If you didn’t know, markers for candida in stool tests aren’t very trustworthy. This is a challenge when you’ve invested money to figure out what’s going on in your gut that is also impacting your skin.Candida overgrowth is tricky to pinpoint if you don’t take several factors into account (and often they aren’t things you can test for).Sometimes signs of candida overgrowth are fairly obvious, like getting thrush, a vaginal yeast infection, or candida diaper rash in children. Other times, the ...

What are the causes of eczema? Can you get eczema genes? Is psoriasis genetic? These are common questions especially since many doctors still blame skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis on genetics.Many people have been told “Oh, you just got bad genes!”So is it true that the genes are the reason explaining WHY you got the skin condition that you have? Or does this attitude overlook and ignore other possible triggers.With the ability to sequence the genetic code (and even get your own DNA...

If you’ve ever been told to “just stop googling” when you’ve met with a doctor to get help for a skin flare-up, this episode is for you.I’ll bet you’ve had unfortunate experiences in the conventional medical system that’s left you feeling dismissed, gaslight, ignored, and even abandoned when you’ve reached out for help.That’s NOT okay.Especially because you’re trying your best to do right by your health because you want to get better.You are definitely not alone – which is why I’m sharing res...

Are you ready to stop your skin rashes? Join me on Wednesday, September 4th at 7pm ET / 4pm PT for my free training on the SEVEN biggest mistakes people make when trying to fix their chronic skin rashes. Register at www.RebuildHealthySkin.com to join me live (or to get the replay that will be available for a limited time)!

Ever heard of a tick meat allergy (also known more formally as alpha-gal syndrome)? This is caused by the bite of a very specific type of tick which then triggers an allergy to mammalian meat (that comes from cows, pigs, sheep, etc.).Alpha-gal syndrome is different to other food allergies. Take peanut allergies, for example. Symptoms like hives and wheezing typically show up very quickly after consuming peanuts or peanut-containing foods.If you have an alpha-gal allergy, it usually takes a fe...

Are you struggling with a super itchy skin rash that looks like eczema? If gluten seems to be a trigger – you might be dealing with dermatitis herpetiformis!Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a rare skin rash that starts off as incredibly itchy, small blisters that eventually start to become open sores due to constant scratching.This rash is generally considered to be MORE ITCHY than eczema, and is commonly found in the creases of elbows, knees, and buttocks.What causes DH, you might ask? The a...

Let’s talk about hemp seed oil for skin benefits! This powerful, nutrient-rich seed oil is loaded with skin-friendly vitamins and fatty acids that are fantastic for your skin — especially when it’s dry and itchy. But there’s also some confusion around hemp seed oil.Even though it’s from a plant that’s been cultivated for thousands of years for medicinal purposes, people still tend to associate it with CBD or even cannabis, which are definitely not the same thing as hemp seed oil.We’re going t...

Childhood eczema treatment options can get confusing fast, especially if you don’t know what’s driving your child’s itchy skin rash in the first place.If your child is scratching constantly, it’s easy to blame histamine (and think it’s a histamine intolerance issue). Or if they have scaly eczema skin, it’s easy to blame food and start to cut more and more out.Couple all this with the stress of watching your child suffer, and childhood rashes can be devastating for the whole family while tryin...

Ever wonder what insights could be gained from small intestine bacterial overgrowth testing when you’ve got IBS gut symptoms?Last week, Dr. Ken Brown and I discussed various reasons why Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a problematic diagnosis that has become a “catch-all” for any digestive symptoms. We also spoke about how SIBO inflammation can spread to other body systems including skin rashes like rosacea.In today’s episode, we will dive into the reason why small bacterial overgrowth testi...

This is a 2-part interview coming next week so stay tuned!Did you know that many people diagnosed with IBS actually have SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth)?SIBO is unfortunately a rather under-diagnosed condition impacting your gut that often leads people to struggle for very long periods (sometimes several years!) without a clear answer of what’s going on beyond just being told “you have IBS.”To be clear, digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea are not normal and can make you mi...

Adult hormonal acne can start to affect every facet of your life. It can cause self-esteem issues, stress, and anxiety. Especially if you have tried the usual conventional treatments (like birth control pills and antibiotics) and alternative options (like an acne diet) — and still, your acne persists (or gets worse over time).That’s why digging deeper is so important. Acne (and even hormonal acne) is usually a sign of a bigger problem lurking under the surface pointing towards issues like gut...

Have you tried using topical zinc for eczema, psoriasis, or other rashes yet? Because spoiler: when you use the correct form of zinc topically, it can be a game changer for your skin rash. Why? So many skin rash warriors are deficient in this crucial mineral. And taking zinc orally just doesn’t always cut it for most people, unfortunately.So if you haven’t yet explored the skin rash-zinc connection, let’s take a look at why topical zinc can be so helpful, things you need to watch out for when...

