Acne: How to get rid of pimples naturally through Chinese Medicine
During puberty hormones called androgen trigger the sebaceous glands to grow and produce more sebum (oil). A type of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, which normally lives in the skin, invades the pore and begins to grow, creating inflammation and irritation. The result is a plugged and inflamed follicle that develops into a pimple.

Acne is associated with increased grease production, therefore people with acne often notice and complain of the greasiness of their skin.
Almost every teenager between the ages of 17 and 21 years will have an occasional acne outbreak, and approximately 15% percent of teens in Ireland have severe cystic acne.
Most people are acne-free by the time they are 25, although, in a few people, acne may persist to the age of 40 or older.
There are many myths surrounding acne: it is NOT contagious hence you can't catch it from someone else and acne is also not caused by eating chocolate unless you are allergic.
Doctors usually would prescribe topical administration drugs for acne work by inhibiting sebum and keratin production or reducing bacterial growth, such as products that contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur derivative which are effective but might cause side effects as redness, burning, stinging and scaling of the skin.
Creams and gels containing tretinoin (vitamin A derivative) or tazarotene also are used over the skin.
On the other hand, there are natural recommended supplements that have been proven to treat
- Tea tree oil: natural antibiotic and antiseptic lotion as effective as benzoyl peroxide but it is better tolerated.
- Vitamin A: regulates sebum and keratin production.
- Zinc: promotes tissue healing balances hormones and reduces inflammation.
- B-vitamins: as a complementary supplement because its deficiencies are associated with acne.
- Essential fatty acids: reduce inflammation and repair damaged skin cells.
- Vitamin C: aids skin repair and improves collagen production.
- Vitamin E: essential for skin health and may help prevent scarring.
Traditional Chinese Medicine not only treats acne's manifestations as the signs and symptoms described above but it focuses on treating the root of the disease. This is the reason why the most important approach to fighting acne is looking at the internal aspect.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acne is caused by Damp-Heat excess which has been accumulated in Lung and Stomach, as a consequence of a Liver Qi Deficiency. As Heat is Yang nature, then it moves upwards along the Lung and Stomach meridians congesting at face and chest.
Adolescents need lots of food to thrive. This stage is when the fire of sex (Kidney Fire) is surging. As such, they should stay away from hot, spicy or excessively sweet or oily foods because force heat to rise from the Stomach. If heat rises up, then it may be associated with acne and emotional ups and downs which are quiet common on adolescence.
Cold and neutral foods might be as follows:
- Fruits: pears, mandarins.
- Vegetables: mung beans, asparagus, cucumbers, carrots, fennel, eggplants.
- Beverages: green tea, black tea.
- Grain: wheat.
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, black sesame.
- Soy products: tofu.
- Junk food.
- Acrid spices: garlic, ginger, pepper.
- Grilled and smoked meat.
- Sweets.
- Excessive meat consumption.
- Not much dairy products.