GF- what about bath/body products with oats?

[DevaMajka]

I'm having an allergic reaction to something, and I can't figure out what. My face is swollen and there's a red spot under my eye, and DARK circles under both eyes.

If one is allergic to wheat or gluten (as an aside, can you be allergic to gluten, or is it always an intolerance?), would they have to avoid body products with oats, like lotions, etc?

Almost everything I ate yesterday, I have been eating for a while now. Everything is from packages that I'm at least halfway through (meaning, I'm still eating the same brand/batch as I was days or a week ago).
I used ds's baby wash yesterday as a body wash. I have bathed him with it before with no problem, and used it on my face two days ago. It has oat extract, and fragrance in it. I seem to be sensitive to fragrance in haircare products, but have never had a problem with body products.
I made cookies from gf oats 2 nights ago, but I used those oats before with no problem.

My last allergic reaction, which was rashes and no swelling, I determined was caused by wheat (or gluten?), lime, or cashew.

There is a chance of wheat x-con from my counter and such, though I am careful about it.
Two products I'm eating could "contain traces of tree nuts" but like I said, I've been eating from the same package for a week (rice cereal and flax). The rice cereal, I contacted the company, and they clean equipment thoroughly between products. The other, I didn't notice until just now I had eaten more flax yesterday than in the past- would that make a difference as far as reactions from x-con goes? I've been eating that brand for months.

I took the antihistamine my doc said was safe for bf'ing. Unfortunately, it also has colors in it, so I guess it's an unintentional trial to see if ds is sensitive to colors

[tanyalynn]

Some people with wheat/gluten issues need to get it entirely out of their houses.

As far as I can tell, we've never had any contact issues at all, not from touching flour (bulk bin aisle at WF) or having the dog food in the house or anything. Others, though, really can't tolerate any topical contact, even with stuff that's not supposed to be bad, like wheat/gluten--as opposed to something like peanuts.

I think it's a trial/error thing to figure out where you end up. Can you find another body wash for your daughter? Check out the California Baby Sensitive, see if those ingredients are ok?

[DevaMajka]

So it could be a problem. I'll skip it for a while. Thanks!

I think it could have been the "fragrance" in it, too. hmmm..it seems like it would be easier to avoid fragrance in products than all traces of nuts or wheat!

I have an allergis appt, but it's over a month away. I think I'll have to test something before then. It's really hard to avoid all traces of nuts AND wheat- most gf foods seem to have traces of nuts. What's left is mostly produce and meat! lol

[lil_miss_understood]

sbgrace has gluten and nut free info, fwiw.. you might search for her posts in this forum.
yes, you can be allergic to gluten. my allergist says he's seen it several times.
i would suspect the oats in the baby wash. many people, particularly those with CD, are VERY sensitive to topical gluten- even so far as breaking out in painful blisters from products, from what i've read

[dannic]

DD was having a slight reaction that I couldn't trace for the longest time --6 weeks--and it was shampoo. "hydrolyzed wheat protein" that I missed. You totally gotta look for wheat germ, and gluten in hair products as it's the newest strengthener fad.

[DevaMajka]

Wow! I'll have to be on the lookout. I decided to trial wheat today, so I'll know if that's what I'm sensitive to. I just put a dab of flour on my tongue. Seemed easiest that way.
That was a couple of hours ago, and no reaction yet. But it seems like all my reactions thus far have been delayed by a bunch of hours, so we'll see...

Unrelated to wheat, but I *just* (as in yesterday) noticed that the Jason's conditioner that I use has benzoates in it (which I think ds might be sensitive to). Gah.

[mamafish9]

Some benzoates are sals, can't remember which ones any more. This is my excuse for not washing my child .

However, on the "wow, how far they can come" side of things, last year, DS ate 3 blueberries at the farmer's market, and holy awful reaction (screaming no sleep 24 hours of hell). This week, I made strawberry smash muffins, which we both ate, and he was fine. (I don't worry too much about sals any more for him, things like squash and olive oil are fine, but we hadn't really tried berries yet. I will be sooooo excited if he can eat berries).

[DevaMajka]

WooHoo on the berries I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[sbgrace]

Remember mango/cashew/pistachio/sesame all share proteins. Sesame or nut cross is in almost everything I called on gluten free items and all my oils as well. I'd wonder about cross w/one of those if this continues.

[DevaMajka]

Yeah, I've notived that most (if not all) gf stuff is x-con with nuts. It's hard to avoid both! lol. So I've basically just been eating produce (that isn't high sals), beans, dairy, and chicken. lol.

I'm not planning on testing cashew. If I test wheat, lime, and the body products and get no reactions, I'm just going to assume it's cashews/nuts until an allergist tells me otherwise!

[sbgrace]

Originally Posted by DevaMajka

Yeah, I've notived that most (if not all) gf stuff is x-con with nuts. It's hard to avoid both! lol. So I've basically just been eating produce (that isn't high sals), beans, dairy, and chicken. lol.

I'm not planning on testing cashew. If I test wheat, lime, and the body products and get no reactions, I'm just going to assume it's cashews/nuts until an allergist tells me otherwise!

I would test cashew in your place. It's hard to avoid and pointless if it isn't your issue and if it is your issue you need an epi pen. Beyond that, if you're already testing throwing tree nuts in there is no big deal.
Ya, gluten free and nut allergy is tricky stuff. I've got a list of safe items but all but one are US companies so probably not helpful for you (I order all online but my one Canadian company made me realize the logistics of shipping for that makes it difficult).