The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology

Chronic hives (urticaria) don’t look the same on everyone, and for people with skin of color, this can lead to confusion, misdiagnosis, and frustrating delays in treatment. Dr. Ama Alexis joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to discuss the unique challenges of diagnosing and managing urticaria in skin of color. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can be especially tricky to identify in patients with darker...

Are you frustrated by the health insurance approval process for medication?  Many patients may not know what their doctors are doing behind the scenes when dealing with health insurance, and many doctors may feel overwhelmed by this process. There is a silver lining! Tools exist to help patients and providers better navigate the complexities of health insurance. Elizabeth Johnson joins Dr. G and K...

Has your medication been denied? Now what? Before patients can access medications—whether it’s inhalers or biologic therapies—they often have to jump through many hoops to get insurance approval. Navigating the world of health insurance approvals for medication can be overwhelming for both patients and providers. In this episode, we break down what to expect, what you can do, and how to advocate f...

Are you curious about how biologic medications are transforming the treatment of asthma, eczema, allergies, and more? Dr. Perdita Permaul joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to discuss the available biologic medications for allergic conditions. We walk through the eight biologics currently available for allergic diseases, explaining how these medications target different parts of the immune system to trea...

Do food allergies impact all communities in the same way?  Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo joins Dr. G and Kortney to discuss the impact of health disparities on allergy outcomes within the Hispanic and Latino communities. Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo highlights the challenges posed by immigration status, language barriers, and cultural factors that contribute to unequal access to healthcare. These dispar...

Starting biologic therapy can be life-changing, but navigating the process isn’t always easy. Dr. William Anderson joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to break down the essential steps for starting biologic therapy, covering everything you need to know before beginning treatment. Biologics are at the forefront of managing chronic allergic diseases like asthma and eczema, offering targeted, personalized ca...

Curious about what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to biologic medications? We’re uncovering the truth behind the most pervasive myths about biologic medications with guest Dr. Cedric “Jamie” Rutland. Biologics are revolutionizing the treatment of allergic diseases like asthma and eczema, but misconceptions about their effectiveness, safety, and usage still persist. Dr. Rutland sets the re...

What are biologic medications, and how can they help people with allergic diseases? We discuss biologic medications with Dr. Berger, a leading expert in biologic therapy for allergic diseases. Since the first biologic was introduced in 2003, these treatments have advanced significantly. By targeting the root causes of inflammation, biologics offer a more precise, personalized approach to treating...

There’s never been a better time to be a CSU patient, with cutting-edge therapies and revolutionary treatments just around the corner. As research accelerates, new and promising options that could significantly improve the quality of life for those living with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria are coming to market. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Zirwas joins us to discuss the latest advancements in trea...

Did you know that the month of September sees a drastic rise in asthma attacks and hospitalizations? Dr. G and Kortney delve into the challenges that asthmatics face during the fall season, also known as "peak week." Despite what the name suggests, asthma cases start to rise in the second week of September and continue into early October before returning to normal levels. We begin by defining asth...

This episode is a quick-fire round covering the misunderstood aspects of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), a condition that perplexes many due to its spontaneous nature. With over 1.7 million people affected, it's more common than you might think and deserves a closer look. Despite its prevalence, many misconceptions persist about what causes CSU, its symptoms, and how it can be treated. Kortne...

Imagine being so itchy that you’d consider cutting off your skin just for relief. That’s what it can be like living with chronic spontaneous urticaria. We sit down with Heather, a patient living with chronic spontaneous urticaria, as she candidly shares her experiences from the initial diagnosis to navigating the complex landscape of treatments and mental health support. Her story sheds light on t...

Yes, there are more options than antihistamines to treat chronic spontaneous urticaria. We dive into them!  Dr. Sheila Gogate joins us to discuss the chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) treatments currently available for patients. Dr. Shaila Gogate outlines the treatment journey for CSU with an emphasis on shared decision-making.   This episode emphasizes the importance of following treatment guid...

