Integrative Dermatology

Healthy Skin Starts by Treating the Root Cause

Your skin is often a reflection of what’s happening inside your body. While topical treatments may temporarily improve symptoms, recurring skin conditions are frequently influenced by underlying factors such as hormones, gut health, inflammation, immune function, nutrition, stress, and environmental exposures.

At Peninsula Integrative Medicine, we take a whole-person approach to skin health by looking beyond the surface to identify the root causes of chronic or recurring skin concerns. Through personalized evaluations and evidence-informed treatment plans, we help patients achieve healthier skin while supporting overall wellness.

Whether you’ve struggled with acne for years, developed persistent eczema or rosacea, or are looking for a more comprehensive approach to skin health, our providers work to uncover the factors contributing to your symptoms and develop a plan tailored to your unique needs.

What Is Integrative Dermatology?

Integrative dermatology combines functional medicine, naturopathic medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine to evaluate the many internal factors that influence skin health. Our providers assess how systems throughout the body may be contributing to chronic skin conditions, including:

• Hormone balance
• Gut health and the microbiome
• Chronic inflammation
• Immune function
• Nutrient status
• Food sensitivities
• Stress and nervous system health
• Environmental exposures

By addressing these underlying contributors, we aim to improve skin health from the inside out while supporting long-term wellness.

Why Patients Seek Integrative Dermatology

Many patients come to us after years of managing recurring skin symptoms with temporary relief. Patients commonly seek care for:

• Persistent acne
• Hormonal acne
• Eczema flare-ups
• Rosacea
• Psoriasis
• Chronic rashes
• Skin inflammation
• Hair thinning or hair loss
• Sensitive skin
• A desire to identify the underlying cause of recurring skin concerns

Conditions We Commonly Support

Our providers help patients experiencing a variety of chronic skin conditions, including:

• Acne
• Hormonal acne
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea
• Chronic hives
• Chronic rashes
• Skin inflammation
• Hair loss and thinning
• Autoimmune-related skin conditions
• Skin concerns associated with hormone imbalance or gut dysfunction

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Depending on your symptoms and health history, your provider may recommend targeted testing to better understand the factors contributing to your skin concerns.

Testing may include:

• Hormone & Metabolic Assessment
  • Comprehensive hormone testing
  • Thyroid evaluation
  • Blood sugar and metabolic markers

• Gut Health Evaluation
  • Comprehensive stool analysis
  • Gut microbiome testing
  • Digestive function assessment
  • Food sensitivity testing when appropriate

• Nutritional & Functional Testing
  • Vitamin and mineral assessment
  • Inflammatory markers
  • Environmental exposure evaluation
  • Additional testing based on your individual needs

Personalized Treatment Plans

Every skin condition is different, which is why treatment plans are customized to your unique symptoms, health history, laboratory findings, and goals. Recommendations may include:

• Personalized nutrition
• Lifestyle medicine
• Targeted supplementation
• Botanical medicine
• Gut health restoration
• Hormone optimization
• Stress management
• Topical therapies when appropriate
• Support for reducing inflammation and promoting healthy skin function

Our goal is to help improve your skin by addressing the underlying factors contributing to chronic inflammation and supporting lasting skin health.

Which Provider Should I See for Integrative Dermatology?

Our providers have different areas of expertise and can help address chronic skin conditions through a personalized, root-cause approach.

If you’re experiencing acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, or other chronic skin concerns:

• Dr. Nicole McCarter, ND
  • Best fit for: Hormonal acne, adult acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin concerns related to inflammation, metabolism, and hormone balance.
  • Dr. McCarter takes a personalized approach to understanding how internal factors, including hormones, nutrition, stress, and lifestyle, may contribute to chronic skin concerns and supports patients in creating sustainable changes for healthier skin.

• Dr. Meghan Kemnec, ND
  • Best fit for: Hormonal acne, skin concerns related to menstrual health, pregnancy, postpartum, women’s hormones, and pediatric and family skin concerns.
  • Dr. Kemnec focuses on identifying the underlying factors contributing to chronic skin conditions while supporting overall wellness.

• Dr. Tediana Torrens, ND
  • Best fit for: Pediatric and family skin concerns, eczema, acne, and chronic inflammation.
  • Dr. Torrens focuses on identifying underlying contributors such as nutrition, immune balance, gut health, and lifestyle factors to support healthier skin and overall wellness.

• Dr. Alicia Masiulis, DACCHM, L.Ac.
  • Best fit for: Chronic inflammatory skin conditions, stress-related skin flare-ups, hormonal skin concerns, and patients interested in combining acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine with functional medicine.
  • Dr. Alicia uses an integrative approach to support circulation, nervous system balance, inflammation regulation, and whole-body health as part of a comprehensive skin care plan.

• Dr. Rebecca Green, ND
  • Best fit for: Hormonal acne, adult acne, skin issues related to perimenopause and menopause, and chronic skin inflammation.
  • Dr. Green takes a comprehensive approach to understanding how hormones, nutrition, gut health, and inflammation affect the skin.

Not sure who is the right fit?

Our team is happy to help match you with the provider whose experience best aligns with your health goals. Contact our office and we can help guide you toward the right next step.

Call (650) 485-2758, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. or send us a message!