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Acupuncture for Acne

Acne means spots, blackheads, inflamed or cystic breakouts on the face, chest or back, often with marks left behind. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acne is a sign of an internal imbalance showing on the skin, and the same breakouts can come from very different causes. Finding your pattern is what lets us treat the cause, not just the skin.

Acupuncture for Acne
TCM pattern diagnosis

What type of acne do you have?

Most people with acne fit mainly into one of these patterns (sometimes a mix of two). Read the symptoms – which one sounds most like you?

1

Lung & Stomach Heat

肺胃热盛
“Red, angry spots on the forehead and nose”
Tongue: Red tongue with a thin yellow coating
Pulse: Rapid and slippery

Acne: Red, inflamed spots and pustules, mainly on the forehead, nose and around the mouth, worse after spicy or fried food.

  • Oily skin
  • Thirst, preferring cold drinks
  • Bad breath or strong appetite
  • Constipation, dark urine
  • Feeling hot
  • Breakouts flare with diet
2

Damp-Heat in the Spleen & Stomach

脾胃湿热
“Oily skin and deep, painful lumps”
Tongue: Red tongue with a greasy yellow coating
Pulse: Slippery and rapid

Acne: Oily skin with pus-filled spots or deep, painful cysts, often on the chin, cheeks and jawline.

  • Very oily skin, enlarged pores
  • Bloating, sticky stools
  • Heavy, sluggish feeling
  • Sticky taste in the mouth
  • Worse after sugar, dairy, alcohol or greasy food
  • Sweats easily
3

Liver Qi Stagnation & Chong-Ren Disharmony

肝郁 · 冲任不调
“Breakouts before my period or with stress”
Tongue: Normal-coloured tongue, red on the sides, thin coating
Pulse: Wiry

Acne: Spots on the chin and jawline that flare before periods or with stress, typical of hormonal acne.

  • Premenstrual flare-ups
  • Irregular or painful periods
  • Breast tenderness, mood swings
  • Irritability and stress
  • Bloating
  • Tight shoulders or headaches
4

Phlegm & Blood Stasis

痰瘀互结
“Stubborn cysts and lasting marks”
Tongue: Darkish or purplish tongue with a greasy coating
Pulse: Slippery or choppy

Acne: Long-standing, deep cystic acne with hard nodules that leave dark marks or scars.

  • Hard, painful nodules or cysts
  • Dark marks or scarring
  • Dull or darkish complexion
  • Acne that has lasted years
  • Painful periods with clots (in women)
  • Little response to previous treatments

Not sure which one fits? That’s normal – many people have a mix. At your first consultation we look at your tongue, take your pulse and ask detailed questions to confirm your pattern.

Treatment

How we treat each pattern

Your treatment plan follows your pattern – the same condition can need quite different treatment.

1
Lung & Stomach Heat肺胃热盛

Acupuncture and cupping to clear heat, with cooling herbs and dietary advice. Many patients notice fewer new red spots within a few weeks.

2
Damp-Heat in the Spleen & Stomach脾胃湿热

Acupuncture to clear Damp-Heat and settle digestion, with cupping, herbs and practical diet changes. Many patients see less oiliness and fewer deep breakouts as their digestion improves.

3
Liver Qi Stagnation & Chong-Ren Disharmony肝郁 · 冲任不调

Acupuncture to soothe the Liver and regulate the menstrual cycle, with herbs adjusted to the phase of your cycle. Many patients notice milder premenstrual flare-ups over the first one to two cycles.

4
Phlegm & Blood Stasis痰瘀互结

Acupuncture to move Blood and transform phlegm, often with cupping and herbs, sometimes combined with facial treatments for marks. This pattern takes longer, but many patients see cysts become smaller and less frequent over time.

What to expect

Treatment outcomes

For acne, many patients notice fewer new breakouts within the first 2–3 weeks, with clearer, more stable skin after around 2 months (skin renews roughly monthly, so marks take longer to fade).

  1. Weeks 2–3First improvements

    Most patients start to notice a change within the first two to three weeks of regular treatment.

  2. Around 2 monthsBecoming stable

    Improvements become more consistent. If treatment stops as soon as you feel better, the body hasn’t settled yet and symptoms can slip back to where they started.

  3. ConsolidateLock in the result

    Continuing a little longer after you improve lets the new balance hold. Stopping at this point, symptoms are much less likely to return.

  4. ThenTaper off

    We space sessions out and finish. You won’t need to rely on treatment forever.

Every case is different: some conditions are stable within 1–2 months, longer-standing ones can take up to around 6 months. We’ll give you a realistic estimate at your first consultation.

Patient reviews

What our patients say on Google

Google reviews
4.9★★★★★470 Google reviews across our 2 clinics: London Victoria & City of London
tatiana b
★★★★★
I had acupuncture and cupping with Emma, and she truly worked wonders on my back and neck. I came in barely able to turn my head, and now I feel so much better relaxed, pain-free, and mobile again. I’d had a bad experience elsewhere before, but Emma completely turned things around. Highly recommend!
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GS PK
★★★★★
I am very satisfied with the herbal remedies for perimenopause. I don't have hot flashes after the medication. And electric acupuncture soothes my plantar fascists on both feet. The capsules for bowel movement are working very well.
Posted on Google
Marina Helmke
★★★★★
The staff specially Yao meng did an excellent job. In addition she is very kind and explain to the patients what to expect. Thank you very much.
Posted on Google
Amal Alkhlewi
★★★★★
I highly recommend Acupro. They are very professional and take the time to tailor your treatment for you.
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