The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology

Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta are joined by Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, a licensed clinical professional counselor and food-allergy parent. Together, they dig into what food allergy anxiety actually looks like in teenagers, why some teens take more risks as they get older, and what parents can do to support their teens without making things worse.

What we cover in this episode is about food allergy anxiety in teens:

What makes teenagers a high-risk group for food allergy reactions. Independence is increasing at the exact same time parental oversight is decreasing, and that combination creates real safety concerns.

What food allergy risk-taking actually looks like. It is not always what parents expect, and some of it is just teens figuring out how to belong.

Food allergy social anxiety is its own distinct experience. The fear of looking different, being a burden, or standing out can drive behavior just as much as the fear of a reaction.

Why parental anxiety matters more than most parents realize. The way parents talk about food allergies often directly affects how teens handle them.

How to build confidence and ownership in your teen. What to do when a teen is either too anxious or not anxious enough.

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Food allergy anxiety in kids is real, and it does not always look like fear. It can show up as tantrums, clinginess, control-seeking behaviors, or a child who refuses to eat at a restaurant. Child life specialist and therapist Kelsey Mora joins Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta to unpack what is really going on. 

What we cover in our episode about managing anxiety in kids

Food allergy anxiety does not always look like anxiety. Tantrums, clinginess, and control-seeking behaviors can all be signs that a child is struggling.

Language matters from the start. How parents explain food allergies to young children can build confidence or quietly reinforce fear.

Separation anxiety and food allergies are connected. Dependence on parents can make it harder for kids to navigate school, parties, and social situations on their own.

Practicing independence at home builds real-world skills. Exposure to allergens in a safe home environment teaches confidence and communication skills kids need everywhere else.

Passing parental anxiety onto kids. Co-regulation starts with the caregiver, when parents are anxious, kids have a harder time calming down.

Helpful resources

Food allergy anxiety information from Allergy & Asthma Network

Kelsey's practice and services: childlifetherapist.com 

Kelsey's workbooks and resources: themethodworkbooks.com 

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Mia Silverman, food allergy advocate, joins us to talk about the real emotional and practical side of dating with food allergies. From what the research says about kissing risks to setting boundaries to why your allergies might actually be the best filter you have.

What we cover in this episode about dating with food allergies

When to tell someone about your food allergies. Mia shares why she brings up her allergies early and how she works it into her dating app profile without making it a big deal.

Fear of rejection. Mia opens up about being ghosted and bullied, and how she learned to reframe rejection as a filter rather than a failure.

The risks of kissing with food allergies. Dr. Gupta breaks down what the research actually says about allergens in saliva and what your partner can do to reduce the risk.

Intimacy beyond kissing. From latex-free condoms to body fluids, Dr. Gupta covers what food allergy patients need to know about being safely intimate with a partner.

Date ideas and setting boundaries. Mia shares practical tips for early dates, setting food-allergy rules, and keeping the conversation open without making it feel overwhelming.

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

If you have asthma, there is a good chance you have learned to live around it. You sleep with your inhaler on the nightstand. You skip the walk because you know it will leave you breathless. This is called uncontrolled asthma, and it is more common than you think. But here is the thing: none of that is normal, and none of it is something you have to accept.

Dr. Juanita Mora, allergist and immunologist, joins Kortney and Dr. Gupta to help patients figure out whether their asthma is actually being managed the way it should be, and what to do if it is not.

What we cover in this episode about asthma symptoms and control

What well-managed asthma actually looks like. Dr. Mora explains what life should feel like when your asthma is properly treated, and why so many patients have accepted a version of their life that is smaller than it needs to be.

Why frequent flare-ups are a warning sign. Why underlying airway swelling is dangerous and why catching it early matters.

The Rules of 2. Five questions covering daytime symptoms, nighttime waking, rescue inhaler use, inhaler refills, and steroid use that can help you figure out if your asthma needs more attention.

When to ask for a referral. If you are answering yes to any of these questions and your treatment plan is not changing, it may be time to push for a referral to an allergist or pulmonologist who has more tools to help.

First steps you can take with ControlYourAsthma.org. Dr. Mora walks through the campaign website, available in English and Spanish, including videos, the Rules of 2 quiz, and access to a free asthma coach.

More resources

ControlYourAsthma.org

ControlarTuAsma.org

Free Asthma Coach Program

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Sanofi-Regeneron for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

When a child is diagnosed with a food allergy, one of the first things many parents wonder is, "Did I do something wrong?" and "Did I cause my child's food allergy?" You question if it was something you ate or didn't eat during pregnancy, whether you breastfed long enough, or if you introduced foods too late. The guilt is real, and it is incredibly common.

Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta sit down with Dr. Joanne Moreau, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, to unpack exactly how food allergies develop, and why no parent should carry the weight of blame.

What we cover in this episode about food allergy development and parent guilt

How food allergies develop. The immune system, genetics, and environment all play a role, and science is still uncovering why.

Food allergy genetics and family history. A parent with asthma, eczema, or hay fever raises a child's risk, even without a food allergy themselves.

Pregnancy diet, breastfeeding, and food allergy. No conclusive evidence links what a mother eats during pregnancy, or whether she breastfeeds, to whether a child develops food allergies.

Eczema and food allergy. Cracked or inflamed skin lets food proteins in before the gut can build tolerance, which can trigger sensitization.

Early allergen introduction. Introducing allergenic foods between 4 and 6 months of age, and keeping them in the diet consistently, is one of the best tools we have.

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.