The Healthy Skin Show Jennifer Fugo, CNS, MS, Skin Rash Expert

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 to control your skin.

To say that this leaves many like you feeling enormously helpless and hopeless is an understatement.

In my clinical practice, I’ve worked with many cases of chronic urticaria hives around the globe, helping to troubleshoot when doctors have all but given up in seeking an answer. Some cases have dated back decades, often having been seen at some of the most prestigious health institutions only to be told that there’s nothing to be done beyond antihistamines (which have their own problematic side effects) and biologics like Xolair.

I love helping people stop having hives and urticaria, especially since I get to explore the complex causes of chronic urticaria, which conventional medicine often ignores or assumes is impossible. So when new research starts pointing out connections to what I have seen in practice, I must share it!

If you missed my previous article on hidden causes of chronic urticaria, check it out here! This will help you see that what this new paper demonstrates is highlighting a big missing link to chronic spontaneous urticaria, hives, and other histamine-driven issues.

Before we dig into gut-chronic urticaria hives connection, I highly recommend that you download my Skin Rash Root Cause Finder. This is the exact method I’ve used with thousands of my private clients to help them discover what’s really causing their rash (and yes, this works for hives, dermatographia and angioedema issues) >> Get the easy-to-use Skin Rash Root Cause Finder.

In This Episode:
Chronic urticaria (hives) gut causesProblems with urticaria treatment options (even Xolair)Gut imbalances noted in chronic spontaneous urticaria (hives)What are lipopolysaccharides + short-chain fatty acids (and why are they important)?Key findings from new research on gut-skin connection (specifically for hives)
Quotes

“The incidence of true histamine intolerance is much lower than you’re led to believe and is based on old assumptions that need a serious update.”

“Nearly 50% of those living with urticaria experience depression and anxiety (especially when the flare-ups are severe).”

Links

Gut microbiota facilitate chronic spontaneous urticaria

Healthy Skin Show ep. 261: Chronic Hives: Why Aren’t They Going Away

Healthy Skin Show ep. 265: Problem with Antihistamines That No One Tells You w/ Dr. Chris Thompson, MD

Healthy Skin Show ep. 317: Itchy, Painful Rash From Thyroid Disease: Your Guide to Stopping It

Healthy Skin Show ep. 188: Histamine Intolerance + Skin Rashes (PART 1)

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 surprise you, but diet and medication can both trigger psoriatic arthritis, as well as GI tract microbiome imbalances (yes, this includes the mouth microbiome!)
Joining me to talk all about signs of psoriatic arthritis is Dr. Jenny Bennett, a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, and founder of Aria Integrative Medicine, an autoimmune specialty clinic in Seattle, WA. She utilizes treatments from both Eastern and Western medical practices to find the best approach for treating autoimmune diseases.
Dr. Bennett treats a wide variety of conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.
In This Episode:
Psoriatic arthritis: What is it + what are early signs/symptoms?Joints commonly impacted by psoriatic arthritisPsoriasis + psoriatic arthritis triggers (Don’t ignore these!)Stages of psoriatic arthritis + getting diagnosed (before too much damage is done)Liver-Psoriatic arthritis connectionGut triggers of psoriatic arthritis symptomsTreatment of psoriatic arthritisIf you take methotrexate, get THIS testedExercise + other lifestyle interventions for psoriatic arthritisPros + cons of using a biologic medication for psoriatic arthritisQuotes
“There are a number of other medications that can sometimes impact liver function and can ultimately lead to… psoriatic arthritis. And there aren't very many anti-inflammatories that are very effective for psoriatic arthritis and, in fact, some of those anti-inflammatories can trigger psoriatic arthritis.”
“If you have psoriasis and you start having joint issues, then the bridge to getting a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis is straightforward. But there are up to 30 to 40% of people with psoriatic arthritis that have never had psoriasis in their life..”
Links
Find Dr. Bennett online | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Healthy Skin Show ep. 217: Health Concerns Linked to Psoriasis (You SHOULD Know About)
Healthy Skin Show ep. 304: Gut Microbiome Impact On Psoriasis w/ Dr. Fabrizio Galimberti
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774610/
https://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2019/10/08/jrheum.181312
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(21)00343-1/fulltext

