WHAT IS INTEGRATIVE DERMATOLOGY?
LearnSkin Virtual Guide
Integrative dermatology focuses on the whole person mind, body, and spirit—incorporating systems like Ayurveda,
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Naturopathic Medicine (Naturopathy) with conventional treatments to address skin wellness through diet, mindfulness, and lifestyle management. Frequently, skin conditions have profound social, emotional, and psychological consequences for those afflicted. However, medical visits often focus on diagnosis and treatment without as much exploration of underlying psychosocial issues. As demand for integrative approaches increases, research continues to gain traction in the field. LearnSkin’s team of experts curates emerging evidence and novel therapies for you to use in the clinic immediately.
Integrative medicine offers additional holistic tools than conventional approaches. As patients seek a more whole-body and preventative approach to skin concerns like aging, acne control, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hyperpigmentation,
integrative approaches will help dermatology practitioners address patients more completely.
Integrative clinicians will be best poised to provide their patients
with multiple treatment options to choose from.



"Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) in dermatology encompasses a wide variety of methods of diagnosis and treatment that either supplement or substitute for conventional dermatologic practice. — Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Practice; 2007"
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING COMPLEMENTARY
AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM)?
Dermatology patients, specifically, have been increasingly using complementary and alternative therapies. A review of seven surveys of dermatology patients revealedlifetime CAM use to be between2
40%
The odds are likely that a majority of patients
coming into your office have tried CAM
treatments, are currently using them, or are
interested in pursuing them.
Dermatology patients, specifically, have been increasingly using complementary and alternative therapies. A review of seven surveys of dermatology patients revealed lifetime CAM use to be between2
35%-69%
The odds are likely that a majority of patients
coming into your office have tried CAM
treatments, are currently using them, or are
interested in pursuing them.
HOW DOES PRACTICING INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
BENEFIT ME AS A PRACTITIONER?
Are you feeling burnt out, uninspired, and overwhelmed in practice? While exploring integrative medicine
options for your patients can enhance your practice and patient care, many individuals studying these
modalities will try them out for themselves and have their own new and exciting experiences.
Being an integrative practitioner brings back the “Art of Medicine.” You will be able to regain that creativity
and tailor treatment plans to each patient’s needs with a more holistic and individualized approach
compared to a “one size fits all” approach.
“I see primarily general dermatology, certainly a lot of eczema and psoriasis. What was cool about ISHS (LearnSkin’s Integrative Skin Health Series) was that they really covered a lot of what I typically see in the day to day and different options that I could offer to patients backed by lots of clinical data and research. So, it’s really been rewarding and I’ve seen the patients get really excited when they hear about an integrative option. It’s been cool to see those patients come back after a couple of months and see that it really does make a difference in their day to day lives seeing them improve. It’s been everything from plant based oils to talking about spearmint tea for acne or low dose naltrexone and things like that. There’s a huge push from the patient’s perspective to really want an integrative approach and so it’s been really rewarding to be able to offer that to them.”
— Joy Logothetis, PA (ISHS Alumnus)
“It’s a very energizing community. Going through these programs you will make amazing changes for yourself. I have made changes to my diet, to my exercise, to my exercise routine, to meditation, to the way I just treat myself and the way I think about my health in a different way.” “It’s one of the rare learning opportunities where you can implement it in your own life just as much as you can share it with your patients and make yourself healthier at the same time.”
— Steven Daveluy, MD (IDCP Alumnus)
Practising integrative medicine also allows you to collaborate with other like-minded professionals across
integrative medicine disciplines. It can help create a strong referral network and sense of connection within your local community.
“Working closely with other traditions has been both educational and incredibly empowering. I can’t master everything, but I don’t have to: I can refer patients to a trusted friend and colleague and then together we can make a strong therapeutic alliance.”
— Peter Lio, MD
“Working with other integrative practitioners helps provide a much broader and well-rounded treatment plan. It allows me to focus on what I am really good at knowing that my patients are getting the great comprehensive care.”
— Apple Bodemer, MD
“Integrative medicine is not just about bringing together different perspectives, as it also beautifully and practically integrates different practitioners, therapies, and practice modalities to improve our knowledge and ability to care for patients.”
— Raja Sivamani, MD MS AP
“I couldn’t be more excited about the community, it is so validating. In practice sometimes you feel like you’re the only one interested in exploring other things. Then you go through the programs and meet all these other people from around the country and around the world that are like-minded and interested like you. They still bring that scientific way of thinking about things, so you connect.”
“You get energized and excited to be able to talk together. Now we talk on our Facebook group. We have an integrative book club where we’re reading some different books that incorporate these different concepts and meetings where we can stay in touch.”
— Steven Daveluy, MD (IDCP Alumnus)


INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
DISCIPLINES
What is covered:
- Ayurveda
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Naturopathic Medicine (Naturopathy)
- Nutrition
- Mindfulness and Mind-Body Approaches
- Conventional Medicine
Ayurveda
List of Modalities:
- Herbal formulas
- Botanical oils
- Lifestyle changes
- Diet
- Kansa Wand
- Marma Point Facial Massage
- Svedana
- Shirodhara
Evidence for the use of Ayurveda in Dermatology
Sunder Vati for Acne

Sunder Vati is an Ayurvedic herbal formula studied in patients with acne. The formula was
shown to significantly decrease the severity of inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne
lesions.3,4 From an Ayurvedic perspective, it is thought to balance Kapha and Pitta Ayurvedic
doshas which are thought to be out of balance in patients with acne.3
This Ayurvedic formula contains the following 4 herbs:3,4
1
Kutaj
(Wrightia antidysenterica)
2
Amalaki
(Emblica officinalis)
3
Vidanga
(Embelia ribes)
4
Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)
1
Kutaj
(Wrightia antidysenterica)
2
Amalaki
(Emblica officinalis)
3
Vidanga
(Embelia ribes)
4
Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)
Click below to learn more about Ayurvedic perspectives and treatments in dermatology
with some LearnSkin articles and courses:
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates
back thousands of years. When incorporating
TCM into dermatology, the skin care
practitioner seeks to balance their patient’s
Qi or energy. Diseases, including
dermatological conditions, are said to
reflect an imbalance in dual forces known
as Yin and Yang.

List of Modalities:
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Chinese herbal formulas
- Moxibustion
- Cupping
- Gua Sha
- Facial Rollers
Evidence for the use of
TCM in Dermatology:
for Atopic Dermatitis
Ll 11
dermatology with LearnSkin articles and courses:
Microbiome and
TCM Therapies
List of Modalities:
- Botanical medicine
- Tinctures
- Diet
- Supplements
- Exercise
- Hydrotherapy
- Meditation/Mindfulness
- Massage
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

NUTRITION
List of Modalities:
- Diet
- Supplements
- Meal Plans
- Nutrigenomics


Evidence for the use of Nutrition in Dermatology: Dietary Approaches to Acne
MINDFULNESS AND
MIND-BODY APPROACHES
List of Modalities:
- Meditation
- Mindfulness-Based
- Stress Reduction
- Journaling
- Counseling
- Yoga
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Mindfulness-Based
- Stress Reduction
- Journaling
- Counseling
- Yoga
- Breathwork
Evidence for the use of Mindfulness in Dermatology:
MBSR for Skin Cancer

Click below to learn more about the mind-skin
connection and mindfulness in dermatology
with LearnSkin articles and courses:
CONVENTIONAL
List of Modalities:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Lasers and Phototherapy
- Rehabilitation
Evidence for new conventional treatments within dermatology: Encapsulated Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne and Rosacea

HOW TO INTEGRATE:
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS PATIENT?
the patient seems at risk.
to improving their health.
ARE THERE ANY LABS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RUN
BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH TREATMENT OPTIONS?
Given this additional information, what are some integrative and holistic treatment
options you start to consider for this patient?
Therapeutic Order
of Naturopathic Medicine
AN INTEGRATIVE PRACTITIONER MAY CONSIDER AND
OFFER THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS TO THIS PATIENT
AN INTEGRATIVE PRACTITIONER MAY CONSIDER AND OFFER THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS TO THIS PATIENT
Acne Lesions
Recommendation
GI Symptoms (Gas, Bloating, Constipation)
Diet diary *Diet diaries may be triggering for individuals who struggle with eating disorders or have had a history of eating disorders, and should be avoided in these patients. It is important to be mindful of this and
screen for eating disorders before asking a patient to complete a diet diary.
Reasoning
Sleep Quality, Anxiety, Racing Thoughts
Recommendation 1
Education on sleep hygiene
Reasoning
Recommendation 2
Journaling at night
Reasoning
Reasoning
Recommendation 4
Acupressure on acupuncture point Yin Tang
Reasoning

YinTang
Calms the mind
Improves Sleep
Reduces Congestion

A NOTE FROM OUR DIRECTORS

Maria Mas
Medical Education Director

Raja Sivamani,
Scientific Editor
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