How is the black community impacted by food allergies? Dr. Carla Davis joins Dr. G and Kortney to discuss the impact of social determinants of health on food allergy outcomes within the Black community. Dr. Davis highlights historical factors like redlining and insurance disparities that exacerbate health disparities, resulting in higher prevalence rates of food allergies and multiple allergies am...

How do you know if your hives are chronic spontaneous urticaria?  Join Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta in the second episode of this chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) series as they delve into the diagnostic journey of CSU.  Have you wondered if the path to a chronic spontaneous urticaria diagnosis is long? CSU can feel like a very complex disease to diagnose due to the lack of identifiable triggers...

Do you get hives and have no clue why? Then this episode is for you! Join Kortney and Dr. Gupta as they unpack chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in a six-part series. You may also have heard of this condition called chronic idiopathic urticaria or spontaneous urticaria. In this first episode, Kortney and Dr. Gupta dive into the nitty gritty of chronic spontaneous urticaria. They define the medic...

As temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, the effects of climate change on respiratory health become even more noticeable. Dr. Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, an expert in respiratory health, joins Dr. G and Kortney to discuss how climate change exacerbates respiratory conditions like asthma, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.  The episode explores why we should co...

Have you ever searched for information on mast cell disease only to be overwhelmed by alarming topics like cancer and stem cell transplants? Then this episode is for you! Our guest, Dr. Marina Kremyanskaya, joins hosts Dr. G and Kortney to provide insight into the progression of systemic mastocytosis and the available treatment options to improve quality of life and extend lifespan. Dr. Kremyanska...

Why talk to a hematologist about mast cell disease and systemic mastocytosis treatment? Dr. Douglas Tremblay, a leading hematologist, joins Dr. G and Kortney to discuss the role of a hematologist-oncologist in diagnosing and treating mastocytosis. We discuss bone marrow's vital role in diagnosing and treating systemic mastocytosis.  Dr. Tremblay discusses the latest KIT inhibitors, a promising gro...

What is it like when an unpredictable disease like systemic mastocytosis forces you to change the trajectory of your life? As we continue to unpack mast cell disease, Dr. G and Kortney wanted to get the patient's perspective on living with such a complex disease. Tammie joins the podcast to discuss her journey battling mastocytosis, a rare condition affecting mast cells in the body. If you ever fe...

Can a low-histamine diet help with mast cell disease? Why is stress a big trigger for mast cell disease? Dr. Milner joins us again to discuss two hot topics in managing mast cell disease. We start by demystifying the low histamine diet and sharing when appropriate. The answer may be different from what you expect or want to hear. We also talk about stress, a topic we are learning impacts so many c...

Where do you begin with mast cell disease treatment when there is such variation among patients?  Dr. Milner is back with us to discuss the difficulties in treating mast cell activation syndrome and mastocytosis. We will discuss the different approaches to treating mast cell disease and the medications used for mastocytosis treatment. Since no single treatment plan works for everyone, we will expl...

Our episode on eyelash allergies was so interesting we had to bring you more from our favorite eye Doc, Dr. Luk. We delve into the fascinating world of eyelash health and hygiene, from the importance of cleanliness to the latest trends like eyelash serums and magnetic extensions. We discuss the importance of hygiene, eyelash serums, and magnetic eyelash extensions. What we cover in this episode on...

Put on your detective hat because we will be diving into how to diagnose mast cell disease! Dr. G and Kortney are joined by Dr. Josh Milner, one of the top experts in the field of mast cell disease, as they dive into the complexities of diagnosing mast cell disorders, focusing on cases of unexplained anaphylaxis and using this as our guide to understanding all of the tests that doctors do to figur...

Have you ever wondered why your doctor puts their membership in their bios? Why is it relevant to a patient that your allergist is a member of the ACAAI? This podcast is made possible through Allergy & Asthma Network’s partnership with the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dr. G and Kortney had the special privilege of interviewing Dr. Gailen Marshall, the president of the Am...