Why Your Skin Is Begging You to Heal Your Gut First

33 snips

May 26, 2025

Cindy Geyer, a triple board-certified physician specializing in integrative and lifestyle medicine, joins the conversation to unveil the surprising connection between gut health and skin conditions like acne and eczema. They discuss how diet, particularly refined carbs and dairy, fuels inflammation affecting skin health. Traditional treatments may worsen gut and skin microbiomes, while a functional approach restores balance and addresses root causes. The podcast also covers the dangers of skincare chemicals and the vital role of Vitamin D in immune health.

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INSIGHT

Skin Health Comes From Inside

Skin health primarily comes from internal factors, especially gut health, rather than topical treatments.
Traditional medicine focuses on outside-in approaches which often fail to provide lasting results.

ADVICE

Cut Sugar and Starches for Acne

Avoid sugar, refined carbohydrates, and starches that cause insulin spikes to reduce acne.
These foods trigger follicular hyperkeratosis, where skin cells get stuck and inflamed, causing acne.

ADVICE

Eliminate Dairy to Improve Skin

Remove dairy from your diet to improve acne as it contains natural hormones that can trigger breakouts.
Some may tolerate sheep or goat dairy better, but hormone content in milk promotes skin inflammation.

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Skin issues like acne, eczema, and rosacea are deeply connected to internal imbalances, especially those originating in the gut. It is important to explore diet—particularly sugar, refined carbs, and dairy—because it can drive inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal disruption, all of which contribute to poor skin health. Topical treatments and antibiotics may provide short-term relief, but they often disrupt the skin and gut microbiome, worsening conditions over time. A Functional Medicine approach focuses on restoring gut balance, identifying food sensitivities, and supporting detoxification pathways with nutrient-dense foods, supplements, and lifestyle practices. Addressing the root causes not only improves skin but also promotes systemic healing and resilience.

In this episode, I speak with three of our doctors at The UltraWellness Center—Dr. Elizabeth Boham, Dr. Cindy Geyer, and Dr. Todd LePine—about why, when it comes to skin care, we need to look inside the body first.

Dr. Elizabeth Boham is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Albany Medical School, and she is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner and the Medical Director of The UltraWellness Center. Dr. Boham lectures on a variety of topics, including Women’s Health and Breast Cancer Prevention, insulin resistance, heart health, weight control and allergies. She is on the faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Cindy Geyer received her bachelor of science and her doctor of medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine.

Dr. Todd LePine graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, specializing in Integrative Functional Medicine. He is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. Prior to joining The UltraWellness Center, he worked as a physician at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, for 10 years. Dr. LePine’s focus at The UltraWellness Center is to help his patients achieve optimal health and vitality by restoring the natural balance to both the mind and the body. His areas of interest include optimal aging, bio-detoxification, functional gastrointestinal health, systemic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and the neurobiology of mood and cognitive disorders. Dr. LePine enjoys skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping, and golfing in the beautiful Berkshires, and is a fitness enthusiast.

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Full-length episodes can be found here:

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