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In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I spoke with Jennifer Fugo, a clinical nutritionist, host of The Healthy Skin Show podcast, and an expert in helping people uncover the root causes of chronic skin conditions like eczema, chronic hives, dermatographia, and histamine-related symptoms.
Jennifer shares why she believes many people have been given an incomplete explanation for histamine intolerance. Rather than viewing chronic hives, itching, flushing, food reactions, and other histamine-driven symptoms as simply a reaction to high-histamine foods or a deficiency in the DAO enzyme, she explains why “histamine overload” may be a more accurate way to think about them. We also explore how hidden gut infections, parasites, mold exposure, mast cell activation, and immune dysfunction can all contribute to ongoing symptoms.
If you’ve been relying on antihistamines, eliminating more and more foods, or wondering why your hives, skin reactions, or other histamine symptoms keep returning despite doing “everything right,” this episode offers a deeper look at the root causes that may be keeping your body stuck.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why histamine may not be your real problem. Jennifer explains why she prefers the term “histamine overload” and reveals the hidden triggers, including gut infections and mold, that may be driving skin symptoms like hives.
- The surprising gut bugs that may be keeping your hives from healing. Jennifer explains how H. pylori, Blastocystis hominis, parasites, fungal overgrowth, and other hidden infections may overstimulate mast cells and keep chronic skin symptoms coming back.
- Why eliminating more foods may actually backfire. Jennifer explains why a low-histamine diet can be a helpful short-term tool, but being on overly restrictive diets without addressing the root cause can leave people too fearful of food. It is possible to enjoy food again and expand your diet once the root cause is addressed.
- Why testing doesn’t always tell the whole story. Jennifer explains why stool tests can miss hidden infections, what blood work and symptoms can reveal, and why clinical detective work is often just as important as lab results.
- Could mold be making you react to everything? Jennifer explains how mold exposure and mycotoxins can destabilize mast cells, fuel histamine overload, and even make you unusually sensitive to supplements, food, and environmental triggers.
- How to naturally support histamine balance. Jennifer shares the nutrients, probiotics, liver support, and other strategies she uses to stabilize mast cells, reduce histamine overload, and help people expand their diets, regain confidence around food, and get back to living their lives.
Freebies
Connect with Jennifer
- Check out Jennifer’s Website
- Book your skin repair session at Jennifer’s private virtual skin clinic
- Check out Jennifer’s 8-week self-guided skin repair program – Skin Rash Rebuild
- Follow Jennifer on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X
- Discover the latest science-backed info on healing chronic skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dandruff, chronic urticaria hives, and more at Jennifer’s YouTube Channel
- Listen to the Healthy Skin Show podcast – Here’s the episode with yours truly 🙂 Adrenal Fatigue, Steroids + Skin Rashes: What’s The Connection?
Programs and Resources
- GI-MAP Stool Test – A comprehensive stool analysis that evaluates digestive health, gut microbes, parasites, inflammation, and immune markers.
- MycoTOX Test – A urine test that evaluates exposure to common mold toxins (mycotoxins).
- Mold Petri Dish Test – A simple environmental screening tool used to determine whether mold may be present in the home before investing in more extensive testing.
- Low-histamine diet – A temporary dietary strategy that reduces foods naturally high in histamine or that stimulate histamine release while root causes are being addressed.
- Organic whole-food diet – A nutrient-dense dietary approach Jennifer recommends without encouraging excessive long-term restriction.
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) – A condition in which mast cells release excessive amounts of chemical mediators, including histamine, leading to symptoms that can affect the skin, digestive system, respiratory system, and more.
- NutraQuell – Jennifer’s supplement line for those with sensitive skin, designed to support immunity, digestion, key metabolic processes, energy, and more.
Supplements and Medications Mentioned
- Quercetin – A plant flavonoid commonly used to help stabilize mast cells and support healthy histamine balance.
- Stinging Nettle (Nettle Tea or Extract) – An herbal remedy traditionally used to support healthy histamine responses.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG – A probiotic strain Jennifer frequently recommends to support gut and immune health.
- Zinc – An essential mineral that supports immune function and should be balanced with copper when supplemented long-term.
- Copper – A trace mineral used alongside zinc to help maintain proper mineral balance.
- Oral Immunoglobulins– Immunoglobulin supplements that may help bind microbial compounds in the gut and support intestinal immune health. (This supplement is available via Fullscript – you can sign up with my credentials here.)
- Vitamin B6 – A nutrient involved in phase II liver detoxification pathways and histamine metabolism. Consider Rootcology P5P.
- Glycine – An amino acid that supports detoxification and glutathione production.
- Glutathione – The body’s primary antioxidant, used to support detoxification and oxidative stress.
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) – A glutathione precursor commonly used to support detoxification pathways. Consider Rootcology NAC.
- DAO (Diamine Oxidase) Supplements – Enzyme supplements sometimes used to temporarily support dietary histamine breakdown, though Jennifer emphasizes they do not address the root cause.
- Antihistamines – Medications used to temporarily reduce histamine symptoms while underlying causes are addressed.
- Mast Cell Stabilizing Medications – Prescription medications that help reduce mast cell activation and histamine release.
Articles and Other Resources On Skin and Gut Issues
- Getting to the Root Cause of Eczema With Dr. Sheila Kilbane
- Histamine and Hashimoto’s
- Is Blasto Behind Your Hashimoto’s, Hives and IBS?
- Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Remission after Helicobacter pylori Eradication
- Mold: A Potential Trigger of Hashimoto’s
- Common Hashimoto’s Patterns Seen in the GI-MAP Test
- How Supporting the Liver Is Key to Recovering from Thyroid Disease
- Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Book by Dr. Izabella Wentz
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram: @izabellawentzpharmd
- Get my FREE weekly thyroid & gut health newsletter: Sign up here
- Subscribe & Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate it on Spotify!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂
About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is now out in the world, and available here!
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About Our Guest
Jennifer Fugo, MS, LDN, CNS, is a clinical nutritionist empowering adults seeking a root cause approach to their chronic skin and gut challenges. She consults with clients all over the world through her virtual clinical practice for chronic skin issues, including eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, chronic hives, and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Jennifer is the founder of supportive skincare and supplements specifically formulated based on what she has seen work best for her clients.
She holds a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and is a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Specialist. Jennifer is the host of the Healthy Skin Show podcast with over 1.3 million downloads.
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