Naturopathic Beauty's Clear Skin Sessions

By Stacey

Clear skin and aging beautifully conversations, trainings and challenges by Dr. Stacey Shillington ND.

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How many episodes does Naturopathic Beauty's Clear Skin Sessions have?

The podcast currently has 59 episodes available.

Best of Naturopathic Beauty's Clear Skin Sessions

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: 3 Insulin Patterns I See in Women with Acne
Acne can feel random until you zoom out and look at metabolism. We’ve seen for years that insulin and acne are connected strongly enough that acne was once called “diabetes of the skin,” but the part most people miss is this: it’s not always high insulin. I walk you through the three distinct insulin patterns I see again and again in women with acne, and why choosing the wrong strategy can stall your progress or even make breakouts worse. We start with the basics of what insulin does, then get specific about testing. Fasting blood glucose can look great while insulin is already dysregulated, so I explain why fasting insulin belongs on your lab list and how I interpret it alongside symptoms. Then we unpack the classic high-insulin picture often linked with PCOS, oily skin, cravings, energy crashes, and jawline acne, including how stress and cortisol can push insulin higher over time. Next, we go into the pattern that surprises people: low insulin in a body that’s underfueled and depleted. If you’re training hard, eating “clean,” restricting carbs, waking at night, feeling cold, and dealing with low estrogen or missing periods, your acne may be asking for nourishment and rebuilding, not more restriction. Finally, we cover the “normal labs” pattern where fasting numbers look perfect, yet you crash after meals, get shaky, foggy, or hungry two hours later. That can point to gut-driven signals like GLP-1 and microbiome imbalance, meaning the deeper fix starts in the gut. If you want a clearer roadmap, check out my free Clear Skin Masterclass linked in the show notes. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck, and leave a review so more people can find testing-based acne help. Watch my FREE Clear Skin Masterclass to learn my method to heal chronic acne. Based on 20 years of healing acne as a Naturopathic Doctor. Click here to listen now.
August 28, 202616min
Number 2: 3 Habits I Wish I Had Changed in my 20s
You can do everything you’ve been told is “good for your skin” and still end up with worse acne, worse sleep, and a body that feels stuck. We get personal and practical as I share three habits I followed for years that quietly fueled my breakouts, along with the inside-out acne healing lessons I wish I’d learned sooner. If you’ve ever felt like your skin is in charge of your life, this one is for you. First, we talk about sunlight and why avoiding it can backfire. Morning light is one of the strongest signals for setting circadian rhythm, which shapes cortisol and melatonin, sleep quality, immune function, and even nighttime skin repair. We also unpack how sun exposure differs from vitamin D supplements, and why getting outside consistently can support whole-body health when you do it responsibly and avoid burning. Next, we dig into stubborn low ferritin and why “just take iron” often turns into a frustrating loop. Low iron markers in acne can point to gut health issues, including microbial overgrowths and poor absorption, plus broader nutrient depletion from restrictive diets or a long history of antibiotics. Then we cover overexercise and stress physiology, including how intense daily workouts can dysregulate cortisol and keep the nervous system in survival, a state where healing slows down. If you want a clearer roadmap for acne, hormones, digestion, and functional lab patterns, check out my free clear skin masterclass linked in the show notes, and if this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find real support. Watch my FREE Clear Skin Masterclass to learn my method to heal chronic acne. Based on 20 years of healing acne as a Naturopathic Doctor. Click here to listen now.
August 13, 202615min
Number 3: How Quitting Alcohol Changed My Skin And Sleep
Alcohol can feel like a small, normal part of life until you realize it’s quietly pulling the same biological levers that drive acne. I’m Dr. Stacy Shillington, a naturopathic doctor who’s helped women heal acne for 20 years, and I’m sharing the personal turning point that made me stop drinking for good and why the results shocked me even with all my clinical knowledge. My skin improved, my mood steadied, and after nearly a decade of insomnia, I finally slept deeply again and woke up rested. We break down the real connection between alcohol and acne: not that alcohol directly “causes” breakouts, but that it amplifies the pathways behind hormonal acne and inflammatory acne. You’ll hear how alcohol spikes blood sugar, insulin, and IGF-1 to stimulate oil production, how it raises inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, and how it can overload liver detox so hormone metabolism slows. We also talk about the gut-skin axis, because gut lining irritation and microbiome disruption often show up on the skin, especially when you’re already acne-prone. If you’re