The Intimate Connection Between Digestion Issues, Acne Breakouts & Feeling Better In Your Skin

If your gut’s a mess and your skin is too — you’re totally not imagining it! In this episode, we connect the dots between digestion, inflammation and acne to help you understand what your body’s been trying to say all along. 

Our skincare and functional medicine experts break down the science (and the symptoms) behind that stubborn skin and why your next step to clear, glowing skin might start in your stomach.

This episode is for anyone struggling with GI issues, acne, or both — and ready to finally get real answers instead of quick fixes.

Everything We’re Covering:

• How specific gut disorders are diagnosed (and what a GI Map test reveals)
• The rise of food sensitivities — and what’s really driving them
• The science-backed benefits of intermittent fasting & how to personalize it
• Why hormonal acne flares before your period (plus probiotics & omega-3s that help)
• The direct connection between gut health and acne breakouts
• The “Keto Smell” & what it says about your digestion and detox pathways
• Why energy drinks may be sabotaging your skin health
• How functional medicine and skincare teams collaborate to treat root causes
• A story that reminds us clear skin is about confidence, not perfection

“I had an acne patient go through the entire Acne Bootcamp. During one of her final appointments, she told me she was finally dating again! She was always self-conscious about her skin — & now she feels comfortable to put herself back out there.”
— Nikki Rucinsky, LME

Meet Your Experts:

• Dr. Marguerite Weston, MD, IFMCP – Double board-certified in family and sports medicine, now focusing on functional medicine to uncover the root causes of gut and hormone imbalances.
• Colleen Bush, RDN, LDN, IFNCP – Gut health dietitian with 16+ years of experience. After navigating her own autoimmune diagnoses (Hashimoto’s and rheumatoid arthritis), she now helps others find healing through functional nutrition.
• Nikki Rucinsky, LME – Licensed medical aesthetician and creator of the Adult Acne Bootcamp at Donaldson, specializing in customized skin plans that address diet, hormones and stress for long-term results.
• Hosted by Carrie Esposito – The voice of Asking For A Friend, connecting expert insight with real-world questions - and plenty of empathy (and wine).