Dr. Bryant Esquejo, ND

04/24/2026

Are more people experiencing adult acne? Let’s explore this through what scientists found, what I’ve seen personally, and through my clinical experience.

PS, I misspoke while recording this video. I meant to say “3 decades”, not “2 decades”.

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

04/22/2026

Since these are the things that I do for my skin and personal health, it does not mean everyone should be doing what I’m doing. At the end of the day, everyone’s health is unique to them. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

04/21/2026

My patient said their eczema started to change after doing this.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck with your eczema, and are ready to stop guessing and start investigating what’s happening, I’d love to work together. I’m currently accepting new patients at .co in DTLA.

Whenever you’re ready, tap the link in my bio to start working together💙

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

04/17/2026

In addition to asking q’s about diet & gut symptoms, I aim to complete physical assessment to gain further understanding and complete any pertinent/warranted lab work. I essentially aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of someone’s gut health if I suspect that there’s a gut-skin axis component contributing to their concerns.

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

04/17/2026

Adult acne can feel frustrating, especially when you’ve tried countless products, cleansers, or routines and it still keeps showing up.

As a naturopathic doctor, I approach acne from the inside out. Often, the skin reflects what’s happening beneath the surface in areas like hormones, digestion, stress physiology, and nutrient balance.

In my latest post, I share how lab testing can help uncover root causes that aren’t always visible at the skin level, and how I use a holistic and methodical process (intake, physical assessment, and tailored labs) to form a clearer picture of someone’s skin health.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your adult acne journey, there may be deeper answers waiting to be found.

Read the full post here: https://www.drbryantesquejo.com/blog/2026/4/17/adult-acne-root-causes-and-lab-testing

If you’re ready to explore your skin from a more holistic lens, you can book a consultation through my website: https://www.drbryantesquejo.com

In this post, I share how I approach lab work as one tool for exploring the underlying factors that may be contributing to adult acne from my perspective as a licensed naturopathic doctor.

04/16/2026

Some hormones that scientists have linked to acne:

• Androgen hormones: Researchers suggest these hormones play a role in excess oil production, which is one of the four known pathological factors that play a role in the development of acne. Ref- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27621661/

• Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH): Stress-related hormone that scientists suggest the contribute to oil production. Ref- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12011471/

• Insulin: Blood sugar-related hormone that researchers suggest may lead to downstream production of androgens and impact oil production. Ref- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23614736/

There are many more hormones scientists have associated to acne, with many of them appearing to be interconnected with other internal systems, like the gut and more.

I chat about this and much more in Precision Analytical Inc.’s podcast episode for The DUTCH Podcast: https://dutchtest.com/podcasts/acne-hormones-gut-health

In this episode, Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton sits down with Dr. Bryant Esquejo to unpack acne through a functional medicine lens.

04/16/2026

While these are the things that I do for my skin, you should always consult your doctor before starting anything new. Why? Well, root issues of skin barrier dysfunction can differ from person to person. Basically, my skin isn’t your skin, right?

If you’re searching for personalized, holistic solutions, I’d love to help you out! We can work together to draw up a plan to uncover & address the underlying factors playing a role in your skin concerns.

✅Go to the link in my bio for booking with me

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

References:
Imokawa G, Abe A, Jin K, Higaki Y, Kawashima M, Hidano A. Decreased level of ceramides in stratum corneum of atopic dermatitis: an etiologic factor in atopic dry skin? J Invest Dermatol. 1991 Apr;96(4):523-6. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12470233. PMID: 2007790.

Trompette A, Pernot J, Perdijk O, Alqahtani RAA, Domingo JS, Camacho-Muñoz D, Wong NC, Kendall AC, Wiederkehr A, Nicod LP, Nicolaou A, von Garnier C, Ubags NDJ, Marsland BJ. Gut-derived short-chain fatty acids modulate skin barrier integrity by promoting keratinocyte metabolism and differentiation. Mucosal Immunol. 2022 May;15(5):908-926. doi: 10.1038/s41385-022-00524-9. Epub 2022 Jun 7. PMID: 35672452; PMCID: PMC9385498.

04/15/2026

Just over 1 in 10 women in their 40s are reported to experience adult acne according to researchers (PMID: 22171979). My patient in her 40s said her adult cystic acne started to change after doing this.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck with your acne, and are ready to stop guessing and start investigating what’s happening, I’d love to work together. I’m currently accepting new patients at The Things We Do in DTLA.

Whenever you’re ready, tap the link in my bio to start working together💙

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

04/15/2026

I had the great opportunity to chat about acne, hormones, gut health, and inflammatory response on Precision Analytical Inc.’s The DUTCH Podcast with Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton, ND this week.

In the podcast episode, we chat about:
- How acne is more than just a surface-level issue, and could be seen as a reflection of internal systems, like hormones, blood sugar, inflammatory response, and the gut
- How insulin resistance and androgen status could be deeper drivers of acne
- The influence of nutrition, stress, sleep, and the gut microbiome
- How testing approaches could reveal hidden imbalances in the body
- Seeing acne as an opportunity to better understand the body and optimize whole-body wellness

If these are topics that interest you, take a listen, share it with your community, and let me know what you think of it: https://dutchtest.com/podcasts/acne-hormones-gut-health

In this episode, Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton sits down with Dr. Bryant Esquejo to unpack acne through a functional medicine lens.

04/15/2026

Anyone w/ eczema-prone and/or acne-prone skin out there? What was your experience w/ hypochlorous acid?

Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

References:
Fukuyama T, Martel BC, Linder KE, Ehling S, Ganchingco JR, Bäumer W. Hypochlorous acid is antipruritic and anti-inflammatory in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2018 Jan;48(1):78-88. doi: 10.1111/cea.13045. Epub 2017 Nov 15. PMID: 29028288.

Berman, B. and Nestor, M. 2017. An Investigator Blinded Randomized Study Evaluating HOCl in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis-Associated Pruritus. SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine. 1, 3.1 (Oct. 2017), s40. DOI:https://doi.org/10.25251/skin.1.supp.39.

Tirado-Sánchez A, Ponce-Olivera RM. Efficacy and tolerance of superoxidized solution in the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne. A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized, clinical trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2009;20(5):289-92. doi: 10.1080/09546630902973995. PMID: 19459079.

04/14/2026

If you feel like you’ve tried everything for your skin and nothing has worked, you might not have tried a different way of seeing it.

Most skincare approaches address the skin as just a skin-level problem. But what if your skin is reflecting something happening with your internal physiology?

That’s the perspective I bring to every patient I work with. Instead of just adding more skincare products to the list, we start by understanding the internal physiological factors that could be driving your skin concerns.

A different viewpoint changes how you address it.

If you’re ready to approach your skin differently, I’m currently accepting new patients in Los Angeles at The Things We Do. Book a consultation through the link in my bio.

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.

04/13/2026

My thoughts on beef tallow.
What were your experiences w/ beef tallow skincare? I’d love to know!🩵

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Disclaimer: The information in this post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new.