Night sweats, brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, irregular cycles…these are all symptoms of perimenopause.As you probably know by now, perimenopause is the hormonal transition period leading to menopause. Typically, this starts in a woman’s late 30s, continues through your 40s, and even into your early 50s – basically until you hit menopause. If you’re in this transition and noticing some extremely frustrating perimenopause symptoms, you’re not alone!Unlike different periods of a woman’s hormona...

I’ve discussed topical steroid withdrawal symptoms and TSW skin concerns extensively on the Healthy Skin Show, but there is still so much about this condition that isn’t well understood.Partly because we don’t yet have much research on TSW.So when I heard that Dr. Ian Myles was looking into topical steroid withdrawal symptoms, I had to get him on the show to break it down for you in layman’s terms (because his paper is complex).Topical Steroid Withdrawal (aka. TSW and also sometimes called re...

A couple of months ago, I discussed black seed oil benefits on the podcast and was taken aback by the response I received! So many listeners were eager to learn more about black cumin oil and whether it would be a good fit to help support their chronic skin condition.If you’re dealing with rashed, itchy skin or even hair shedding, black cumin seed oil might just be the skincare ingredient to provide some relief.Black seed oil has a long history of efficacy across various different cultur...

Did you know that what’s living up in your nose could be a trigger for what causes sinusitis? The nasal microbiome is a vast new frontier and when things are out of balance, there is a ripple effect that can drive inflammation not just in the sinuses, but also in your body.So yes, a dysbiotic or imbalanced nasal microbiome can be a trigger for chronic nose rash, sinus yeast infection symptoms, and even chronic skin rashes like eczema and psoriasis!Now, I want to reiterate that it is normal to...

If you’re serious about figuring out what type of diet is best for you – your answer is nutrient dense foods. Let me explain…Food fear is rampant right now, with social media demonizing different common foods/ingredients as well as promoting “healthy” diets that lack necessary nutrient dense foods.Nutrients are the raw materials that the human body needs to survive and thrive. If you are not consuming nutrient dense foods, you may have nutrient insufficiencies, which puts a strain on various ...

Unless you’re a skincare aficionado, you may not be familiar with moringa oil. It’s a traditional skincare ingredient that’s been used for centuries and is currently soaring in popularity. There’s good reason for that — the moringa oil benefits for skin are impressive. It's chock full of monounsaturated fatty acids which are fantastic skin barrier support, and it’s widely regarded as a gentle, soothing oil ideal for sensitive skin.But the moringa oil benefits for skin go beyond its fantastic ...

If you’ve ever wondered the best way to test for food allergy sensitivity, this episode is for you!What do I mean by food allergy sensitivity?Many people think that you’re either allergic (and thus highly reactive) to specific foods or you’re not. And that’s not actually true as there’s a scale of reactivity or sensitivity that you could be on for IgE food allergies.Making this even more complex is that your level of reactivity can change with time (this is especially true for children) which...

Finding a hidradenitis suppurativa treatment that works can be frustrating and difficult, especially with certain symptoms like intense pain.Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) pain can severely impact your day to day quality of life — I speak from experience here!When I first discovered a swollen, painful lump in my armpit, I panicked, and immediately worried about getting checked for breast cancer. Fortunately, the lump wasn’t cancer – it was hidradenitis suppurativa.For me, laser hair...

If you’ve found it frustrating that no one can tell you why you have chronic urticaria hives (including chronic spontaneous urticaria, dermatographia, and even angioedema), I feel you.Especially when IgE allergies are ruled out (testing is negative) or even avoiding what you’re allergic to isn’t helpful. At that point, most doctors will say that there is no answer or clear trigger to what causes urticaria, basically leaving you with an increasing number of medications that may or may not help...

If you have psoriasis, you have a 30% chance of developing psoriatic arthritis symptoms! This type of psoriasis is notoriously difficult to diagnose because, unlike rheumatoid arthritis, there are no blood tests to easily confirm it. Psoriatic arthritis can be triggered at any age, but its onset is most commonly between 35 and 55 years old. One of the early signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is joint pain that gets worse over time until the joints become swollen and inflamed. It might...

When you’re dealing with rashed skin, you can’t just slather on any moisturizer, cream, or the latest miracle potion promoted by beauty influencers. You’ve got to make sure the ingredients in your skincare formulas are clean, free of questionable ingredients, promote a healthy skin barrier, and soothe instead of potentially irritate your skin. And that’s why today I want to talk about one of my favorite skincare ingredients: black cumin seed oil. Black cumin seed oil’s skin benefits run deep...

Did you know that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common type of liver disease? (And it absolutely is tied to skin issues too!) Fatty liver disease, also now referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, is the result of inflammation. It is associated with other common health issues like high lipids, high blood sugar, metabolic syndrome, and autoimmune disease. The good news is, in the early stages, when you’re just starting to show fatty liver signs...