Some believe acne appears randomly, popping up wherever it pleases. However, traditional Chinese medicine holds that acne does not "appear haphazardly." The pattern and location of acne outbreaks often reveal insights into our bodily condition.
Some may attribute facial acne to internal heat. While true, acne often seems to "disregard propriety," appearing wherever it pleases—especially on the most visible parts of the face. Traditional Chinese Medicine asserts that acne does not "appear randomly." The form and location of acne often foreshadow underlying health conditions.
Acne Locations as Health Indicators
TCM identifies four primary causes of acne: lung heat, damp-heat, heat-toxin, and blood stasis. The specific body location and appearance of acne often assist practitioners in diagnosing the underlying cause and prescribing targeted treatments.
Acne caused by lung heat typically appears on the face and forehead, often accompanied by pustules. In such cases, TCM practitioners usually prescribe herbs that clear lung heat and cool the blood.
Acne on the cheeks and chin is mostly due to internal damp-heat. Patients should take herbs that clear heat and transform dampness.As for heat-toxin acne, the condition is more severe, with the patient's face flushed red and yellow pus oozing out. The medications used must be stronger. Blood stasis acne develops when acne persists without healing, appearing purple or dark red.