Diet has an undeniable connection with our skin, and even our appearance. One typical example is how consuming an excessive amount of foods rich in beta-carotene, including carrots, apricots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, among others, may cause the skin to turn yellow or even orange.
Now, the term "gluten face" has been gaining more and more attention in the skincare and beauty industry.
But what exactly is gluten face? How does it manifest? What impact does it have on the skin and appearance? Let's break it down!
Wheat, barley, and rye contain a family of proteins collectively known as gluten. Essentially, bread, cakes, noodles (excluding those made from rice), vermicelli, pasta, udon, grains, cereals, biscuits, and even soy sauce and beer, all contain gluten. Additionally, some processed foods like oats also contain gluten.
The term "gluten face" refers to the potential effects of gluten intake on the skin and appearance. Studies indicate that even in the absence of wheat allergy, gluten sensitivity (also known as celiac disease), or gluten intolerance, gluten can cause systemic inflammation in the body through various mechanisms, which can subsquently manifest on the face. The following are some typical symptoms of a gluten face:
｜Inflammation・Sensitivity・Swelling
Consuming gluten may exacerbate chronic inflammation in the body, leading to skin issues such as redness, swelling, and sensitivity, and even triggering or worsening conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
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｜Chronic Acne・Cystic Acne
Foods containing gluten, when consumed, are broken down into glucose in the body, which then enters the bloodstream and raises blood sugar levels. In response to the elevated blood sugar, the body releases insulin to help transport glucose from the blood into cells for energy or storage. However, increased insulin levels can disrupt the hormonal balance in the body, leading to issues such as cystic acne, chronic acne, and pimples.
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｜Dryness・Itchiness
For some individuals, consuming gluten can stimulate the release of histamine in the body. When histamine levels are elevated, the skin may experience sensitivity, hives, dryness, and itchiness. Under certain circumstances, gluten can also reduce the body's ability to absorb nutrients such as vitamins A and E, as well as essential fatty acids such as omega-3, which can lead to dry and itchy skin.
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｜Puffiness
In some cases, gluten-induced systemic inflammation in the body can lead to fluid retention, resulting in overall facial puffiness and swelling. This can also make the area around the eyes appear more puffy, and exacerbate the severity of under-eye bags.
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｜Hyperpigmentation
When the skin is inflamed, as part of the body's immune response, the skin signals to melanocytes to produce excessive levels of melanin. When this excess melanin accumulates and deposits, it can cause the skin to become dull and even lead to visible dark spots.
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As mentioned above, regardless of whether one has owheat allergy, gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, or not, research indicates that gluten can cause skin inflammation through different mechanisms:
｜Autoimmune Response
When allergic to wheat or gluten, consuming gluten can trigger an autoimmune response. The body would thud produce antibodies that may attack the skin, which could then result in, trigger, or worsen inflammatory issues such as hives, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, redness, and itchiness.
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｜Leaky Gut Syndrome
The intestinal wall is lined with a single layer of cells that act as a barrier to control what substances can enter the bloodstream. When this barrier is compromised, known as leaky gut syndrome, toxins, undigested food particles, and bacteria can pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, triggering immune responses and systemic inflammation. Some studies suggest that gluten may contribute to leaky gut syndrome.
Leaky gut syndrome-induced systemic inflammation is likely to manifest in various ways on the skin, including acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, skin sensitivity, disrupted skin microbiome, and reduced skin repair and regeneration capabilities.
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｜Immune System Activation-Induced Systemic Inflammation
Gluten contains a protein component called "glutenin" that can activate immune cells in the intestine. When these immune cells are activated, an inflammatory response would be triggered, leading to systemic inflammation. This type of inflammation may affect various organs and tissues, which can then exacerbate existing skin issues or cause new inflammatory reactions on the skin.
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｜Increased Release of Pro-Inflammatory Molecules
Consuming gluten may lead to the release of pro-inflammatory molecules such as cytokines and chemokines in the intestines, resulting in systemic inflammation.
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｜Altering Gut Microbiome
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune function and inflammation. When the gut microbiome is healthy, with a balance of good and bad bacteria, the gut and the body would be healthy. However, consuming gluten may affect the composition of the gut microbiome, and an imbalanced gut microbiome can promote inflammation and lead to systemic inflammatory responses.
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｜Genetic Factors
Some individuals may have genetic susceptibility that makes them susceptible to gluten-induced inflammation even in the absence of wheat allergy, gluten sensitivity, or leaky gut syndrome.
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As established above, gluten can easily trigger inflammations in the body, which can then result in a series of symptoms associated with "gluten face." Therefore, if you want to eliminate skin inflammation and acne once and for all, while maintaining a tight and non-puffy face, including around the eyes, you should really control your gluten intake both in the short and long-term.
Whilst, if any of the following conditions apply to you, you should completely eliminate all gluten from your life. Otherwise, no matter what skincare products you use, what treatments you do, what medicine you take, or how many doctors you see, "gluten face" and all of its associated skin inflammatory issues will persist:
｜Wheat Allergy
Wheat allergy is an immune system response to proteins such as albumin, globulin, glutenin, and gluten found in wheat. Symptoms may include hives, skin redness, itchiness, allergic rhinitis, asthma, difficulty breathing, nausea, diarrhea, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.
Since wheat allergy is related to the immune system, it can be confirmed through laboratory testing to determine if you have it.
｜Gluten Allergy or Sensitivity
Gluten allergy (or gluten sensitivity or celiac disease) is an autoimmune disease caused by the consumption of gluten found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten allergy can lead to intestinal damage, poor nutrient absorption, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, inflammation, and other symptoms.
Similar to wheat allergy, gluten allergy can be confirmed through laboratory testing.
｜Gluten Intolerance
You might say, "I have already done food allergy tests, and they show that I am not allergic to wheat or gluten!". Contrary to popular belieft, wheat or gluten allergy and gluten intolerance are completely different issues.
Gluten intolerance refers to the body's inability to effectively digest or metabolize gluten without involving the immune system. Therefore, it fundamentally differs from wheat or gluten allergy. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal pain, inflammation, and even feeling full all day after consuming gluten.
Since non-celiac gluten intolerance is not related to the immune system, there are currently no laboratory tests specifically for this condition. Confirmation relies on personal bodily experiences, but this condition affects more people than imagined.
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