In many skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, neurodermatitis and acne, acupuncture is very effective. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the skin is related to the internal body organs, especially the lung and the large intestine and stomach. Both “repletion” and “vacuity” conditions on those channels, can be helped by acupuncture therapy.
There are a few patterns of acne type which need to be diagnosed before acupuncture therapy- these can be told by a visual inspection of the lesions themselves.

  • Red acne spots indicate heat; the redder the colour, the more heat.
  • Bright or dark red acne pimple tell replete heat, pale red pimple means vacuity heat.
  • Purple acne rosacea indicates stasis. Purplish red acne rosacea means stasis heat. Nodulations under the skin are a sign of phlegm nodulation.
  • The cystic acne, white matter extruded from comedones is phlegm, dampness and turbidity.
  • Actual pus of acne tells of damp heat toxins.
  • Oily, greasy skin indicates dampness and damp heat.
  • Large lesions, big acne spot, tell of repletion.
  • Multiple small, widely diffuse lesion acne spots indicate vacuity.