The Allergist

• No to Olive Oil, Yes to What Works in Eczema Care

  “Atopic dermatitis is not just about what you see on the skin. It's about what the patient's experiencing.” Dr. Melinda GooderhamEczema care has become a world of creams, cleansers, oils, and myths — but what actually works? Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dr. Melinda Gooderham, assistant professor at Queen’s University and consultant physician at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. As principal investigator for more than 250 clinical trials, Dr. Gooderham brings both evidence and practical wisdom to the table.On this episode, they explore:Why barrier repair remains the cornerstone of therapy, and how humectants, emollients, and occlusives play distinct rolesThe evidence behind natural oils (and why olive oil is out while coconut, sunflower seed oil, and shea butter may have a place)Bathing basics: frequency, water temperature, and whether bleach baths still matterHow to choose topical steroid potency and when to pivot toward non-steroidal optionsThe promise of newer agents: calcineurin inhibitors, PDE-4 inhibitors like roflumilast, and topical JAK inhibitorsWhen to escalate to systemic therapy, with itch and quality of life as key markersEczema may be complex and misunderstood, but Dr. Gooderham reminds us that consistent barrier care, adequate product use, and asking the right questions about itch can simplify management and improve patient outcomes.Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyFind an allergist using our helpful toolFind Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_caThe Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

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• Solving the Mystery of Mastocytosis — Tests, Treatments and Triggers

  “You will think it is mastocytosis much more often than you'll actually diagnose mastocytosis.” — Dr. Matthieu PicardMastocytosis is rare, complex, and often confused with other mast cell disorders. To help clinicians cut through the confusion, Dr. Mariam Hanna welcomes Dr. Mathieu Picard, allergist and clinical immunologist, who has built a dedicated practice caring for patients with mast cell diseases. Together, they explore what physicians need to know about diagnosis, monitoring, and management.On this episode:Adults: Around 80% of adults with skin lesions have systemic mastocytosis, and the disease typically persists.Children: Pediatric cases are almost always cutaneous and often resolve by puberty.When to order a tryptase — and why a normal result doesn’t rule out systemic diseaseThe role of KIT D816V mutation testing and why biopsy technique mattersKey risks to monitor in indolent systemic mastocytosis: anaphylaxis, osteoporosis, and rare progression to advanced diseasePractical tips for patient care, including venom immunotherapy considerations, osteoporosis screening, and symptom control strategiesMastocytosis may be rare, but it doesn’t take uncommon skill to spot — just the right tools, a sharp eye, and maybe a tongue depressor scratched five times.Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyFind an allergist using our helpful toolFind Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_caThe Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

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• Finding the Fix for Chronic Cough

  “At least 60% don't respond to anything or who have been to somebody else before and they've come to me and they've tried everything and failed” — Dr. Imran SatiaDr. Imran Satia, Respirologist and Associate Professor at McMaster University and Canada Research Chair in Chronic Cough, joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to walk clinicians through a practical, evidence-based approach to diagnosing and managing chronic cough. With decades of research and clinical experience, Dr. Satia explains how to define chronic cough and its subtypes, recognize red flags, and navigate the common — and less common — causes that keep patients coughing for years.On this episode, you’ll hear:The difference between chronic cough, refractory chronic cough, and unexplained chronic cough — and why the terminology matters for treatment.The key investigations every patient with chronic cough should have, and how to interpret results in the context of cough hypersensitivity.The role and real-world value of methacholine challenge, FeNO, induced sputum, and sputum culture in refining diagnosis and guiding therapy.Why empiric ICS–LABA and PPI trials aren’t always the right move — and when they are.Management strategies for patients who don’t respond to initial treatment, starting with a low-dose morphine trial, followed by neuromodulators, speech therapy, and clinical trial options.By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clear, step-by-step framework for assessing chronic cough, avoiding unnecessary treatments, and helping even the most refractory patients find relief.Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyFind an allergist using our helpful toolFind Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_caThe Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

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• Going viral for the right reasons: join the fight against misinformation

  “Putting yourself out there online as a doctor is not easy. But staying silent while misinformation spreads—that felt worse.” —Dr. Amiirah AujnarainDr. Amiirah Aujnarain has built a community of 80,000 followers by blending evidence-based allergy education with a candid, human presence online. On this episode of The Allergist, she joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to examine how social media is shaping allergy conversations—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.From Benadryl challenges to dupilumab searches on TikTok, patients are turning to social media for answers long before they see a specialist. Dr. Aujnarain shares how she’s meeting them where they are, and why she sees it as both a responsibility and a creative outlet.This episode covers:How allergy misinformation spreads on social media—and what physicians can do about itWhy patients are using TikTok like Google, and how that’s changing referral patternsWhat physicians should consider before joining social media, including boundary-setting, time commitment, and emotional labourThe upside of being a visible, human face of allergy care—and the backlash that can come with itWhether you’re thinking about launching your own account or simply wondering how your patients are being influenced online, this conversation is an honest look at the power and pitfalls of digital engagement.Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyFind an allergist using our helpful toolFind Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_caThe Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

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• The GI Guide for Allergists: A Deep Dive with Dr. Avinashi

  “I can’t think of any medical condition where you can have this type of fry but not that type of fry.” —Dr. Vish AvanashiPediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Vish Avinashi joins Dr. Mariam Hanna for an episode that jumps head first into the overlapping world of allergy and GI. From ARFID to EOE, they talk about the murky middle ground where food fears, immune triggers, and gut symptoms collide—and how allergists can better navigate it all with the help of a friendly gastroenterologist.How to recognize ARFID and why history, not testing, is your best diagnostic toolCommon pitfalls in celiac diagnosis—and why a positive TTG doesn’t always mean celiacNew, and surprising treatments for IBS, including nerve stimulation and gut-directed hypnotherapyWhat the microbiome research does—and doesn’t—tell usUnderstanding fibrosis in EOE and when to skip dietary eliminationWhen it comes to navigating the overlap between allergy and GI, remember: always learning, always listening, always befriending a gastroenterologist.Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyFind an allergist using our helpful toolFind Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_caThe Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

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