I'll be direct. Anything and everything to do with food allergies seems to be kind of confusing. I'm hoping today to demystify some of the questions and thoughts and ideas from the patient side of things around allergies and allergy testing, specifically. Today's guest, Dr. Stacy Silvers is a board-certified allergist specializing in environmental and food allergy diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Dr. Silvers oversees Aspire's allergy program and protocols, and also leads the food allergy and...
Nov 10, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 269
Have you read online that going plant-based or carnivore will totally heal your skin ? I’m sure you’ve probably come across this type of information on social media or in chat forums where people swear that what worked for their skin is the magic answer for everyone. To be honest, I have intentionally steered clear of this topic for a long time now because I wasn’t sure how to cover it. I’ve certainly been pitched by staunch proponents of each diet to share their opinion here on the Healthy Skin...
Nov 03, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 268
If you’ve thought that there is an official eczema trigger foods list you should follow… Think again. These lists are often made up of arbitrary foods that may or may not be a problem for you. Often these lists scare people into avoiding foods unnecessarily which can have unintended consequences for your physical and mental health (as well as your relationship with food). Instead of seeking out a list of foods to avoid when you have eczema, it’s wiser to question why you are reacting to certain ...
Oct 27, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 267
If you haven’t considered the potential gut connection to eczema, then this will be quite surprising to you! Many of my atopic dermatitis clients struggle with chronic gut issues. And some have extremely imbalanced gut microbiomes, but don’t even have any gut symptoms! Testing and certain patterns that I see in my clinical practice have underscored the importance of considering the impacts that the gut has on the skin, so we’re going to start diving into that today! In this episode: Factors that...
Oct 20, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 266
Itchy eyes. Sinus pressure. Coughing and sneezing... Many people take antihistamines to get through an allergy episode, and that can be totally OK. But what about if you have to take them everyday? Are there potential long term side effects? Today's guest, Dr. Chris Thompson, is a Board Certified Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck Surgeon with over 25 years of experience practicing medicine in Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A & M University in C...
Oct 13, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 265
Have you ever heard of endolysins? Are you wondering what these things are and how are they relevant when talking about skin conditions? Today’s episode is sponsored by Gladskin which makes a topical cream that I think you should know about called Eczema Cream with Micreobalance®… and it’s highly relevant to what we’re talking about today. I became aware of Gladskin several years ago when community members started to share their personal stories of how Gladskin’s Eczema Cream had helped their ec...
Oct 06, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 264
Lupus is a truly a tricky diagnosis. The symptoms range from fatigue to the butterfly rash to joint pain! It can be so hard to pin down due to many other ailments having the same symptoms. Today's guest, Tanya Freirich, has worked as a dietitian for more than a decade after obtaining both my Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. I started my career at the world-renowned New York Presbyterian Hospital, then honed my skills in private practice and as an ou...
Sep 29, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 263
If you've had children, you may have been given tips (probably unsolicited) about feeding Baby, but what does the science really say about baby advice? From allergies to getting your child started on the best foot forward, most parents are left trying to decipher an ever-changing landscape while feeling defeated. Today's guest, Meenal Lele, is the author of The Baby and the Biome , a revelatory look at how we all got so sick. She is also the founder & CEO of Lil Mixins, an early allergen int...
Sep 22, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 262
If chronic hives, dermatographia or angioadema have got you down – I hear ya. They are extremely frustrating skin conditions especially when all the testing to look for an environmental trigger doesn’t yield much helpful information. If you’re anything like my clients, you probably don’t want to be stuck on endless combos of antihistamines and feeling helpless to make this type of rash stop. My clinical experience supporting people with these conditions has shown me that there are a lot more und...
Sep 15, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 261
Raise your hand if you've ever used mouthwash or bleached your teeth. Probably everyone has at some point, right? My guest today will make you rethink your idea of having a "dirty" mouth that needs to be sterilized! Today's guest, Dr. Mark Burhenne, attended the University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. In his bio, Dr. B writes, “In my 30 years of practice as a dentist, I’ve seen a lot of misinformation and people who have fallen through the cracks due to our healthc...
