Skin Pigmentation

How Chinese medicine differentiates general skin pigmentation changes — broader than Melasma already covered, which is chloasma-specific — 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. A new or changing pigmented patch, especially one with irregular borders or rapid change, needs medical evaluation before assuming a simple pattern.

General Acupuncture Points

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

Point	Key action
LR-3	Subdues Liver-Yang. Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin.
G.B.-14	Subdues Liver-Yang. Extinguishes interior Wind. Brightens the eyes.
SP-10	Cools Blood. Invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
BL-20	Tonifies Spleen and Stomach. Resolves Dampness.
ST-40	Resolves Phlegm and Dampness.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang). Benefits Essence.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
LR-5	Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi. Resolves Damp-Heat in the genitourinary system.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Liver-Qi Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Deep or light brown patches on the cheeks/forehead worsened by emotional stress, distension along the ribs and flanks, irritability, breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities.

Tongue: Normal or slightly dark body, red/purple sides, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry, like a taut guitar string.

Treatment principle: Course the Liver and resolve constraint, nourish Blood and soften the Liver.

LR-3 ↓ SP-6 ⊥ G.B.-14 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Liver-Qi-stagnation slide.

2. Qi and Blood Stagnation View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Deep brown to purplish patches with clear, well-defined edges, stabbing chest/rib pain, painful periods with dark clotted blood, chest tightness.

Tongue: Purple/dark body with stasis spots, thin white coat. Pulse: Wiry and choppy.

Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood and dispel stasis, nourish Blood, regulate menstruation.

SP-10 ↑ LR-3 ↓ SP-6 ⊥

Note: no moxa except on SP-10. Direct match with this site's own Liver-Blood-stasis slide via the well-established dark/purple stasis-spot-tongue marker.

3. Spleen Deficiency With Dampness

Clinical manifestations: Dull brown or gray-brown patches with ill-defined borders, sallow complexion, heaviness, fatigue, bloating after eating, loose stools, poor appetite.

Tongue: Pale, swollen with teeth marks, white greasy coating. Pulse: Soggy and slow, soft, weak at the right Guan position.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, strengthen the Spleen, drain Dampness.

BL-20 ↑ ST-40 ↑ SP-6 ↑ ST-36 ↑ SP-10 ↑

Note: moxa applicable throughout. This pattern's own presentation has no Cold marker, so it is not forced onto the Cold-Dampness-invading-the-Spleen slide, consistent with the established precedent. No pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

4. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dark brown, irregularly shaped patches, dizziness, tinnitus, lower back/knee soreness, night sweats, heat in the palms/soles/chest, dry eyes, insomnia with vivid dreams.

Tongue: Red, thin body with cracks, little or no coating, dry surface. Pulse: Fine, rapid, wiry, weak at the left Chi position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, supplement Liver and Spleen Yin, benefit Essence and fill the Marrow.

KI-3 ↑ BL-23 ↑ LR-5 ↑

Note: no moxa given the Yin deficiency. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Kidney-and-Liver-Yin-deficiency slide.

Related conditions

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