IDCP 2026 In-Person Intensives

Welcome to the IDCP 2026 Intensives!

Followed by the IDS schedule from August 20-22.

Qi Gong

Speaker: Peter Lio, MD

Discover the ancient art of Qigong, a gentle yet powerful practice that combines mindful movement, breathwork, and meditation to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit. This session will introduce foundational Qigong techniques to enhance energy flow (Qi), reduce stress, and support overall well-being. Participants will be guided through simple exercises they can incorporate into daily life to promote balance, vitality, and inner calm.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the foundational principles and philosophy behind Qigong as a mind-body practice.
• Demonstrate basic Qigong movements and breathing techniques to support energy flow and relaxation.
• Identify ways Qigong can be integrated into daily routines to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Integrative Dermatology with GI-MAP®: Exploring the Gut-Skin Connection in Atopic Dermatitis

Speaker: Jenn Evon

What can a closer look at the gut reveal about skin health? In this session, we’ll explore the gut-skin connection through the lens of an atopic dermatitis case review, highlighting how the GI-MAP® can provide additional clinical insight. Discover how comprehensive stool testing can be incorporated into an integrative approach to dermatologic health.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the relationship between gut and skin health
• Identify microbiome and intestinal health markers on the GI-MAP that may provide clinical insights for patients with atopic dermatitis
• Discuss how practitioners can incorporate gut health assessment as part of a comprehensive approach to care

Hands on Nutrition Workshop

Speaker: Meena Julapalli, MD

Explore the use of functional power ball snack bites as a practical way to incorporate powdered supplements into nutrient-dense foods. The session reviews how nut and seed butters, grains, natural sweeteners, seeds, and other ingredients can support nutrient density, supplement absorption, flavor, and ease of use, while also examining selected supplements and a basic recipe for preparing functional snack bites.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the potential benefits of functional power ball snack bites for delivering powdered supplements, including improved palatability, nutrient density, absorption, and fewer capsules to swallow.
• Identify key ingredients used in functional snacks, including nut and seed butters, grains, natural sweeteners, and nutrient-rich add-ins.
• Discuss the benefits, side effects, and dosing considerations of selected supplements including turmeric, maca, inositol, and creatine.
• Apply a basic recipe and preparation method to create functional power ball snack bites incorporating selected supplement powders and nutrient-rich ingredients.

Tapping Into a New Reality: Emotional Freedom Technique Workshop

Speaker: Meena Julapalli, MD

Explore Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) as a complementary approach for addressing stress and nervous system dysregulation associated with chronic dermatologic conditions. This hands-on workshop reviews the relationship between stress and skin disease, introduces the principles and evidence behind EFT, and guides participants through the basic tapping sequence, setup statements, and applications for patient self-care and dermatologic concerns.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the relationship between nervous system dysregulation and chronic dermatologic conditions.
• Describe how Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) may support stress reduction and influence the body’s stress response in patients with visible skin conditions.
• Demonstrate the 9-point EFT sequence and develop setup statements to support patient self-care.
• Practice EFT techniques through guided and independent exercises to build skills for patient support.

Test, Interpret, Transform: An Approach for Evaluating the Gut-Skin Axis

Speaker: Shelise Irby

In this hands-on workshop, presented by Tiny Health at the IDCP Intensive Sessions, practitioners will explore the gut-skin axis and its clinical implications for skin health. The session is designed to be interactive from the first minute: rather than opening with a lecture, it begins by inviting the room to predict the gut microbiome picture behind a series of anonymized skin cases, then unpacks the science behind those predictions. Attendees will gain foundational and applied knowledge of the gut microbiome's role in common skin concerns, practice interpreting a Tiny Health report in a clinical context, and review their personalized results. The session concludes with a team-based interactive game designed to reinforce key concepts in an engaging and memorable way.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key microbiome markers and what they might reveal about gut and skin health.
• Navigate and interpret a Tiny Health report in a clinical context.
• Translate microbiome insights into practical recommendations for patients with skin concerns.
• Apply findings through hands-on report review and real-world case evaluation.
• Reinforce gut-skin knowledge through team-based collaborative activities.

Skincare Formulation: An Introduction

Speaker: Peter Lio, MD

Skincare formulation sits at the intersection of chemistry, biology, regulatory science, and clinical medicine and it is far more complex than most dermatologists realize. This session introduces the science and business of product development, from vehicle selection and moisturizer fundamentals to the challenges of stability, pH, preservative systems, and regulatory classification. Through a clinical overview and live perspectives from experienced formulators, participants gain practical knowledge to evaluate, recommend, and, if they choose, actively contribute to skincare product development.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish the major vehicle types and explain how formulation choice affects active delivery and patient adherence.
• Describe the roles of occlusives, humectants, and emollients in barrier maintenance, and explain why they are not interchangeable.
• Identify the principal challenges in product development, including stability testing, preservative systems, pH optimization, and scale-up.4. Interpret the regulatory landscape governing cosmetics, OTC drug products, and prescription topicals, and apply this knowledge when evaluating product claims.

