My Allergist Dad

FARE criticized the show Not Suitable for Work for portraying a character repeatedly eating shellfish despite an allergy and self-injecting epinephrine, then going to the ER for “adrenaline poisoning,” prompting Drew and Dr. Z to discuss how allergies are depicted in film and TV and what’s medically accurate. Dr. Z emphasizes epinephrine as the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis and explains why...

Drew and Dr. Z discuss Alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-bite–associated allergy to non-primate mammal products that can cause delayed reactions, including hives, throat tightness, GI symptoms like diarrhea, and even anaphylaxis hours after eating. They explain that Alpha-gal was once tied mainly to the lone star tick in the South but is now being seen more widely, including Rhode Island, with other tick...

In this follow-up episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z welcome back Abby to share updates on her infant son Joey’s progress with eczema and multiple allergies. Abby describes Joey’s early severe atopic dermatitis, egg-triggered hives, positive tests to dog, pistachio, and cashew, and how a daily routine improved his skin: nightly baths, ceramide baby moisturizer, heavy Crisco layering, and...

Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Dr. Elnaz Firoz, Medical Director of Dermatology at The Miriam Hospital and founder of the Skin of Color Clinic, to discuss the major overlap between dermatology and allergy and why fragmented, multi-specialist care can delay diagnosis. They cover the importance of thorough skin exams, challenges recognizing inflammation and eczema on darker skin, and common issues in...

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z welcome gastroenterologist Dr. Alan Epstein to discuss gut health and its relationship to overall health, focusing on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and why it has become more common since the 2000s. Dr. Epstein explains how EoE is diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy (over 15 eosinophils per high-power field), how it can cause food impactions, and...

This episode of My Allergist Dad explores how mental stress can affect the body, immune system, and allergies. Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Santa Monica psychiatrist Dr. Bryson Lochte, who discusses treating root causes rather than only symptoms, including psychotherapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and tools like meditation and breathwork. Dr. Z describes patients with persistent hives, itchi...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z talk with Dr. Jonathan Friedlander, Chief Business Officer at Atanis Biotech about FAST-PASE®, a diagnostic test that uses a stable, functional engineered mast cell line to measure whether a patient’s serum actually triggers mast cell activation when exposed to specific allergens. Unlike basophil activation testing that requires fresh whole blood...

Drew and Dr. Z answer a listener question about a nine-year-old with severe seasonal oral allergy syndrome, explaining cross-reactivity between pollens (often birch) and raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts, how cooking can denature allergens, and how immunotherapy (shots or sublingual drops, sometimes seasonal or year-round) and microbiome-focused habits like reducing processed foods and sugar, manag...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z talk with James White, the CEO of KBMO Diagnostics, about where food sensitivity testing fits in for patients with chronic symptoms that don’t show up on standard IgE allergy tests. James explains KBMO’s patented approach that combines IgG exposure markers with innate immune inflammation markers to reduce false positives and narrow results from d...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Dr. Tapp, Rhode Island’s only board-certified veterinary dermatologist, to explain allergies in pets—focusing on what pets are allergic to and how it differs from humans. Dr. Tapp describes canine atopic dermatitis as a genetic, skin-barrier–driven condition that commonly shows up as paw licking, face rubbing, ear infections, and it...

Drew and his dad, Dr. Z, review the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s tips for reducing seasonal pollen exposure, agreeing they can help but challenging the “avoidance” philosophy that keeps people inside. Dr. Z argues for “treat the cause, defeat the symptom” by improving tolerance through immunotherapy and proactive anti-inflammatory treatment so patients can enjoy spring. H...

Drew and his dad, Dr. Z, discuss why some people get severe-looking mosquito bite reactions while others don’t, explaining that mosquitoes don’t have venom and big welts are often due to a heightened histamine response rather than a true allergy. They compare this to stinging insect venom allergies, emphasizing that bee/wasp anaphylaxis can be life-threatening but is highly treatable with venom im...

Drew and Dr. Z discuss the nine major foods responsible for most allergic reactions in the U.S.—milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame—and use them to explain how food allergy (IgE-mediated) differs from food sensitivity and broader inflammation tied to gut and skin microbiomes. Dr. Z describes eosinophilic esophagitis as a likely food-sensitivity condition th...

