Functional laboratory education

The Radiance & Skin Lab Edit

Skin and hair can reflect nourishment, hormonal transitions, exposures, and local dermatologic conditions. Begin with the pattern on the skin, then investigate what the history makes plausible.

By Dr. Michele Burklund, ND · Updated November 1, 2026

Begin with the foundations

A question before a panel.

Begin with the question, then choose the test. Food, sleep, movement, connection, oral care, and relevant environmental changes remain the foundation. Laboratory work is most useful when a finding could change a decision.

01 / ANTIOXIDANT NOURISHMENT

Antioxidant Nourishment

Dietary history guides whether iron, zinc, or other nutrient testing is useful. More supplements are not automatically better; unnecessary iron or high-dose nutrients can cause harm.

02 / LIVER HEALTH IN CONTEXT

Liver Health In Context

The selected hepatic function panel measures liver-related enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin. It belongs in a skin-health discussion when history or other findings make it relevant; it does not measure skin quality or a general detox capacity.

03 / THE PATTERN ON THE SKIN

The Pattern On The Skin

Skin and scalp examination come first. Acne with signs of androgen excess, unexplained hair loss, or persistent irritation may justify targeted testing, but the two selected storefront panels are not a complete dermatology evaluation.

04 / YOUR NEXT STEP

Your Next Step

Choose a test only when its result may change care. Continue foundational skin care, adequate nutrition, and evaluation of persistent symptoms; do not add additional panels simply to fill a category.

A closer look

What the findings can tell us.

Hepatic function panel

Measures liver-related enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin to help assess aspects of liver health. In my skin-focused work, it offers broader context when health history, medications, or other findings make liver testing relevant. I consider it alongside nourishment and the full clinical picture; it is not a direct test of skin quality or a score of the body’s detoxification capacity.

Specimen
Blood; confirm the exact specimen and collection requirements on your order.

Timing & collection
Follow the instructions supplied with the exact order. Fasting and medication timing may change when tests are combined.

Interpret with the reason for testing, symptoms, medical history, and the laboratory method. An isolated result is not a diagnosis.

VIEW IN THE FULLSCRIPT LAB COLLECTION →

Micronutrients & antioxidants panel

Measures vitamins A, C, and E, together with coenzyme Q10, for a closer look at selected antioxidant nutrients. I consider these findings alongside food intake, digestion, and supplement use when exploring the nutritional foundations of skin health. The panel helps describe nutrient status; it does not measure collagen directly or predict how your skin will look.

Specimen
Serum, collected and handled by a phlebotomist.

Timing & collection
The identified Quest panel requires overnight fasting and has specific vitamin C, food, and morning CoQ10 preparation instructions. Review the current instructions with the ordering clinician.

This panel measures vitamins A, C, E, and CoQ10, not collagen, skin appearance, or every antioxidant system.

VIEW IN THE FULLSCRIPT LAB COLLECTION →

Collect with intention.

Collection depends on the selected blood test and clinical question. Follow laboratory instructions about supplements that may interfere with assays.

Keep the limits in view.

Normal blood results do not exclude a skin disorder. New, changing, bleeding, or persistent lesions need direct examination.

Results belong within your history, symptoms, examination, medications, and the laboratory's method. A reference interval is not a universal target for every person. There is no single validated set of 'optimal' values that applies across all assays and life stages.

Availability, ordering requirements, collection fees, and eligibility vary by test and location. Review the current Fullscript listing and your clinician's instructions before purchasing.

VIEW THE LAB COLLECTION ON FULLSCRIPT

Good questions. Thoughtful answers.

Do I need every test in this guide?

No. Choose a test only when its result may change a useful decision, taking existing results, symptoms and your budget into account.

Does an out-of-range result identify the root cause?

Not by itself. Interpretation depends on the assay, collection, history and the pattern across findings. A result can be one clue without being the explanation.

Where can I see ordering requirements?

Open the individual Fullscript listing for current availability, specimen instructions and eligibility. A collection may include alternatives rather than tests intended to be purchased together.