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 and there’s a reason it’s been used for ages as a skin soother.
So, let’s discuss what’s so incredible about thymoquinone, the active ingredient in black seed oil, the science behind it, and how to harness its powerful benefits for your skin.
Before we dig into the benefits of using black seed oil for your skin and its powerful properties for rashes, if you’re trying to figure out what’s causing your rash so you can finally stop the flares and find relief…download my Skin Rash Root Cause Finder here. This is the exact method I’ve used with thousands of my private clients to help them discover what’s really causing their rash and how to keep it from flaring back up. >> Get the easy-to-use Skin Rash Root Cause Finder.
In This Episode:
The difference between Nigella sativa L. Seed Oil, Black Seed Oil, and Black Cumin Seed OilThe interesting historical background of black cumin seed oilWhat’s so amazing about thymoquinone — the active ingredient in black seed oilThe science-backed black cumin seed oil skin benefits for rashesPractical tips for incorporating black cumin seed oil into your skincare routineWhy you shouldn’t apply undiluted black cumin seed oil directly to skinHow we incorporated black cumin seed oil into DermaQuell creamsQuotes
“One of the things I love so much about black cumin seed oil is that it’s a soothing balm for  rashed skin, and it possesses a unique blend of properties that helps to alleviate symptoms while addressing underlying causes.”
“Black seed oil is such a powerful ally for rashes because it could help get the growth of bacteria and fungi on the skin under control. So while it’s working to support healthy levels of inflammation and your skin barrier — it also keeps the microbes that exacerbate rashes at bay, too.”
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 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 (like elevated liver enzymes), fatty liver is reversible!
To share more valuable information about this liver disease, like fatty liver symptoms, how to get diagnosed, NAFLD treatment, and fatty liver diet, I’m joined by Dr. Ilana Gurevich.
Dr. Gurevich is a board-certified naturopathic gastroenterologist and a fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Gastroenterology. She graduated from the in 2007 with her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from NUNM.
She runs a gastroenterology-focused private practice in Portland, Oregon specializing in treating IBD, IBS, SIBO and other functional GI disorders. She is an educator who lectures about both conventional and natural treatments for gastrointestinal conditions, and is a mentor for physicians, helping them navigate complex GI disorders.
Dr. Gurevich was nominated as a Top Doc by Portland Monthly in 2014, 2016, 2020, and 2021.  She was the recipient of the 2022 Borborygmus Lifetime Achievement Award by the GastroANP.
In This Episode: What is liver disease? Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): The most common liver disease How inflammation causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (aka metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease) How does high blood sugar affect liver cells? Nervous system-liver connection What causes fatty liver disease symptoms? Microbiome-liver health connection How is fatty liver disease diagnosed? Who is at risk for fatty liver disease? Fatty liver treatment options Is drinking coffee or coffee enemas helpful for liver health? Quotes “The liver…is the largest organ of detoxification, second to the skin. And because of that, everything is running through it, including all of the pesticides, toxins, immunological factors and everything else that we're exposed to on a daily basis. And in today's day and age, it's very, very easy to make that load on the liver too heavy. When that load on the liver is too heavy, you can get progressive liver disease.”
“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease that's out there. And it is associated with a lot of other diseases…It is associated with high lipids. It is associated with high blood sugars and metabolic syndrome…There are factors of liver disease that tie into almost every autoimmune disease, and the sicker you are, the more weight that liver is carrying, so the more likely you are to have an inflammatory process of the liver.”
Links Find Dr. Gurevich online
Research: https://elifesciences.org/articles/44116
Turd Nerds Podcast
Healthy Skin Show ep. 282: Metabolic Dysfunction Disaster Fueling Skin Problems w/ Dr. Robert Lustig
 