not ready to quit completely, I still want you to have options. I share practical, skin-friendly harm reduction tips like choosing lower-sugar drinks (dry wine, champagne, tequila with soda, vodka, gin), avoiding sugary cocktails and beer, eating protein or fat before drinking, hydrating with electrolytes, and supporting detox with cruciferous vegetables and antioxidant-rich foods. I also explain why alcohol wrecks deep sleep, drives cortisol higher, and slows skin healing, which is often the missing piece for persistent breakouts. If you want a structured clear skin plan, I’ll point you to my seven-week clear skin program and my one-on-one program for complex cystic acne cases. Subscribe, share this with a friend on a clear skin journey, and leave a review if it helps so more women can find this support. Watch my FREE Clear Skin Masterclass to learn my method to heal chronic acne. Based on 20 years of healing acne as a Naturopathic Doctor. Click here to listen now.
March 12, 202622min
Number 4: The CO2 Laser for Acne Scars - My Experience So Far
Thinking about laser resurfacing to fade acne scars but not sure where to start? We pull back the curtain on fractional CO2 with a step-by-step guide to matching treatments to scar types and a candid look at real downtime, pigment changes, and the slow arc of collagen remodeling. You’ll hear why some scars respond beautifully to fractional CO2 while others demand TCA cross, punch excision, or subcision first—and how sequencing those choices makes all the difference. We begin by mapping the three major scar types: ice pick (deep, narrow channels), boxcar (shallow to moderate depressions with sharp edges), and rolling (wavy, tethered skin). From there, we outline a practical roadmap: TCA cross or excision for ice pick, subcision plus CO2 for rolling, and microneedling priming followed by fractional CO2 for boxcar. Along the way, we demystify the tech—how carbon dioxide energy creates microcolumns that trigger collagen and elastin—and compare fractional versus fully ablative approaches, including realistic recovery windows and comfort strategies. I also share my own procedure day and three-week check-in: painless under the right meds, five days of sticky occlusives and vinegar soaks, then the reality of pinkness and temporary pigmentation as the barrier rebuilds. We get specific about who should hold off: anyone with active acne, rosacea, a fragile barrier, or a strong tendency to hyperpigment. The golden rule stands—clear first, treat second. Stabilize inflammation for six to eight weeks or more, then use scar-specific tools for results that last. Ready to plan your path to smoother skin with fewer setbacks? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who’s scar-curious, and leave a review to get a free first module of the Seven-Week Clear Skin Program. Watch my FREE Clear Skin Masterclass to learn my method to heal chronic acne. Based on 20 years of healing acne as a Naturopathic Doctor. Click here to listen now.
February 26, 202616min
Number 5: Hormonal Acne, Finally Explained
Breakouts that bloom along your jawline a week before your period aren’t random—they’re hormonal signals. We unpack how the menstrual cycle shapes your skin, why low progesterone lets androgens run the show, and how insulin swings, inflammation, and sluggish detox pathways keep cystic acne on repeat. You’ll hear a clear, practical framework for understanding PMS acne and a plan to calm it without chasing yet another serum. We start by mapping the follicular and luteal phases in plain language, then connect the dots: when progesterone underperforms, estrogen becomes unbuffered, androgen activity climbs, and pores clog. We explain why lab tests can read “normal” while your face tells a different story—the issue is often receptor sensitivity fueled by infections, mold exposure, oxidative stress, or blood sugar instability. If you also see mid‑cycle flares, we break down the temporary estrogen and testosterone bump around ovulation and the common role of insulin dysregulation. Next, we move into action. You’ll get five immediate steps to lower the volume on hormonal acne: stabilize blood sugar with structured meals, protect sleep to lower cortisol, ensure daily bowel movements for estrogen clearance, remove inflammatory triggers like sugar, dairy, and gluten, and train your stress response with short, twice‑daily flow sessions. These shifts support optimal ovulation, strengthen progesterone signaling, and reduce the flare window. For lasting results, we share why targeted testing matters—GI mapping to assess the gut, organic acids for cellular function, and oxidative stress insights to personalize detox and antioxidant support. Our goal is bigger than clear skin. By fixing the systems that drive acne—hormones, gut health, detox, and the nervous system—you gain steadier moods, fewer PMS symptoms, better digestion, and sustainable energy. Ready to stop guessing and start healing from the inside out? Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to get the first module of our seven‑week Clear Skin Program free. Watch my FREE Clear Skin Masterclass to learn my method to heal chronic acne. Based on 20 years of healing acne as a Naturopathic Doctor. Click here to listen now.
February 11, 202624min