Skin conditions such as Acne, Eczema and Dermatitis can really effect your mental health and day-to-day confidence. A lot of people have made Acupuncture a regular part of their beauty routine after having no luck with Western techniques.
Before an acupuncture treatment, you will be asked to stick out your tongue, which is a traditional diagnostic tool. The body of the tongue can fall on a spectrum of deeper, darker, purplish reds to a light pink. The tongue body reflects the overall physical systems. Bright red for instance will reflect excess heat in the system. Purples could mean there is stagnation of blood or a blockage in circulation. By checking the tongue coating and body, the acupuncturist can confirm a diagnosis.
Below you will find the different Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns;
Acne
Damp-Heat: Oily suppurative acne on face, back and chest. patient often has a relatively strong but hypersensitive constitution. Sticky sensation in the mouth, heaviness of the body and limbs, lassitude, loose stools or diarrhoea, abdominal distension, leukorrhea. Tongue is red with a slightly greasy yellow coat.
Upper Jiao Wind Heat: Inflamed, red acne in the face and neck area, redness of the upper body (especially face), suppuration, itching and pain. Feverishness, blood-shot eyes, facial flushing and thirst. Tongue is red with a yellow coating.
Liver Qi Stasis: Acne that is aggravated by mental stress and/or emotional changes. Premenstrual acne. Irritability, short temperateness, headache, flushing, insomnia, thirst, dizziness, eye strain, light sleep, fatigue, oedema, dysmenorrhoea, PMT. Tongue is red.
Blood Head, Blood Vacuity: Acne with little or no exudate. Lack-luster skin, dizziness, blurred vision, flushing, feverishness, anxiety, insomnia, blood-shot eyes. Tongue is red with a slightly yellow coating. Pulse is thready and rapid.
Eczema & Dermatitis
Damp-Heat: Red itchy skin progressing to a rash with small vesicles. Scratching produces weeping lesions. Tongue has a yellow coating. Pulse is rapid.
Blood & Fluid Vacuity: Recurrent attacks, skin of the effected areas are rough, thick and itchy.