Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Acne (pimples)

Acne, also known as pimples are a chronic inflammation of the sebaceous hair follicles, most of them located on the face, chest and back. These are manifested as pimples, pustules, nodules, cysts and other types of skin damage. Acne is more common in adolescent girls and boys and 40-year-old menopausal women because of unbalanced hormones. In particular, acne can be seen in women who stop taking birth control pills. In the acne treatment market, the common drug is Accutane, but it was found to have a significant role in liver damage. Moreover, hormone therapy also has many adverse effects on the human body.Most of the external treatments can only be used to treat existing acne, but cannot control new acne from forming. The goal now is to look for a natural and effective treatment method.

Reasons of acne formation are related to higher levels of androgens and microorganisms infecting the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. In puberty, androgen secretion is increased, which can cause increased number of sebaceous gland synthesis and excessive sebum excretion.  It makes the upper hair follicle keratosis proliferate which causes pores to be blocked and results in acne. In addition, when the use of long-term use of birth control pills or other female hormones is suddenly terminated, estrogen will be decreased and androgen will increase in the body. There are other reasons such as, genetics, diet, gastrointestinal disorders, environmental factors, cosmetics and psychological factors etc.

According to the symptoms of acne, it consists of seven types, but there are three types are commonly seen in clinic. They are the papule, pustule, and nodular types. Early acne lesions are mostly blockages in pores; these include two kinds; whiteheads and blackheads. Acne may produce red papules, pustules, nodules, abscesses, cysts and scars in the development process.

Acne is treated with acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Acupuncture is generally two or three times a week while Chinese herbal medicine is taken orally twice a day. Acupuncture is mainly to clear the skin of acne, immediately shrinking its size, ultimately leading it to disappear and finally repairing the skin. Chinese herbal medicine can clear the body of toxins and regulate the disruptions of internal organ functions, this way acne will never regenerate. Improvements can usually be seen in one week. The patients usually need two to five weeks or longer treatments in order to be completely cured.

A 32-year-old female, she complained that she has had acne on her forehead and bilateral cheeks for six months. She had been for taking birth control pills for three years, she stopped using it six months ago, and then she started getting acne on her forehead, gradually the acne spread to the cheeks, and they come and go, one after another. Because of itching or scratching her skin was crusted and scarred. She had used cream and different kinds of antibiotics, but the acne has not had any improvement.  She underwent acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine treatments for five weeks. All of her acne disappeared and no new acne has formed. The skin on her face became smooth. One of her colleagues was very surprised and also came to our office for treatments.

Another 24-year-old male, he has nodular type acne on a large area of the face and neck for 6 years, the biggest nodule size was 1.5 X 1.5 cm. All of his acne was scattered on the forehead, cheeks, neck, chest and back. The color was red or purple, they were all hard, and sometimes they were painful. He tried a lot of different treatment methods such as cream, antibiotics, facial work, laser, and some supplements, but none helped. He became very depressed. He came to our clinic with a referral from his doctor. We put acupuncture needles on the acne nodules to soften them and drain the underlying pus, so we can ultimately eradicate them. At the same time he took the Chinese herbal formula. He had treatments twice a week for one month and half, and then he took the Chinese Herbal Formula for three months. He was completely cured at the end. 

More information please contacts Dr. Chen’s office:

Tel: 212-564-3324

Add: 161 Madison Ave 2N, New York, NY 10016

Web: www.acupunctureland.com

Email: dechengcen2000@yahoo.com