If your blood work keeps coming back "normal" but your skin, sleep, and hormones say otherwise, this episode explains exactly what's getting missed.
In this episode, Katie and Cris pull back the curtain on the functional labs they've been using in their acne practice since 2020, long before anyone else was using them for skin. They break down why standard blood labs only capture a snapshot of one moment, how your body quietly buffers its blood chemistry to keep things looking "fine," and why that masking is the reason so many people feel awful with textbook-normal results. From the HTMA they run as a foundation, to the GI Map for gut, to the DUTCH for hormones, they walk through what each test actually reveals, the exact order they run them in, and why "more is more" testing usually just wastes your money. If you've ever been handed a clean lab report and told nothing's wrong, this one's for you.
In This Episode We Cover
- Why your blood labs can look "normal" while deeper imbalances are quietly wrecking your skin.
- How your body buffers blood pH by pulling minerals from your bones and tissue (and why that hides deficiencies).
- What an HTMA reveals about your minerals, stress patterns, and heavy metal exposure that blood work never will.
- Why Katie and Cris always run an HTMA before a GI Map or a DUTCH.
- The top three mineral imbalances they see again and again in acne clients.
- Why starting with a DUTCH hormone test is usually a waste of your money (and when to actually run one).
Resources & Links Mentioned
Work With Us + Connect
- Ready to start? Clearer Skin in 30 Days is your next step.
- Need one-on-one help? The Clear Skin Solution includes an HTMA for every client plus custom protocols and support for your whole six-month journey.
- Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiestewartwellness
- Loved this episode? Leave us a review, it truly helps more people find the show! 🙏
What is Keep It Clear?
Struggling with acne, hormones, or gut issues that no one seems to explain in plain English? Keep It Clear is the podcast that cuts through the noise. ✨
Hosted by Registered Holistic Nutritionists and acne experts Katie Stewart and Cris Brown, who've helped 3,000+ clients across 15+ countries clear their skin from the inside out.
Every episode breaks down what your skin and body actually need, across the 5 things that drive breakouts: gut health, detoxification, hormonal balance, nervous system regulation, and nourishing skincare. You'll get practical tips, real client stories, and clinical answers to the questions you've been Googling at 1am. 💜
Because clear isn't just about your skin. It's about feeling confident, balanced, and aligned in every part of your health.
In a world that makes women's health way too complicated, this show keeps it simple: clear skin, clear body, clear mind, clear life. Tune in and let's Keep It Clear.
(Formerly The Clear Skin Chronicles.)
💻 Website: katiestewartwellness.com
📱 Instagram: @katiestewartwellness