeks. No surprise. When I was really sick I would get asthmatic from gluten Pay Day Loans exposure.  Since the lungs and large intestine are closely paired, it’s not unusual for inflammation in the gut to show up as breathing problems.

My face was inflamed for so long that eliminating the gluten alone didn’t completely get rid of the redness.  The skin needed some help “de-flaming”  (that’s a technical term!).

Salicylic acid is an ingredient I found to help  reduce the inflammation of my skin the most. It can be synthetic or the preferred source is wintergreen oil.

Ingredients to watch out for in your products? Anything using these terms: wheat, barley, hydrolyzed wheat protein, oats, protein, wheat germ, or triticum vulgare. These are especially found in creams, lotions, and hair care products.

If you’re face has blemishes that you’ve been desperately trying to resolve, it’s time to check your labels.

Please share this post with gluten free peeps you know, we must spread the word so we all have gorgeous glowing blemish free skin together!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  She has a track record of  helping people have the “A-HA” moment they need in order to start rebuilding vibrant health which is their birth right. With her guidance, people quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.