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 microbiome imbalances, thyroid disease, sex hormone issues, poor sleep, and blood sugar imbalances.

Though diet can play a role, acne diet approaches aren’t a quick fix, nor are they always successful. While many recommend eliminating dairy consumption, there’s a growing number of nutrition professionals pushing back against this.

So if you think that figuring out what’s going on with your acne is confusing, you’re not alone! I hope to help give you clarity on this with today’s guest who answers common questions relating to adult hormonal acne.

Lienna May, MS CNS LDN is a Clinical Nutrition Specialist and licensed clinical dietician/nutritionist who specializes in gut health, acne, and blood sugar imbalances. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and was certified by Yale University in “The Science of Well-Being.”

By viewing health symptoms as parts of a puzzle, Lienna loves connecting the dots for her clients to help them achieve optimal health through sustainable changes.

In This Episode:

• Why can blood sugar imbalances trigger acne?
• How do sex hormones drive adult hormonal acne?
• Does high LDL (aka “bad” cholesterol) affect acne?
• How poor sleep can be a hidden acne trigger
• Adult acne diet (Is dairy bad for acne)?
• Why a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) could be helpful for acne
• Who should NOT use a CGM?
• Simple tweaks to help achieve an optimal blood sugar level

Links

Find Lienna online | Instagram

Healthy Skin Show ep. 330: Everything You Need To Know About Dairy Allergy (In Food + Skincare Products) w/ Dr. Stacy Silvers

Healthy Skin Show ep. 296: Dairy vs Non-Dairy Milk: Which Is Better For You, Your Skin + The Planet? (PART 3)

Healthy Skin Show ep. 220: The Gut Microbiome Of Acne [NEW RESEARCH] w/ Dr. Julie Greenberg

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 using it, and what to look for in a topical zinc formula — because not all zinc is created the same.

Before we dive in: Are you tired of chasing skin rash remedies that seem to work for everyone else but you? Do you find something that seems to help…only to have your fleeting victory erased by a massive flare? This happens because everyone’s root cause of their rash is different — and most people have several root causes going on at once. So when you get one fire under control, another pops up. It’s exhausting.

Here’s the exact process I take my private clients through to help them heal: my FREE Skin Rash Root Cause Finder. A quick and easy-to-use workbook that will help you narrow down the underlying causes of your rash so you can get to work stopping it! Download it here and let’s figure this out, together!

In This Episode:

• What are the topical zinc benefits for skin rashes?
• If you have a skin rash, does that mean you have a zinc deficiency?
• Is zinc good for eczema?
• Should you use nano or non-nano zinc oxide?
• Drawbacks of topical zinc and why you might not want to use it
• Real zinc and eczema results

Quotes

“There was also a statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in the wounds of study participants, suggesting zinc could have anti-microbial properties.”

“Generally, we often see a relationship between lower levels of zinc in the body and eczema (and other skin complications like hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, and melasma)”

Links

Healthy Skin Show ep. 169: Why Is Zinc So Important For Your Skin?

Healthy Skin Show ep. 172: Why Use Zinc Cream For Skin Rashes

DermaQuell Z+ Rebuilder – https://www.quellshop.com/products/z-rebuilder

ALSO – we offer all three full 2oz jars in the Ultimate Quell kit – https://www.quellshop.com/products/ultimate-quell-kit

Use coupon code QUELL10 to get $10 off your first order

OR try the Quell skincare sample pack that includes Z+ Rebuilder along with Daily Butter and Nourish Butter creams for only $12.95 (free shipping) - https://www.quellshop.com/products/dermaquell-skincare-sample-kit (especially great for those who are nervous to purchase a full product without trying it first. Each sample is a sealed 0.26oz sachet packet and includes a $12.95 store credit to use on anything in the shop).

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 hormonal journey, most women feel clueless about perimenopause and what changes to expect, especially around hormone replacement therapy.

I’m hoping that today’s episode will give you clarity about what’s going on during perimenopause, so you don’t feel so out of sorts AND share with you new options to help you get perimenopause symptom release.

Joining me to talk about all things perimenopause (plus discussing whether hormone replacement therapy is safe) is Dr. Carrie Jones.

Carrie Jones, ND, FABNE, MPH is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, and educator on the topic of women's health and hormones with over 20 years in the industry.

