"In the past, acne was considered a natural phenomenon that subsided after adolescence," explains Professor Yao, a dermatology expert. "However, we now observe many individuals over 25, and even those in their 40s, still experiencing persistent acne breakouts."
Clearing Lung Heat and Regulating Secretions
Treatment principles vary depending on the age group of acne patients.
Post-adolescent acne is closely linked to endocrine imbalances. Treatment thus prioritizes regulating endocrine function, primarily by nourishing the kidneys. Herbal remedies such as Eclipta prostrata, Polygonum multiflorum, Ligustrum lucidum, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, and Phellodendron amurense may be used. For proprietary Chinese medicines, formulas like Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill) can be selected based on syndrome differentiation to nourish kidney yin.
For adolescent acne, treatment focuses on the upper jiao (e.g., lungs, upper respiratory tract), primarily clearing lung heat. Detoxifying herbs like honeysuckle, forsythia, and dandelion may be employed.
Generally, alongside pattern-differentiated herbal formulas, adjunctive medications may include androgen-suppressing drugs like cimetidine or methimazole, trace elements such as zinc gluconate, and antibiotics like erythromycin. A 4-week course of such combined therapy often yields excellent acne clearance.
Different acne types require different treatments
Certain special acne types necessitate specific medications. If a patient exhibits prominent cysts and hardened nodules that persist without resolution, add dampness-dispelling and phlegm-resolving herbs to promote circulation and unblock meridians. Dried tangerine peel, pinellia, and white mustard seed are ideal choices.
Severe whiteheads may indicate gastrointestinal damp-heat. Herbs that strengthen the spleen and transform dampness, such as Atractylodes and Phellodendron, can be employed.
Additionally, if the complexion appears dull, acne lesions are dark in color, and pigmentation marks persist, blood-activating herbs like Salvia, Cinnamomum, and Myrrh may be used.
Treating acne also requires observing stool consistency. If accompanied by constipation, it likely reflects external manifestations of gastrointestinal damp-heat, necessitating herbs like rhubarb and gypsum.
Acne is no longer exclusive to youth.
Professor Yao explains that numerous factors now disrupt the endocrine system, such as environmental pollution and delayed childbearing. Previously, marrying and having children in one's twenties was natural; this pattern has shifted, making hormonal imbalance common. Consequently, many women over 25 still experience acne.
Unlike post-adolescent acne, adolescent acne primarily stems from damp-heat in the lung and stomach, manifesting as excess patterns—such as prominent redness and swelling, with a tendency to form pustules. Why does lung heat cause acne?Traditional Chinese medicine holds that "the lungs are externally connected to the skin and hair," indicating a close physiological and pathological relationship between the lungs and skin. Additionally, "the lungs and large intestine are closely related," which explains why acne worsens during constipation.