Healthy Skin Show ep. 04

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to unravel the frustrating symptoms of scalp psoriasis with a more natural or integrative approach, you’re in for a treat.
I’m sharing a case study from one of my real-life psoriasis clients who has lived with both scalp psoriasis and guttate psoriasis on her body for nearly 30 years.
When my client first found me, she was pretty sick – struggling with more than just her skin.
And I find that many psoriasis warriors don’t know about the deep connections of psoriasis to other body systems (aka. comorbidities).
By just trying diets, cleanses or detoxes, it can feel like you’re doomed to suffer with psoriasis, but research shows us that there’s so much more going on under the surface.
And as a result, it means that there is actually a lot that you can do – even if diet changes aren’t working.
I shared another case study on an eczema client a few weeks ago and it’s my hope that this will be just as helpful!
So let’s dive in…
In This Episode: Complex scalp psoriasis case with TONS of inflammation (my own client) What her psoriasis (scalp and guttate) history looked like before we started working together Assessments I used to uncover hidden root causes of her psoriasis Key clinical findings of her guttate and scalp psoriasis (and other symptoms) Other body systems that CAN’T be ignored in psoriasis Where my client is on her psoriasis-healing journey Quotes “The sheer severity and number of times my client had food poisoning while traveling was probably one of the most important details.”
“Current estimates point toward 20% of those with psoriasis also have SIBO.”
Links Apply to work with my virtual clinic HERE
Healthy Skin Show ep. 148: How I Turned My Psoriasis Around
Healthy Skin Show ep. 217: Health Concerns Linked to Psoriasis

Struggling with SIBO symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, gas, and diarrhea, can be very frustrating.
SIBO (short for small intestine bacterial overgrowth) is basically what it sounds like: Bacteria overgrow in the small intestine leading to many symptoms that impact the gut and other body systems.
The presence of SIBO can trigger IBS, SIBO malabsorption (where you don’t absorb the nutrients from food and end up with nutrient deficiencies), and even anxiety due to inflammation.
And SIBO symptoms can also include skin problems! For example, there’s an established SIBO-rosacea connection: Research has shown that SIBO is present in about 77% of people with rosacea!
Additionally, SIBO is found in about 20% of psoriasis cases.
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Allison Siebecker to answer all of your burning SIBO questions. We’ll discuss common (and uncommon!) SIBO symptoms, SIBO test options, as well as how to treat SIBO (the conventional vs alternative options).
Dr. Allison Siebecker, ND, LAc, MSOM has been specializing in small intestine bacterial overgrowth (aka SIBO) since 2011. She is the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the GastroANP, has been teaching Advanced Gastroenterology at NUNM since 2013, and is an award-winning author.
Dr. Siebecker was the co-founder and former Medical Director of the SIBO Center for Digestive Health at NUNM. Her integrative SIBO protocols have helped thousands worldwide.
In This Episode: What is small intestine bacterial overgrowth (aka SIBO)? SIBO symptoms + surprising triggers SIBO-rosacea connection + (other skin rash connections) SIBO breath test vs other testing options How to treat SIBO (conventional vs alternative SIBO treatment options) Myth busting: Can you stop SIBO with a SIBO diet (low FODMAP)? Nervous system dysregulation + SIBO Quotes “Our small intestine is where we digest and then absorb our nutrients from our food. And when there's too many bacteria overgrown there or methanogens, they interfere with that process. It can cause malnutrition and then all sorts of other problems. Skin problems can be one of them.”
“What are those symptoms [of SIBO]? Abdominal bloating, that could come with discomfort, general pain or discomfort in the abdomen, constipation or diarrhea or a mixture of the two. So those are our core symptoms. There can also be nausea, a feeling that food is sitting in the stomach and won't move down. There could be gas exiting, so burping or excessive flatulence.”
Links Find Dr. Siebecker online
Healthy Skin Show ep. 018: SIBO-Skin Rash Connection w/ Amy Hollenkamp
Healthy Skin Show ep. 019: SIBO-Rosacea Connection w/ Dr. Leonard Weinstock
SIBO Recovery Roadmap® Course
For practitioners: The SIBO Pro Mini Course (SAVE $220)
For practitioners: Check Your Blindspots and Become A Better SIBO Practitioner book
Nerva App (for IBS symptoms)