Dubbed the “Queen of Hormones,” Dr. Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who did her 2-year residency focused on women's health and endocrinology. She went on to get her Master of Public Health and was one of the first to become board certified through the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology. She was the first Medical Director for Precision Analytical (the DUTCH Test) and the first Head of Medical Education at Rupa Health.

She co-hosts the highly popular show, the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, which has over 7 million downloads. She is the Clinical Expert for the Lifestyle Matrix Resource Center, was on Under Armour’s Human Performance Council, works with the new League One Volleyball (LOVB) organization, and is an advisor to Metapause. Currently, she is the Chief Medical Officer at NuEthix Formulations and Head of Medical Education at Metabolic Mentor University.

In This Episode:

• Surprising symptoms of perimenopause
• When do perimenopause symptoms stop?
• How perimenopause majorly impacts your brain
• Weird symptoms of perimenopause (no one talks about)
• Which hormones are affected by the symptoms of perimenopause?
• Liver detox and perimenopause symptoms
• Big reason for perimenopause sleep problems
• Is female hormone replacement therapy safe for perimenopause treatment?
• Perimenopause test options
• Simple lifestyle changes to make the perimenopause transition easier

Quotes

“By understanding that this whole brain shift is part of our transition, it helps us really understand it's not just about losing our period or irregular periods or the ovaries or reproduction. In fact, it's way more global than that. It affects all of our systems, but the brain is the big one that gets affected first.”

“If you are in your 40s and you're starting to notice some of these symptoms, cycle changes, it's shorter, it's longer, you're noticing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep issues, the brain stuff, all the things that maybe are consistent or come and go. Congratulations, you're perimenopausal. It's the transition time.”

Links

Find Dr. Jones online | Instagram | Tiktok

FREE Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet

Healthy Skin Show ep. 323: SNEAKY Perimenopause Symptoms + Signs (No One Talks About) w/ Dena Norton, RD

Healthy Skin Show ep. 072: Sex Hormone-Skin Rash Co

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 red skin syndrome online), is a condition triggered by the use of glucocorticoid steroids often used topically (and typically prescribed for chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis).

Because topical steroids are the standard of care for these conditions, many people unfortunately end up using them for extended periods of time (sometimes without any breaks and with increasing potency). And some go on to develop TSW, which is a horribly debilitating condition with symptoms that can drag on for years after stopping all steroid exposure.

The research we’re discussing in this episode has yet to undergo peer-review, but is in the process. Either way, the ideas are fascinating, albeit complex (especially for those with little to no experience with nutritional biochemistry). So we’re hoping that this conversation helps you understand the ideas while also adding context to what’s next for TSW research.

My guest today is Dr. Ian Myles! He did his undergrad at Colorado State University, received his M.D. from the University of Colorado, then trained in internal medicine at The Ohio State University prior to beginning fellowship training in allergy and clinical immunology at NIH. He became a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and has supported several US and international missions.

Dr. Myles received his MPH from George Washington University before becoming the head of the Epithelial Therapeutics Unit to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a topical, live bacterial treatment for eczema.

In This Episode:

• How Dr. Myles’s interest in topical steroid withdrawal and TSW skin began
• Study about topical steroid withdrawal symptoms
• Niacin and TSW connection
• Topical steroids impact on your cells’ powerplants (aka. mitochondria)
• Which type of steroids may be to blame
• Treatment ideas for topical steroid withdrawal symptoms
• What may be driving TSW symptoms in your brain
• Thoughts on oral and topical berberine for TSW skin

Quotes

“So we're saying… what distinguishes patients with TSW and patients with atopic derm? And you can say, what's too much, and then what's too little? And so the thing that's too much, like we said, was niacin, the nicotinic acid. And then what was too little was tryptophan.”

“Kynurenine shuts off your ability to sweat, and we hear a lot from the patients that during the height of it they would be beet red, they'd be flushed, they'd do all this, but they're not sweating. They'd be feeling super hot, but they wouldn't sweat.”

Links

Find Dr. Ian Myles online here and on Twitter

PAPER WE DISCUSSED: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.17.24305846v1.full

Dr. Myles’s TSW deep dive on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSFiKlrIDUI

Healthy Skin Show episodes on Topical Steroid Withdrawal

Healthy Skin S

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 cultures. Its active component, thymoquinone, has antimocrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal and antiparasitic properties! It is also loaded with essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins that promote better skin health.

