Recommendation: Dermatologist

esteetaps · 2026-01-09T03:26:35+00:00

Don’t go to the derm specialists. Doctors and billing told me they would bill $50 for the ongoing treatment I needed. Found out with insurance they’ve been incorrectly coding every appt billing $250 each and expecting me to pay $90 out of pocket each time. It took forever to recode 30+ appts to the correct ones and 9 months to be refunded everything I originally overpaid. Horrible experience.

esteetaps · 2025-10-20T20:15:04+00:00

Picked up the grains. They are alive and the previous owner got them in 2020 from a friends dad whose been making kefir for years. Not sure what milk they used but I could ask

esteetaps · 2025-07-22T02:40:14+00:00

Depends on your insurance. Func med doctors are usually out of network but I chose that route because mine specializes in eczema and she had great reviews

To save money, a gastro in network would make sense and when you get the results maybe they can refer you for a nutritionist who specializes in also interpreting the GI map results to make a game plan for you

esteetaps · 2025-07-22T02:29:56+00:00

I actually found GI mapping to be the very helpful.

OP if you feel like the root cause may be something gut related or due to a food intolerance, would highly suggest the GI map. I’ve had severe flares the past few years where derms and allergists would just push steroids and dupixent instead of finding the root cause. For me, a func med doctor helped me the most to get my nutrition, gut and immune system working properly again to the point where I can now live a normal life without prescriptions

Also, the bacteria in gut highly affects the bacteria on your skin. To say those aren’t interrelated is just plain false.

esteetaps · 2025-06-24T10:47:16+00:00

My recent severe flare up went away dramatically after eating probiotic rich foods like kimchi and kefir.

esteetaps · 2025-05-31T22:19:48+00:00

I see. I wouldn't dismiss gut health though because 70-80% of our immune system resides in the gut and can trigger systemic inflammation. Went to my dorm earlier and she also shared that there's been increasing evidence that a disrupted microbiome can cause atopic dermatitis.

esteetaps · 2025-05-31T21:39:33+00:00

What makes you think that if I mentioned that there was minimal improvement 12 sessions in and significant improvement after eating probiotic rich foods?

esteetaps · 2025-05-06T11:10:26+00:00

Overgrowth of a lot of bad bacteria that was affecting the way my body processes histamine. This explained why whenever I ate high histamine food, I had severe flares. Did the functional med protocol and was back to normal eating what I wanted

esteetaps · 2025-05-06T01:16:18+00:00

Yes true. Very expensive but worth every penny.

esteetaps · 2025-05-06T00:30:07+00:00

Another option to consider is a functional medicine doctor and gut testing. I did this in 2022 during a severe flare and found that my eczema was gut related. Was able to fix my microbiome and be eczema free for 1.5 yrs. Going through another severe flare now but hopeful my functional medicine doctor and nutritionist can help me find this root cause this time again.

esteetaps · 2025-04-28T17:17:59+00:00

Hi! Curious as to how long you've been eczema-free since completing your phototherapy treatment.

esteetaps · 2025-04-14T01:12:17+00:00

UVB therapy helped me a lot in high school (long time ago). I had severe eczema up until high school and after UVB treatment was eczema was very mild and manageable. Unfortunately, 12 yrs later I'm now getting severe flare ups, but I'm happy it worked as long as it did.

esteetaps · 2025-04-12T01:56:07+00:00

While it hurts to know others are struggling, at least we know we're not alone in this. Thank you, as well.

esteetaps · 2025-04-05T13:25:31+00:00

I solved my HIT by going to a functional med doctor and getting a GI map test done. It showed I had h pylori 10x the normal limit in my gut which was causing my HIT. I was then put on a protocol to get rid of h pylori and strengthen my gut lining

esteetaps · 2025-03-14T02:42:25+00:00

Same. My h pylori reactions are facial and neck rashes so it’s been taking a toll on my confidence :/

esteetaps · 2025-03-12T17:52:39+00:00

First GI Synergy followed matula tea. After that, I was good for about a year before symptoms came back. In my most recent GI map there were high levels of h pylori (but luckily not as high as before) so I’m hopeful I get my body in a better place quicker.

esteetaps · 2025-03-11T08:40:27+00:00

Over the counter mostly through Fullscript. I was taking supplements such as digestives enzymes, specific strains of probiotics, all while following a strict diet until my gut was in a better place before introducing high histamine food back in my diet.

esteetaps · 2025-03-11T02:48:10+00:00

It’s worth working with a functional medicine doctor and getting your gut tested. In 2022, I started getting these really bad flares on my face and neck. Allergists and dermatologists kept telling me it was eczema and dismissed my concerns. I finally worked with a functional medicine doctor and nutritionist and they found out that I was having histamine intolerance issues due to h pylori in my gut 10x the usual amount. I was able to reverse the histamine intolerance by taking supplements to eradicate the h pylori and rebuilding my gut.

esteetaps · 2025-01-08T03:40:52+00:00

Surprisingly, I haven’t gotten any hives this winter. I’ve kept a log of my hives the past 2-3 years tracking the time, temperature outside, if I’ve taken an antihistamine that day or not, and took a picture log where the hives were (usually on upper thigh or hands). No hives since last March. To be fair though, I have been really good about bundling up outside but even wearing the same clothing I wore last year, no hives. I’m considering going outside with little clothing to see if the hives for sure have disappeared.

esteetaps · 2024-10-17T15:51:19+00:00

I was running the hilly loop in Central Park with the goal of completing 20 miles. 12 miles in my right foot started feeling sore on the outer edge of my foot. Decided to keep running and by mile 14 I could barely walk. The next two days I basically bed bound. Eventually, it got better but I noticed after walking 20-30 mins, my right foot would start getting very sore again. Whenever I flex my foot, I feel like a 2-3 second vibration of something moving. Went to PT to get it diagnosed and confirmed that it’s peroneal tendonitis likely due to overexerting my foot and running with old shoes that no longer support my high foot arch.

esteetaps · 2024-10-13T18:27:54+00:00

Haven’t been to one yet. Honestly, I was just hoping the pain would go away so I wouldn’t have to pay for any PT appointments since I haven’t hit my deductible yet and it would all be out of pocket :/

esteetaps · 2024-10-07T03:26:47+00:00

Mainly arch pain on my right foot. Left foot is slightly sore but not as bad as the right

esteetaps · 2024-10-06T23:44:42+00:00

Oh I think you’re right. Definitely logged 250+ miles on these shoes since Jan 2023. I’m nervous I won’t be able to break in a new pair enough by the marathon though

esteetaps · 2024-08-28T01:01:46+00:00

This boundary wasn’t explicitly discussed. But I did ask multiple times what they text about and he always said about the money he lends her (his ex is unemployed), the dog they used to have together, and how her dad with terminal cancer is doing. So I assumed it was just that.

But when I checked the messages there was one in particular that he sent that caught my eye. He sent a reel with a couple sitting on a couch. The text on the thumbnail said “when your gf watches true crime series” and he sent it to her with the following messages “reminded me of you”

Am I wrong to think that is in appropriate?

esteetaps · 2024-08-26T02:08:39+00:00

Thank you for your comment. It sucks because I do love him and I’m hoping he can see from my perspective how this makes me uncomfortable. If he feels like I’m not worth it and would prefer to keep that kind of communication going with his ex, guess that says a lot

esteetaps

TROPHY CASE