Evaluating the Potential Impact of Oat-Based Skincare on Celiac Disease Patients with Compromised Skin Integrity

Oats, frequently incorporated into skincare formulations for their anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and barrier-repairing properties, may present an overlooked risk to individuals with celiac disease, particularly when applied to compromised skin. Although pure oats are inherently gluten-free, the widespread contamination with gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, or rye during agricultural and processing stages introduces the potential for gluten exposure through topical application. This raises important questions about whether gluten proteins, when applied to damaged skin, might penetrate the epidermal barrier and contribute to immune responses in genetically predisposed celiac patients, given that even minute amounts of gluten can trigger systemic symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests that transdermal absorption of gluten peptides through impaired skin integrity might bypass the gastrointestinal route, yet the precise mechanisms and clinical significance of this pathway remain poorly understood. The role of compromised skin in facilitating gluten absorption and the possible activation of CD4⁺ T-cells, mimicking gastrointestinal pathways, warrants further investigation. Additionally, the ability of gluten peptides to reach deeper dermal layers and potentially enter the systemic circulation remains speculative, though theoretically possible in severely disrupted skin barriers. Without clinical and molecular studies to determine the risk of topical gluten exposure, particularly in celiac patients with skin injuries, there remains a potential for undetected immune activation and subsequent adverse health outcomes in this sensitive population.