Black cumin seed oil is also typically well-tolerated, even amongst those with sensitive skin!

Which is one of the main reasons we put it into all our DermaQuell skin creams.

Since I got so many questions after I posted the first episode on this topic, I decided to bring in my friend and natural skincare expert Rachael Pontillo to discuss the star component of black seed oil (thymoquinone), how to use this oil safely, what to look for when choosing products, possible antimicrobial effects of black cumin seed oil, and much more!

In This Episode:

• Black seed oil benefits (and its active constituent thymoquinone)
• Who should NOT use black cumin oil?
• Medication interactions with black cumin seed oil
• DON’T apply black seed oil in these areas
• Black cumin seed oil + hair loss
• How long before you see results with black seed oil?
• Benefits of black cumin seed oil for your skin if you have vitiligo
• How to choose the best black cumin seed oil for skin
• Diluting black seed oil (so it doesn’t massively irritate your skin)
• Why we added black seed oil to DermaQuell skin creams

Quotes

“In general, there is very low toxicity risk with this ingredient [black cumin seed oil], both when taken internally as directed and when applied topically. And it's just beneficial for a lot of different conditions, and it's a very low risk of allergy in general.”

“It's pretty cool that thymoquinone has an antihistamine effect, which can help with the swelling and help calm reaction-prone skin too…If you were to look up studies, it has always been considered a good candidate for something to help with these common topical skin issues such as minor irritations, rashes, dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, even certain things that have a bacterial or a fungal component because the black cumin seed oil does have antimicrobial properties.”

Links

DermaQuell Daily Butter – https://www.quellshop.com/products/daily-butter

DermaQuell Nourish Butter – https://www.quellshop.com/products/nourish-butter

DermaQuell Z+ Rebuilder – https://www.quellshop.com/products/z-rebuilder

Save 15% on the Ultimate Quell kit which includes all 3 skin creams (2oz jars)

OR get the Quell skincare sample pack which includes all three creams for just $12.95 PLUS free shipping and a $12.95 store credit (especially if you are nervous about purchasing a full product without trying it first)!

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 have bacteria and certain fungi as part of your sinus microbiome. Just like how you need diverse bacteria for a robust gut microbiome and oral microbiome! It is when certain bacteria overgrow in the sinuses that you might start noticing problems, like chronic sinus infection, a sore throat that seems to have no cause, and even nasal thrush.

Similar to how a dysbiotic gut microbiome can cause digestive problems, and an unbalanced oral microbiome can cause eczema around the mouth.

And that’s what this episode is all about. Dr. Anastasia Stocker and I are diving deep into the sinus microbiome and the cascade of issues (some of these are REALLY surprising!) that can occur if the bacterial community up there becomes unbalanced.

Dr. Stocker is a Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncturist with clinical expertise in autoimmune diseases and digestive wellness. Her interest in autoimmune disease was born of her clinical observations that gastrointestinal dysfunction and environmental toxicity are a major contributor. Additionally, Dr. Stocker is the current Vice President of the Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and practices at Aria Integrative Medicine in Seattle, WA.

In This Episode:

• Hidden triggers of what causes sinusitis
• Meet your sinus microbiome!
• Candida overgrowth in the nose (aka. Nasal thrush)
• Causes of imbalanced nasal microbiome
• Could your sinus microbiome be to blame for nose rash or eczema around mouth?
• Causes of facial pain and pressure (Is it a sinus infection or something else?)
• How to test your sinus microbiome
• Thoughts on whether probiotics, herbs, or essential oils are safe to use inside your nose
• Suggestions to support your nasal microbiome

Quotes

“Just like in your gut or in your mouth, you have a microbiome in your sinuses and in your nose.”

“We're kind of coming to understand that changes in the microbiome can trigger autoimmunity in the nose. And then what are the implications of that systemically? So with things like psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis, things like eczema, we see these all have connections with altered microbiome in the sinuses.”

Links

Find Dr. Stocker online | Instagram | Instagram

AirDoctor HEPA Air Purifier

Healthy Skin Show ep. 309: Ear Inflammation + Ear Infection (How To Get Ear Pain Relief) w/ Dr. Haley Overstreet

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/falgy.2021.737086/full

https://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(18)30375-2/fulltext

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 systems in the body.

