Acne

Acne Vulgaris is a chronic inflammation of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.  Occurring in adolescence and presenting as skin lesions that become red inflamed papules and sometimes developing into nodules/cysts/abscesses/ulcerations.    Acne occurs on the face, neck, upper part of the chest and back.  Organs involved in Chinese medicine are the Kidney the Lungs, with some stomach involvement along with pathogens in the body which are blood heat, phlegm and toxic heat.  Other pathogens like dryness (deficiency of liver blood), wind (itchy skin)and blood stasis (bluish color) do have an involvement in this case.   There are a couple of differentiations and treatment of this common syndromes 1. Blood heat, hence the red nature of the papules, burning  feeling, itching 2, Phlegm-accumulation, cystic acne 3. Toxic heat type inflamed skin, malar flush, scattered inflamed nodules, acnes abscesses on the face. Acupuncture treatment of the patient is Facial Acupuncture, distal acupuncture points on the body and herbs to take in pill form and lotions to calm the skin and clear up infections.  Diet should be less greasy food, avoid heavy dairy and spicy food  whilst increasing your diet with more green organic fruit & veg and drinking more water at room temperature and exercising.  Try  A natural facial scrub is recommend i.e. sea salt