Acne Case Consultation Walkthrough: Applying Principles of Integrative Care

This podcast presents a reenacted consultation based on a real-world integrative dermatology case featuring a patient with acne, led by IDCP alumna Sonal Choudhary, MD. Listeners are guided through a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to acne management as the dynamic clinician–patient interaction unfolds. The episode highlights how diet, stress, hormones, gut health, skincare routines, and conventional dermatologic considerations can be integrated to create a personalized treatment plan. Through this walkthrough, listeners gain insight into clinical reasoning, communication strategies, and practical decision-making that can be directly applied in clinical practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key biopsychosocial factors contributing to acne, including hormonal influences, diet, stress, gut-skin interactions, and topical product use.
• Describe an integrative dermatology framework for evaluating acne, including appropriate history-taking, physical assessment cues, and relevant functional and conventional workup options.
• Differentiate between conventional, botanical, nutraceutical, lifestyle, and procedural treatment modalities and understand how to layer them into a comprehensive acne management plan.
• Explain clinician-patient communication strategies that build rapport, explore patient goals and barriers, and support shared decision-making in integrative acne care.
• Apply principles from the case discussion to develop individualized, evidence-informed treatment plans for patients with acne across a range of severities.