Can acupuncture be used to fight acne?

Recently, actress Zhang Xinyu posted a selfie of herself undergoing acupuncture on Weibo, which sparked heated discussions. In the photo, Zhang Xinyu's face was pierced with dozens of fine needles, fire needles, and some Chinese medicine was prescribed to treat acne. Is acupuncture really effective in treating acne? Why can acupuncture also treat acne? How should we stay away from acne in our daily lives?

The medical name for acne is acne. It is affected by work and rest, eating habits, stress and emotions, and it not only lasts longer in adolescence, but also troubles more and more adults. The long-term existence of acne-like skin lesions will affect physical and mental health. Experts remind you: Treat acne as early as possible!

"TCM acupuncture combined with cupping therapy is not only effective in treating acne, but also has many advantages over other therapies. For example, it helps regulate sub-health, and some accompanying symptoms, such as bad breath, constipation, and excessive body fat secretion, will improve." Dr. Zang Ping, chief Chinese medicine doctor of the Acupuncture Department of Nanjing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, said that in the treatment of acne with TCM, the syndrome type must be identified first. Clinically, acne is generally divided into the following three syndrome types:

Lung meridian wind-heat type: The patient's affected area has red papules, or itching and pain, or pustules; the tongue is red, with a thin yellow coating. Generally, facial acupuncture treatment and cupping on the back acupoints are used.

Gastrointestinal damp-heat type: The patient has an oily face, red, swollen and painful rash, or pustules; the tongue is red, with a greasy yellow coating. Generally, facial acupuncture, cupping and bloodletting treatments are used.

Phlegm-dampness and blood stasis type: The rash is dark red, mainly composed of nodules, abscesses, cysts and scars; the tongue is dark red with a thin yellow coating. It is usually treated by puncturing the cyst with facial fire needles to squeeze out the blocked contents, and cupping and bloodletting at the back-shu points.

Zang Ping introduced that among the three syndromes, the first two are more common and will generally be effective after 1-2 treatments of traditional Chinese medicine. The third syndrome is more severe and needs to be treated according to the course of treatment. Girls generally have more of the first two types, while boys have more of the third type because of their high androgen levels.

The formation of acne is closely related to lifestyle habits. Pay attention to regular diet, maintain a normal work and rest schedule, try to avoid staying up late, eat less spicy, stimulating, fatty and greasy food, and pay attention to proper exercise. Keep a happy mood and avoid long-term anxiety, tension and other negative emotions. Pay attention to skin cleanliness and do not abuse skin care products.

Experts remind that acne patients should go to a regular hospital and, after the doctor's four diagnostic tests of observation, auscultation, questioning and palpation, choose the appropriate treatment method based on each patient's physical attributes and syndrome type.

Correspondent/Yang Pu; Reporter/Yang Yu