So when you believe in this idea that some foods are “good” and others are “bad”, it can create a restrictive way of eating, which can then lead to insufficiencies or deficiencies later on. All this can become incredibly confusing, especially when you’re being inundated daily with influencer messages telling you to follow this diet or that.

You may get to a point where you are afraid to eat!

That’s why today’s conversation is SO important. I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne to discuss how to approach optimal nutrition without dangerous elimination diets or dogma around eating.

Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, PhD is the founder of Nutrivore.com. She creates educational resources to help people improve their day-to-day diet and lifestyle choices, empowered and informed by the most current evidence-based scientific research.

The Nutrivore approach is positive and inclusive dietary guidance, based on science and devoid of dogma, using nutrient dense foods as a foundational principle encompassed by the simple phrase: Nourishment, not judgment.

Her new book, also called Nutrivore, is now available everywhere you can purchase books. We'll talk about some of the eye-opening points I discovered in the book, and why I found it such a valuable read to help you pick nutrient dense foods.

In This Episode:

• Why nutrient deficiencies are such a HUGE problem (and how they happen)
• Why changing your mind is a good thing (even if you feel embarrassed)
• How morality applied to diet and foods is disastrous
• Why you need protein (and what amino acids are used for in your body)
• The Nutrivore approach to optimal nutrition and nutrient dense foods
• Most nutrient-rich foods to include in your diet

Quotes

“Deficiency technically refers to such low regular dietary intake of a nutrient that you develop a disease of malnutrition. There's scurvy, rickets, pellagra, beriber, night blindness, iron deficiency anemia. So we have these really well-characterized diseases caused by a single nutrient being too low.”

“The more black-and-white we think about foods, the more it increases the risk for disordered eating, for weight regain cycles, so yo-yo dieting, the more it increases the stress response. And it's actually driving, I think, what is currently a big problem in society right now, which is that we think that a diet is about what we cut out. We think a diet is about bad foods that we have to eliminate. We're bad if we eat that bad food, we're good if we eat these good foods.”

Links

Find Dr. Ballantyne online | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok | YouTube

GET THE BOOK NOW – Nutrivore: The Radical New Science for Getting the Nutrients You Need from the Food You Eat

5 Free Guides to Nutrivore

Healthy Skin Show ep. 305: Elimination Diets, Food Fear + He

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 topical feel. It’s positively packed with powerful active ingredients like quercetin, which has a reputation for cooling inflammation and histamine reactions. Just one of the many things that makes it an ideal choice when you’re dealing with rashes.

Before we take a look at all of the amazing things moringa oil can do, I’d love to recommend my completely FREE Skin Rash Root Cause Finder. It’s a quick and easy-to-use workbook that will help you narrow down what’s at the root of your rash so you can get to work stopping it! It’s the same process I take my private clients through to help them heal from rashes for good! Download it here and let’s figure this out, together!

In This Episode:

• Moringa Oleifera drumsticks for the win
• The seriously diverse health benefits of moringa oil
• Top 3 ways this ‘miracle’ oil helps your skin
• How to use moringa oil for rashes
• What to look for in moringa oil formulas

Quotes

“Moringa oil is packed with more than 40 natural powerful compounds that potentially explain why it’s adept at fighting inflammation and oxidation. Among these, quercetin is one of the most interesting for rash fighting. Quercetin is an antioxidant that’s got an incredible reputation for inhibiting histamine. Which we know can be a possible driver of skin rashes.”

“Moringa oil’s also loaded with vitamin E, a known skin-supportive ingredient that’s considered an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and a fantastic moisturizer. “

Links

DermaQuell Daily Butter – https://www.quellshop.com/products/daily-butter

DermaQuell Nourish Butter – https://www.quellshop.com/products/nourish-butter

DermaQuell Z+ Rebuilder – https://www.quellshop.com/products/z-rebuilder

ALSO – we offer all three full 2oz jars in the Ultimate Quell kit – https://www.quellshop.com/products/ultimate-quell-kit

OR try the Quell skincare sample pack that includes all three creams for $12.95 (free shipping) – https://www.quellshop.com/products/dermaquell-skincare-sample-kit (especially great for those who are nervous to purchase a full product without trying it first. Each sample is a sealed 0.26oz sachet packet and includes a $12.95 store credit to use on anything in the shop.