Food Sensitivities and Skin Health
Identify food sensitivities driving skin issues, gut symptoms, and inflammation. We test, then build a plan to fix the cause.
Causes and Treatment
Many chronic skin issues (acne, eczema, rosacea flares, unexplained dullness) are partially or fully driven by food sensitivities. Unlike food allergies (which produce immediate reactions), food sensitivities cause low-grade chronic inflammation that's hard to identify without testing.
Common patterns:
- Dairy sensitivity: often drives jawline acne, rosacea-like flushing.
- Gluten sensitivity: can drive eczema, dermatitis, gut inflammation.
- Egg or soy sensitivity: commonly tied to chronic urticaria or unexplained itching.
Better's approach is diagnostic-first: test for sensitivities, identify patterns, then build an elimination protocol to confirm causation. Once we know what's driving inflammation, we layer in topical and supportive treatments.
Better Med Spa's Recommended Treatments
Better treats food-driven skin issues with four primary tools.
Complete Food Sensitivity Panel
Diagnostic blood panel that identifies IgG-mediated food sensitivities across 100+ common foods. Identifies the patterns driving chronic inflammation.
Pro Gut Health Testing
Comprehensive gut microbiome and inflammation analysis. Pairs with food sensitivity testing to identify the full picture of gut-driven skin issues.
Calm Within (KPV)
Anti-inflammatory peptide that reduces gut and systemic inflammation. Used while elimination diets and gut healing protocols are in progress.
Glass Skin Facial
K-Beauty barrier-repair facial that calms inflamed skin while you're working on the food and gut side. Foundational topical treatment.
Test before eliminating. Random elimination diets are exhausting and often miss the actual culprit. The Food Sensitivity Panel narrows the field so elimination is targeted and brief, not endless.
How to Choose Between Them
Match the protocol to your symptom pattern.
| If you want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Skin issues with no clear cause | Food Sensitivity Panel |
| Skin plus gut symptoms | Food Sensitivity + Pro Gut Testing |
| Inflammation reduction during transition | Calm Within (KPV) |
| Topical support during dietary changes | Monthly Glass Skin Facial |
| Comprehensive workup | All four tools combined |
| Maintenance after identifying triggers | Glass Skin Facial + occasional KPV |
The realistic outcome: most patients with food-driven skin issues see meaningful improvement within 4 to 12 weeks of identifying and removing trigger foods. Combined with topical Glass Skin support and KPV during the transition, the improvement compounds.
This isn't a quick fix. Food sensitivities require lifestyle change. The reward is clearer skin and often better energy and mood as systemic inflammation drops.
What to Expect at Better Med Spa
Food sensitivity consultations at Better start with a 30-minute discussion of your skin issues, gut symptoms, current diet, and any previous elimination attempts. We recommend testing if patterns suggest food involvement.
The Food Sensitivity Panel is a blood draw that takes 15 minutes. Results return in 2 to 3 weeks. We schedule a follow-up to review results and build an elimination plan.
Dr. Brechner supervises all functional medicine protocols.
Ready to talk to one of our providers?
A 30-minute consultation discusses your patterns and whether testing is right for you.
Before and After
See real Better Med Spa patient results in our gallery. Individual results vary based on starting point, dosage, and skin quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between food sensitivity and food allergy?
Food allergies (IgE-mediated) cause immediate reactions like hives or anaphylaxis. Food sensitivities (IgG-mediated) cause delayed low-grade inflammation that's harder to detect. Most chronic skin issues involve sensitivities, not allergies.
How long until I see skin improvement?
Once you've identified and removed trigger foods, most patients see meaningful skin improvement within 4 to 8 weeks. Full improvement at 12 weeks. Combined with Glass Skin Facials and KPV, faster.
Will I have to give up my favorite foods forever?
Often no. Many sensitivities resolve with 3 to 6 months of elimination plus gut healing. We then reintroduce foods carefully to identify which can come back and which need permanent avoidance.
Most patients describe the injections as a series of small pinches. We use the smallest needles available and can apply topical numbing cream on request. The whole appointment is typically under 30 minutes including the consultation.
Do I need a food sensitivity test or can I just try eliminating?
Random elimination is exhausting and often misses the actual culprit. Testing narrows the field so elimination is targeted and brief. Most patients save time and money testing first.
How much does food sensitivity testing cost in Chicago?
Complete Food Sensitivity Panel is priced as a one-time diagnostic. Pro Gut Health Testing is priced separately. Calm Within KPV is a monthly protocol. See our consultation pricing at Specials.
Related Reading
Where We Serve
Better Med Spa is located in Lincoln Park and serves patients across Chicago, including Old Town, Lakeview, Bucktown, Gold Coast, DePaul, West Loop, and River North.
Ready to identify what's actually driving your skin issues?
Schedule a consultation and we will build a plan that fits you, your timeline, and your budget.