Sep 08, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 260
If you’ve got psoriasis – there’s a pretty big chance that you’re deficient in certain nutrients (especially if your psoriasis is more severe). In fact, nutrient deficiencies are more common than you probably think! As a clinical nutritionist, I often find that those with more severe symptoms tend to experience higher degrees of nutrient deficiencies (which is one reason that I do not understand the resistance to checking the nutrient status of those with psoriasis). So let’s discuss which key m...
Sep 01, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 259
Have you ever heard of tapping and thought that is way too “out there” for me? Well, did you know there is actual science backing up this technique for stress management? My guest today shares everything from the importance of minerals to how the iron recycling system works. Today's guest, Sarah Emily Speers, is an Alternative Healing Arts Practitioner, Empowered Eating Coach, Reiki Master & trained psychotherapist. She specializes in using energy healing modalities- including Emotional Free...
Aug 25, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 258
Most people assume that itchiness means there’s too much histamine in their bodies. This assumption is often very wrong leading people to take anti-histamine medications that they will admit don’t help much. If this hits home, you’ll be shocked to know that there are many different reasons (or hidden root causes) that can drive itch that often isn’t explored in conventional dermatology. So if you’re frustrated that nothing seems to help that awful itch, you’re in the right place! In this episode...
Aug 18, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 257
Did you know that your circadian rhythm affects your skin? Are you ready to find out what it means by your skin having its OWN circadian rhythm? If you've wondered why your skin feels different at different times of the day (super itchy at night, but fine during the day), today's guest will explain why! My guest today is Michelle Jeffries, D.O., FAAD, FAOCD. Dr. Michelle Jeffries is a board-certified Integrative Dermatologist in private practice in Phoenix, AZ and is the CEO and Founder of The S...
Aug 11, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 256
Ever wonder how it could be possible for little kids to have low levels of nutrients? Have you thought that they haven't really had “time” to lose nutrients, so they should be OK? We're learning more about this, and it's important to test before deciding on a plan of action. Improving micro AND macronutrients are important when rebuilding skin health! My guest today is Jennifer Brand, MPH, MS, CNS. She is a clinical nutritionist and the CEO of Jennifer Caryn Brand Nutrition LLC. Jennifer helps c...
Jul 28, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 254
Did you know that there is a huge annual event just for people struggling with Eczema? Yes!!! It’s called the Eczema Expo and the event is hosted by the National Eczema Association . Due to my dad’s health declining and then the pandemic, I wasn’t able to attend in prior years, so this was my first time! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the entire experience really was incredible . Many of you asked for a recap to see if this might be a good event for you next year. Just in case you’re wonderin...
Jul 21, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 253
Do you feel like the words “heavy metals” are getting a lot of buzz lately? It seems like it's hot topic that you read about on social media where everybody's like, “Maybe I do have mercury poisoning? Maybe I have lead poisoning?” My guest today is going to give you the lowdown on how heavy metals and other toxins affect gut health and what you can do about it. Today's guest, Dr. Sonza Curtis, ND, PA-C, IFMP, has a doctorate in Naturopathy for Healthcare Professionals and was certified through t...
Jul 14, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 252
If you've ever dealt with a skin rash like eczema, you know the itch and the feeling of embarrassment or anger perhaps. Now imagine being the center of attention as a pageant queen being partially judged on how you look and carry yourself. Today's guest had to figure out how to navigate her journey with eczema all while competing in pageant after pageant. Abby Cramond is a junior at Louisiana State University majoring in Digital Advertising and minoring in Textiles Apparel and Merchandising. She...
Jul 04, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 255
Many of our readers and listeners have heard me talk about the zinc and copper relationship. Have you delved into how copper is involved yet? My guest today shares everything from the importance of minerals to how the iron recycling system works. Today's guest, Amanda Montalvo, RD, is a women’s health dietitian that helps women get to the root cause of hormone imbalances and have healthy menstrual cycles. Amanda started off her education in nutrition with the traditional route, but after dealing...
Jun 30, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 251
Did you know that progesterone can trigger rashes ? Usually estrogen is more commonly the “sex hormone problem child” when it comes to skin, but when progesterone is the culprit, it’s causes A LOT of trouble . If you’ve never heard of progesterone triggering rashes or Progesterone Hypersensitivity , you’ll want to check out this episode. Now to be clear, this is NOT a common problem as progesterone reactivity like this is considered to be rare (though I’m willing to bet that a lot of cases are l...
