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Acne

How Chinese medicine differentiates acne, the four patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Severe cystic acne with scarring, or acne that doesn't respond to standard care, is best co-managed with a dermatologist.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for acne — 10 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, releases the Exterior, stops pain.
LU-10Clears Lung-Heat, promotes the descending of Lung-Qi, benefits the throat.
L.I.-11Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines, removes obstructions from the channel.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
ST-44Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines, resolves Damp-Heat.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, opens the chest, subdues rebellious Qi.
The Four Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs

Clinical manifestations: Red papules and pustules on the forehead, nose, and cheeks; oily facial skin; skin sensitivity or mild itching; a possible mild sore throat or thirst; common in adolescents during puberty; brought on by spicy or greasy food, hot or windy weather, stress, or overexertion; eased by cooling food, rest, washing with cool water, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Red tip with thin yellow coating, body slightly red. Pulse: Floating, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Dispel exterior Wind-Heat from the Lung channel, cool the Blood, resolve toxicity, support Lung-Qi diffusion to clear skin congestion.
Note: no moxa. This site's "Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs" slide is built around cough and respiratory symptoms with no facial-skin component, so it isn't a close enough match to link here.

2. Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen

Clinical manifestations: Oily, shiny facial and chest skin; inflamed pustules and red papules; bad breath; a bitter or sticky taste in the mouth; bloating and upper abdominal fullness; sticky or incomplete bowel movements; brought on by spicy, greasy or fried food, alcohol, hot humid weather, or irregular eating; eased by light cooling food, regular bowel habits, gentle exercise, or warm lemon water.
Tongue: Red body, possibly swollen with tooth marks, thick yellow greasy coating at the centre and root. Pulse: Soggy, Rapid, often Slippery.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat and drain Dampness from the Middle Burner, regulate Qi, harmonize digestive function to prevent Heat flaring upward to the skin.
Clear Damp-Heat
Harmonize digestion
Note: no moxa. This site's "Damp-Heat in the Stomach" slide is a digestive/sinus pattern without oily skin, pustules, or bowel-stickiness, so it isn't a close enough match to link here.

3. Empty-Heat Caused by Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Acne along the jawline and chin; worse before menstruation; night sweats; a hot sensation in the palms, soles and chest; a dry mouth and throat at night; red papules and small pustules that feel hot; brought on by stress and overwork, spicy or greasy food, insufficient sleep, or the premenstrual phase; eased by rest, cooling food, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry body with cracks and little or no coating. Pulse: Fine, Rapid, weak at the deep level, especially at the left rear (Kidney) position.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin to anchor unmoored Yang, clear deficiency Heat floating upward to the face.
Nourish Kidney-Yin
Local, clear Heat
Note: no moxa (Yin deficiency).

4. Phlegm-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Deep, painful nodules and cysts; scarring from past breakouts; oily skin with large pores; a feeling of chest fullness or oppression; brought on by spicy, greasy or fried food, dairy or sweets, stress, hot humid weather, or insufficient sleep; eased by cooling food, gentle exercise, stress reduction, or proper skin hygiene.
Tongue: Red body, swollen, thick yellow greasy coating. Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Transform and dissolve Phlegm masses, soften hardness, clear Heat, move Qi and Blood to prevent stasis and scarring.
Transform Phlegm, clear Heat
Prevent stasis, local
Note: no moxa. No deck slide combines this specific nodule/cyst/scarring skin presentation, so no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions

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