M27: Integrative Approaches to Systemic Conditions: Functional Medicine Testing

Welcome to module 27 focused on Integrative Approaches to Systemic Conditions: Functional Medicine Testing!

How to Interpret a Thyroid Panel

This session reviews the role of thyroid testing in dermatology. Thyroid and sex hormones will be discussed along with how to identify subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism.

After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the role thyroid hormone plays in overall health including skin health
2. Describe the associations between thyroid hormone and sex hormones
3. Recognize the testing patterns that help identify subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism

Functional Medicine Testing: Sex Hormones

Sex hormones can have an impact on several dermatological conditions, therefore it is important to understand how to utilize functional medicine testing, including the advantages and limitations of serum, saliva, and urine testing to assess sex hormones.

After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the Role and Impact of Sex Hormones in Dermatological Health: Review how sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) influence skin health.
2. Integrate Hormone Testing Insights into Patient Care: Apply insights from functional medicine hormone testing in clinical practice in the context of individual patient presentations and personalized treatment plans.
3. Explore Functional Medicine Approaches to Hormone Testing: Learn about the various methods and timing of functional medicine testing for sex hormones, including the advantages and limitations of serum, saliva, and urine testing.

Adrenal Health Testing

In this session, we will review the HPA axis and it's role in dermatological conditions. How to evaluate adrenal health function using functional testing methods will be discussed.

After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Comprehend HPA Axis Dysfunction and Its Dermatological Implications: Recognize the signs and implications of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction and understand how it can influence various skin conditions.
2. Evaluate Adrenal Function Using Functional Medicine Tests: Gain basic proficiency in interpreting test results to assess HPA Dysfunction, appreciating their accuracy and application in integrative dermatology.
3. Integrate Adrenal Health Insights into Dermatological Care: Apply knowledge of adrenal function and testing methods to enhance patient care in integrative dermatology, developing more comprehensive treatment strategies that address both hormonal and skin health aspects.

Functional Medicine Testing: Stool Tests and OATs

While dermatological diseases such as eczema have complicated pathologies, there is abundant evidence that part of the underlying root cause of these conditions is connected to gut microbiome dysfunction. This course presents the latest published research on the gut/skin connection including commensal bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, fungal organisms, and intestinal hyperpermeability. It will also review how to use functional medicine tests, like stool tests and organic acid tests, to determine and treat the root cause of dermatological disease.

After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. List the basic components of a stool test and recognize which specific bacterial strains, markers, and patterns are most helpful for analyzing dermatological problems
2. List the basic components of an organic acid test and recognize which specific markers and patterns are most helpful for analyzing dermatological problems
3. Summarize research on the changes in the gut microbiome in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis compared to healthy controls
4. Analyze research on how gut dysbiosis contributes to the pathophysiology of skin diseases