Jun 23, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 250
Did you know that June is Vitiligo Awareness Month?? My guest today shares her empowering, emotional personal story and shares how she became a Vitiligo Patient Advocate! Today's guest, Tonja Johnson, exhibits creativity, innovation, and determination. She has persevered through many obstacles in life, which has fueled her passions. Tonja is the founder of Beautifully Unblemished , a vitiligo support group that was birthed in 2017 after a challenging time finding a local support group in the sta...
Jun 16, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 249
If you’ve heard or read that eczema is a “histamine intolerance” problem , I’ve got news for you… That’s actually not always true. In fact, itchy skin doesn’t mean you have histamine intolerance either. This might fly in the face of what you’ve come to believe about what your “root causes” are, but it’s really important. It can help you if you find that antihistamines aren’t really working! OR if you’ve been doing a low histamine diet without noticing much improvement. So let’s talk about how at...
Jun 09, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 248
Dealing with chronic skin conditions can take their toll mentally on anyone, but put yourself in the shoes of a child who may not have the same life experience as you do to cope. Stick in the dreaded school bullying, and you can have a major storm on your hands as parents or caregivers. My guest today covers specific things to look for and DO when tackling mental health for children with skin rashes. Today's guest, Dr. Nicole Beurkens, is a licensed clinical psychologist with advanced degrees in...
Jun 02, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 247
Have you ever heard to just put honey or aloe on your rash? I URGE you to think twice on treating an angry rash at home before knowing what it is. Sometimes, it can be life threatening as you will hear from my guest today who had a patient have sepsis! Not to mention, it could be tiny microscopic bugs, which gives the shivers just thinking about it. My guest today is Dr. Peter Lio, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology & Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medici...
May 26, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 246
Have you been told to eliminate fermented foods or FODMAPS out of your diet? What about histamine containing foods? You may want to listen first or read my guest's new book before eliminating these fiber-filled foods! Today's guest, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (or "Dr. B"), is an award winning gastroenterologist, internationally recognized gut health expert and the New York Times-bestselling author of Fiber Fueled and The Fiber Fueled Cookbook. He sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of ZOE, has author...
May 19, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 245
Are you trying to weigh the pros and cons of possibly using a biologic like Dupixent for your skin condition? Your immune system has such a complex relationship with one another, so it's important to have complete informed consent when starting one. Look into all the side effects- they could be actually helpful, but they could also lead to cancer! My guest today, Heather Zwickey, earned a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of Colorado and completed a postdoctoral fellowship...
May 12, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 244
Alopecia has been a hot topic in the media lately, but for others who have been dealing with hair loss for some time, it can be triggering and even devastating. My guest today, Dr. Julie Greenberg, is a licensed ND who specializes in integrative dermatology and works with hair loss in her practice. She is the founder of the Center for Integrative Dermatology, a holistic dermatology clinic that approaches skin problems by finding and treating the root cause. Dr. Greenberg holds degrees from North...
May 05, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 243
As you might already know – I’m not a fan of liver detoxes or liver cleanses when you’re struggling with chronic skin rashes . But there are some exceptions to this which I think are worthwhile to share. Especially given the massive amount of marketing online constantly telling you that you need to detox your liver , understanding the nuance can be really helpful. There are instances where a liver detox makes sense, and other times where it absolutely does not (and could make your skin worse). S...
Apr 28, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 242
Sharing a very emotional healing journey can be intimidating for many people. Most people don't want to talk about bowel movements and skin flaking off publicly, right? My guest today gets very personal on how she figured out her root causes for her skin rashes and scalp dermatitis in hopes it might help someone else. My guest today, Sheradyn Dekker, is a qualified Gut Health Nutritionist, with a Masters in Nutrition and Postgraduate studies in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. Sheradyn not only ...
Apr 21, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 241
This is a two-part interview! Check out part 1 by clicking HERE! Today I continue my conversation with Rachael Pontillo all about holistic skincare and yes, why order matters when it comes to layering on products. My guest today, Rachael Pontillo, is a holistic skincare innovator, author, and educator. She is the bestselling author of the book Love Your Skin, Love Yourself, and co-author of The Sauce Code. She’s a functional nutrition practitioner, AADP and IAHC Board Certified International Hea...
Apr 14, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 240
