18 Mar 2025
By: Yi TCM Admin
Skin conditions can be an ongoing issue that causes many problems and even hurts people’s self-confidence. Thankfully, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can serve as an adjuvant therapy alongside conventional treatments to resolve these conditions effectively with minimal discomfort. Here are some of the common skin problems TCM can help with.
Acne is an inflammatory condition where the skin’s pores become clogged. In TCM, a disruption in the balance of the lungs is the leading cause of acne, typically when there is an excess accumulation of heat. When this happens, the lungs lose the Yin essence that helps nourish the skin, leading to gradual inflammation of the pores as the heat seeps into the skin. It typically occurs due to poor lifestyle choices, including overconsuming hot, spicy foods and sleeping late.
Sensitive skin can cause various complications, including itchy skin and allergic reactions to certain ingredients in skincare products. It can even be the catalyst for acne breakouts. Like acne, a lung Yin deficiency is the leading cause of sensitive skin, manifesting symptoms like itchiness and reddish rashes. External factors like wind and heat can also exacerbate sensitive skin, interrupting blood and Qi circulation, leading to further skin complications.
Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is another inflammatory condition characterised by dry skin, rashes, redness, and itching in random body areas, especially near the skin folds where the limbs bend. Eczema stems from deficiencies caused by wind, dampness, and heat due to eating too many greasy, oily foods. As a result, it causes an imbalance in hormone levels and even disrupts healthy blood and Qi flow, resulting in blockages that exacerbate the condition. It can also impair the stomach and spleen, where the organs cannot convert food and drink into the nutrients and essence the body needs to function optimally, leading to eczema rashes.
Rosacea causes long-term redness on various skin parts that looks like sunburn; it may also feel hot and tender. TCM views rosacea as a result of energy stagnation, a “heat condition,” where stagnant heat accumulates in the lungs, stomach, or spleen. When there is too much heat, it can “rise” to the face to cause inflammation that then manifests as rosacea symptoms like redness and inflammation. Impaired blood and Qi flow are also prime contributing factors, as this residual heat causes a congestion “thickening” of blood that hinders its circulation. Stress and emotional factors may also contribute to worsening rosacea symptoms.
Curiously, ringworm is a skin condition caused by fungi, not an actual worm. The name comes from the reddish, ring-shaped rash with a scaly border that forms on your skin and can spread on close contact. Ringworm results from an imbalance in Qi flow and external factors like dampness and heat that “invade” your body, gradually weakening its inner harmony. Sometimes, your environment can make you more susceptible to external factors. The more external factors enter your body, the more susceptible you are to ringworm.
This skin condition is an autoimmune disease that causes a discoloured rash with sore, itchy, and scaly patches that can form anywhere on the body. TCM views psoriasis as manifesting from negative emotions that manifest an accumulation of heat, resulting in blood “overheating” that leads to gradual blood stagnation and even a loss in bodily fluids. The external factors of dampness and cold also exacerbate psoriasis as your body’s harmony weakens and becomes more susceptible to these external factors.
Hives cause itchy, raised welts of reddish or pinkish tone to appear on your skin, and these welts may sometimes sting from time to time. It can also arise due to seasonal and environmental changes that may trigger hives. To TCM, hives results from the sudden onset of the external factor wind that can combine with other external factors like heat and cold to manifest as symptoms of hives. An underlying disruption to blood and Qi flow can also contribute to hives, making you more susceptible to external factors.
TCM treatments rely on herbal medicines that aim to expel external pathogens from the body and gradually restore balance by improving blood flow and clearing up blockages in the meridians. Clearing these blockages ensures your body has a healthy flow of Qi (vital energy) to maintain internal balance and overall wellness.
The choice of herbs will typically depend on the nature of the pathogens affecting your skin health.
Astragalus, for example, can help boost your body’s immunity against external factors and reduce the risk or intensity of skin condition symptoms, especially if your skin condition arise due to qi deficiency.
Other common herbs used includes Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) which lower inflammation of the skin assiciated with ezcema,
Ginseng and goji berries which are also common choices as they are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that help to restore and protect the skin’s well-being.
Acupuncture can also help by gently inserting thin, sterilised needles at specific acupuncture points (acupoints) to undo Qi and blood flow blockages in your body. Acupuncture targets the acupoints around your body corresponding to particular meridians related to your skin condition, activating your internal healing mechanisms and promoting a gradual recovery from the imbalances impairing your skin health.
If needed, acupuncture can be accompanied by moxibustion, which is the burning of mugwort leaves close to the skin. Moxibustion offers benefits similar to acupuncture in using heat to remove internal blockages and promote healthy blood and Qi circulation. The practitioner may use a direct method, where the burning leaves are placed very close to the skin, or an indirect technique, where the heat is a short distance away.
At Yi TCM, we prioritise your well-being above all else. We provide holistic health care through Eastern and Western medical knowledge, in addition to fertility care. Contact us today for a detailed consultation to treat your skin condition and address other complications. Our highly qualified practitioners will provide suitable treatments and herbal remedies for your well-being.
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Ma, C., & Sivamani, R. K. (2015). Acupuncture as a Treatment Modality in Dermatology: A Systematic Review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.), 21(9), 520–529. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0274
Wu, B. (2015). Acupuncture and its role in treating skin disease. Retrieved February 20th 2025 from https://dermnetnz.org/topics/acupuncture-and-its-role-in-treating-skin-disease
