Glowing skin is always in.

In Chinese medicine there are a number of different patterns we see in regards to acne, eczema and other skin issues, some of the common ones are; blood stagnation, too much internal heat, lung heat, stomach heat, damp, or a combination of patterns. Depending on what the root cause is for you, depends on what type of treatment will work best.

The types of pimples/acne you have on your face vary depending on what is causing your skin issues, but you always need to look at the internal aspect not just the external, this means finding the root cause within the body and treating that. For example red, hot and raw acne which is more of an internal heat condition, pus type pimples which indicates excess damp pathology in Chinese medicine, if the pimples are purple in colour and hard to clear this is more of a blood stagnation diagnosis. Also the location on the face can provide details about what the root cause is, for example having pimples along the chin or jaw usually is due to poor digestion and/ or hormonal imbalance.

Some simple lifestyle changes have been shown to help clear some skin issues:

Changing your diet: Foods that are seen as hot in nature should be avoided like spicy, greasy foods, coffee, alcohol or chocolate. Increase foods that are considered cool and moisturising to the body such as green leafy vegetables and some fruits. Cold and raw foods and drinks should be avoided especially in the cooler months of the year, as they have a negative impact on your digestion and helping break down foods easily.

Slow down: Easy to say but hard to do. Excess stress which leads to excess cortisol running through your body, can also play havoc on your skin. Herbal medicine and acupuncture may be an option to help you reduce your stress which can clear your skin.

Exercise: Moving the body helps to eliminate toxins from the body, even more beneficial is doing exercises such as yoga, tai chi which can also help reduce your stress levels, double bonus.

Depending on your skin type and what the root cause is, cosmetic acupuncture can assist with restoring balance from the outside of the skin, Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture can help restore the balance back into your body, which will ultimately all show on the outside.