The Connection Between Gut Health and Dermatologic Diseases

In the first of this 3-part HCPLive Special Report series, Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research, sits down with his wife, Adalina Hung, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist. Hung is known for her role as director of the IBD Program at Sinai Health System Chicago and as a clinical assistant professor at the Rosalind Franklin University Medical School.

Together, the duo explores the overlapping immunologic and barrier-based mechanisms shared between dermatologic and gastrointestinal diseases. Hung describes how both the skin and gut serve as immunologically active barrier organs, and how disruption in either can activate similar inflammatory pathways—such as TNF and interleukin (IL)-23—highlighting the clinical overlap seen in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis or hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

The couple reflects on the bidirectional relationship between skin and GI diseases and stresses the importance of dermatologists recognizing extracutaneous signs of GI disease, including alopecia, dermatitis herpetiformis, or pruritus as potential presenting symptoms. Hung and Chovatiya advocate for increased interdisciplinary collaboration in diagnosis and management, noting that such conversations can lead to better treatment strategies, improved patient education, and more cohesive care across specialties.

Editors’ note: Chovatiya has reported serving as an advisor, consultant, speaker, and/or investigator for AbbVie, Amgen, Apogee Therapeutics, Arcutis, Argenx, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Beiersdorf, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cara Therapeutics, Dermavant, Eli Lilly and Company, FIDE, Formation Bio, Galderma, Genentech, GSK, Incyte, LEO Pharma, L’Oréal, Nektar Therapeutics, Novartis, Opsidio, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron, RAPT, Sanofi, Sitryx, and UCB. Hung has no relevant disclosures.

This summary was created with the help of artificial intelligence tools.