I have meant to start a blog with information that might be helpful to many of my patients. The recent epidemic, if nothing else, has provided the impetus to start the blog. The most obvious reason was the extra free time available to me because of the decreased patient visits to my office in the crisis's early months. 

The other reason is my background. My Ph.D. is in microbiology and immunology. The epidemic has resulted in an enormous outpouring of publications related to infectious disease and immunology. 

Infectious diseases involving the skin include common disorders such as herpes simplex, shingles, chickenpox, warts, molluscum, impetigo, “ringworm,” and numerous others. Cutaneous autoimmune diseases include psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, and blistering disorders such as pemphigoid and pemphigus and dermatitis herpetiformis, to name just a few. 

While the impetus for starting the blog was the new information that became available in 2020, this blog's focus is mostly on dermatological conditions. Most posts are designed primarily to deal with skin disease. Still, some can be applied to almost anyone trying to improve their health (eg., the dietary rules section). 

During the last ten years, I have had extensive training in integrative medicine and earned a master's degree in metabolic and nutritional medicine. Most dermatological conditions are related to other systemic disorders or lifestyle factors. For instance, acne has strong correlations with diet. Hair loss can be associated with stress, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances. Inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis are related to gastrointestinal health and the intestinal microbiome. The blistering disorder dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with celiac disease. Treating the whole person, as well as targeting the specific cutaneous disease, provides the best chance of optimal results. 

There is considerable interest in the use of nutraceuticals and botanicals to improve one's health. My holistic medicine training has been helpful in effectively integrating these products with conventional dermatological therapy. 

I hope that you find some of the posts helpful and enlightening. Barry Kuttner, M.D., PhD., M.MSc., P.I.