Acne
AliasPimples
Traditional Chinese Medicine Definition
Acne, also known as milia, falls under the category of "Pulmonary Wind Acne" in traditional Chinese medicine. According to "Internal Medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine," acne is characterized by excessive sebum secretion, obstruction of pores, leading to boils on the skin, which are red, swollen, and painful, sometimes with pustules. It commonly occurs in young men and women. This condition is often caused by wind-heat in the lung meridian and damp-heat in the gastrointestinal tract, with a predilection for the face, nose, and chest and back areas.
In clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine, the pathogenesis of acne is primarily rooted in wind-heat in the lung meridian or damp-heat in the gastrointestinal tract. Common precipitating factors include irregular diet, emotional disturbances, and irregular lifestyle. During diagnosis, it is essential to differentiate between cold, heat, deficiency, and excess. Wind-heat in the lung meridian manifests as red and swollen acne on the face, predominantly on the forehead, and the treatment approach is to clear the lung and release heat, and to disperse wind and detoxify. Damp-heat in the gastrointestinal tract presents as greasy papules and pustules on the face, accompanied by halitosis and constipation, with the treatment approach being to clear heat and drain dampness, and to promote bowel movement and detoxification. The overall treatment strategy suggests that in clinical practice, a combination of internal and external methods is often employed to adjust the functions of the internal organs, restore the balance of Qi and blood, and achieve the goal of treating acne.
Common Syndrome Types and Key Points of Differentiation
Lung Meridian Wind-Heat Syndrome
Main Manifestations: Acne on the face, mainly on the forehead, with redness and swelling
Management Approach: Clear Lung Heat, Dispel Wind and Detoxify
Intestinal and Stomach Damp-Heat Syndrome
Main Manifestations: Oily comedones and pustules on the face, halitosis and constipation
Management Approach: Clear Heat and Drain Dampness, Promote Bowel Function and Detoxify
The above syndrome information is based on traditional Chinese medicine textbooks and clinical standards. Specific differentiation should be completed by a practicing traditional Chinese medicine physician in person.
Physician's Clinical Insights
In clinical practice, most acne patients present with excessive heat in the lung and stomach meridians, and it is often necessary to consider both clearing heat and detoxification while also nourishing dryness and moistening the body fluids.
— Li Mingjiu Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
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This page is for the popular science of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Specific diagnosis should be completed by a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in person.
This article has been reviewed by licensed TCM physicians at Hangzhou Kezhentang TCM Clinic. It is for TCM popular science reference only and does not involve specific treatment plan recommendations.
References: Internal Medicine of TCM (13th Five-Year Plan Textbook), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Effectiveness Standards for TCM Diseases and Syndromes (ZY/T001.1-94), Classification and Codes of TCM Diseases and Syndromes (GB/T 15657-2021)