Claims Near and Far

Speaker: Gay Timmons

The access (and excess) of information on the internet has created a growing demand for “more” by consumers. They want to know what is in their products, where it came from, and what it does. It has fallen on brands, retailers and now governments to respond to consumer demands. How have the laws responded to consumer expectations when products claim “natural – organic – green – clean – regenerative”? Then there is the whole issue of “actives” claims? The EU and Canada have both passed anti-greenwashing laws and implemented requirements for sustainability claims on all consumer products. California requires labeling based on fragrance allergens and Proposition 65. There’s a lot to know.

Learning Objectives:

• Review what laws will require claims validation and when will they take effect?
• Explore what documents are needed to “prove” ingredient and product claims?
• Travel the world!

When Unmet Needs Inspire Skincare Formulation: The Development of Barrier-Supportive Skincare

Speaker: Heather Clark, BSN RN

Explore key considerations for formulating products for sensitive, barrier-compromised skin, including how ingredients influence product stability, skin barrier integrity, and tolerability. Identify common formulation gaps and strategies to support barrier function while minimizing irritation.

Learning Objective:

• Understand key considerations for a multi-faceted approach in formulating for sensitive, barrier-compromised skin.
• Explain how different ingredients affect product stability, skin barrier integrity, and skin tolerability.
• Analyze formulation gaps and the impact on barrier-compromised skin.
• Identify strategies to support skin barrier function while minimizing irritation.

Formulating for Atopic Dermatitis and Other Inflammatory Skin Conditions: Restoring the Skin Barrier, Acid Mantle, and Microbiome

Speaker: Rafal Pilek, PhD

Formulating for atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin conditions demands more than choosing moisturizing ingredients — it requires addressing the underlying biology of a compromised skin barrier while still delivering stability, tolerability, and cosmetic elegance. This session covers the science of formulating for compromised skin, focusing on three pillars: barrier repair, restoring the skin's acid mantle (physiological pH), and supporting a healthy microbiome.

Learning objectives: 

• Understand how barrier dysfunction, skin surface pH, and the microbiome contribute to inflammatory skin diseases.
• Identify formulation strategies that support barrier repair while minimizing irritation.
• Apply approaches to restore physiological skin pH and support a healthy microbiome.
• Translate skin biology into effective formulations for atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Decode, Prescribe, Optimize: A Clinical Workshop on Hormone Replacement Therapy

Speaker: Sahar Swidan, PHARM.D., ABAAHP, FAARFM, FACA

This hands-on workshop will teach clinicians how to evaluate hormone dysfunction and make safer, more precise decisions around hormone replacement therapy using a systems-based clinical framework. Participants will learn how to interpret symptoms, timing, laboratory testing, and risk factors across perimenopause, menopause, and androgen deficiency states. The session will emphasize practical case-based application, including when to test, what to test, how to interpret common hormone patterns, and how to monitor patients receiving HRT. Special attention will be given to dermatologic, inflammatory, metabolic, neuroendocrine, and quality-of-life implications relevant to integrative dermatology practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common clinical presentations of hormone dysfunction across perimenopause, menopause, and androgen deficiency states, including dermatologic, metabolic, neurocognitive, sexual health, and inflammatory manifestations.
• Select appropriate hormone testing strategies based on patient age, menstrual status, symptom pattern, medication use, and clinical risk factors.
• Interpret commonly used hormone labs in context, including estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, SHBG, FSH, LH, thyroid markers, insulin/glucose markers, and inflammatory/metabolic risk indicators.
• Apply practical HRT decision-making principles, including route selection, risk stratification, contraindications, monitoring, dose adjustment.

Panel Discussion on Implementing Integrative into Practice

Moderator: Raja Sivamani, MD MS AP

Panelists: Francesca Lewis, MD, Sonal Choudhary, MD, Stephen Lewellis, MD PhD

Hear from IDCP alumni as they share real-world experiences implementing integrative dermatology into clinical practice. Panelists will share insights on clinical implementation, patient engagement, practice models, business considerations, and lessons learned along the way.

Learning Objectives

• Identify practical strategies for integrating integrative dermatology into clinical practice.
• Discuss practice and business considerations for developing and sustaining an integrative dermatology model.
• Recognize common challenges and barriers to implementing integrative approaches and strategies for overcoming them.
• Apply lessons learned from IDCP alumni to build an integrative approach that aligns with patient needs and practice goals.