Drew and Dr. Z welcome Dr. Mark Charbonneau, a microbiologist and biotech leader at Solaria Bio, to discuss why it’s challenging to beneficially modify the gut microbiome despite major advances in understanding its role in health, immunity, and disease. They explain the microbiome as an ecosystem that influences immune balance between inflammation and tolerance, including regulatory T cells, and h...

Drew and his dad, allergist Dr. Z, explain angioedema as deep tissue swelling that can occur with hives or as part of anaphylaxis, sometimes affecting lips, eyes, tongue, or the airway. They distinguish common, usually non–life-threatening angioedema from the rare but dangerous hereditary/acquired form involving the complement pathway and C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, which can be triggered by...

In this episode, we go beyond the medical advice and get real about the day-to-day reality—from scary first reactions and EpiPen moments to the constant planning around food, school, and social life. Dr. Z is joined by his wife (who’s been through it all) and their daughter, a new mom navigating allergies for the first time. Together, they share honest stories, practical tips, and the emotional si...

Have you heard that your body completely resets every  7 years ? Does that mean your allergies can change too? This week on  My Allergist Dad , Drew and Dr. Z break down one of the most common allergy myths and explain what actually happens inside your immune system as you age. They dive into: • Whether allergies really change every 7 years • If it's possible to naturally outgrow allergies • W...

In this episode of  My Allergist Dad , Dr. Z and Drew break down the real connection between stress, the immune system, and allergic reactions. From cortisol and immune tolerance to insulin spikes, mast cells, and metabolic syndrome, we explore why stressful seasons of life often lead to more sneezing, hives, asthma, and inflammation.  You’ll learn: How stress lowers your immune “tolerance” thresh...

This week on My Allergist Dad, we’re joined by entrepreneur and banana bread founder Allie Chernick, a former patient of Dr. Z who’s lived the confusing reality of food allergies firsthand. From positive allergy tests that don’t always match real allergic reactions to oral allergy syndrome, nut allergies, cross-reactivity, and food sensitivities, this episode breaks down why diagnosing and managin...

What if everyday exposures—from food to skincare to environmental chemicals—are quietly fueling allergies and inflammation through “environmental estrogen”? In this episode of  My Allergist Dad , Dr. Z and Drew talk with integrative immunology expert Dr. Benoit Tano about the  estrogen-free lifestyle  and how reducing estrogen-like exposures may help calm allergic and inflammatory symptoms. They d...

If running makes you wheeze, should you stop exercising… or do you actually need it more? In this episode of  My Allergist Dad , Drew and Dr. Z break down the real relationship between  exercise and asthma  — including why exercise doesn’t  cause  asthma, how it can act as a trigger, and what’s really going on inside your airways when you start wheezing. They talk through exercise-induced asthma,...

Can you be  allergic to your own hormones ? In this episode of  My Allergist Dad , Drew and Dr. Z dig into why so many people—especially women—start developing hives, food sensitivities, and new immune reactions in their 30s and 40s.  They break down how hormone shifts, estrogen dominance, autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, and even “clean” products can push the immune system into overdrive....

Seasonal allergies don’t have to feel like a surprise attack every year. In this episode of  My Allergist Dad , Drew and Dr. Z break down how allergies actually work — and more importantly, how to get ahead of them before pollen, dust mites, and mold take over your life. They cover why dust mites are a year-round problem with a seasonal growth phase, how indoor humidity quietly makes symptoms wors...

Do natural and herbal remedies actually work for allergies, or is it mostly hype? In this episode of  My Allergist Dad , Drew poses that question to his dad, Dr. Z, a top allergist and immunologist, and the answers go way beyond “drink this tea.” They break down real, evidence-backed options like quercetin with bromelain, nettle tea, probiotics, and vitamin C, and explain how food itself can act l...

You grew up with pets. They slept on your bed. You were  fine.  Then you leave for college, come home for the holidays… and suddenly your own dog makes you break out in hives. What happened? In this episode, Drew and his allergist dad, Dr. Z, unpack a listener’s question about “losing immunity” to pets—and whether that tolerance can come back. They explain how living with an animal can act like “n...