Here are some of the suggestions Chinese Medicine has for preventing or reducing acne: Try to avoid or limit processed spicy, greasy and sweet foods – these are inflammatory and might exacerbate skin disorders or slow down wound healing. Avoid or try to limit refined sugar and alcohol consumption.
These results suggest that the prevalence of acne in the Chinese population is lower than that in Caucasian populations, and that adult acne is not uncommon in Chinese subjects.
A study of acne in skin of color by Taylor et al27 showed cystic lesions to be present in 18 percent of African-American (n=239), 25.5 percent of Hispanic (n=55), and 10.5 percent of Asian (n=19) patients. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Korean skincare stands out from Western skincare because it typically involves a more extensive routine. A Korean routine for acne includes double cleansing, toners and essences, and twice daily moisturizing. Most Korean skincare routines also include a weekly mask and exfoliation.
Use An Over-the-Counter Acne Spot Treatment
Salicylic acid, mentioned above, is one of these. Another important ingredient to look for is benzoyl peroxide. In addition to reducing oil and removing dead skin cells, benzoyl peroxide also helps kill the bacteria that cause the pimples.
Isotretinoin: This is a potent medicine that attacks all four causes of acne—bacteria, clogged pores, excess oil, and inflammation (redness and swelling). About 85% of patients see permanent clearing after one course of isotretinoin.
Acne is a common issue for many people, especially for teenagers and young adults in their 20s. Some have mild symptoms, while others can have very severe issues. Acne effects around 90% of adolescents with the prime age across all genders being the teenage years of 14-19 years old.
Typically, the standard treatment will involve a combination of Acupuncture, topical remedies and herbal teas or Chinese herbs together with some lifestyle tweaks.
The highest prevalence of acne was observed in Latin America (23.9%), East Asia2 (20.2%), Africa (18.5%) and the Middle East (16.1%), while the lowest prevalence was observed in Europe (9.7%) and Australia (10.8%).
Though it is often thought of as a teenage problem, acne can occur in people of any age, though it grows less common as time goes on. Still, over 25% of women and 12% of men in their 40s report having acne.
Oral Medication
This can include: Antibiotics — Oral antibiotics work to treat acne by killing off the bacteria that are irritating your skin and triggering breakouts. Hormone Supplements — Oral contraceptives, like birth control pills, help to level out your hormonal balances to improve acne breakouts.
All those extra fibroblasts produce extra collagen which helps to preserve our skin's elasticity. This means less obvious wrinkling and sagging from aging and sun damage. This also helps explain why sun damage typically appears 10 to 20 years later in Asians as compared to Caucasians.
However, there are other factors that can also lead to facial and body acne. In TCM, “heaty” foods like chocolate, snacks, and fried foods are believed to cause acne. This is true as overconsumption of these foods can lead to Lung and Stomach Fire, which are the two main causes of acne in TCM.
The most prevalent fatty acid in sebum, sapienic acid (16:1, n10), is significantly higher in African Americans and correlated with the higher sebum output in that ethnic group.
Lasers and lights. Different types of laser and light treatments are available in a healthcare provider's office to help treat acne. Some of these work by reducing a certain type of acne-causing bacteria on the skin. Other treatments — like laser treatments — can improve discoloration and scarring caused by acne.
Ice doesn't necessarily help clear up acne or pimples — particularly if you're suffering from cystic and nodular acne — but it can help inflammation. This works because acne is an inflammatory condition meaning that it causes flare-ups that contribute to swelling and redness.
Dr. Chang also explains that common Korean skin care ingredients, like green tea extract, tea tree oil, and centella asiatica, in addition to snail mucin and honey, are pros at fighting inflammation; many of them can help support and repair the skin barrier, which also improves the quality of the skin.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views acne as a sign of underlying imbalances in the body's energy, or Qi. TCM practitioners believe that acne can be treated by restoring balance to the body's energy and promoting healthy skin.
Several studies have shown that the estimated prevalence rate of acne varies from 8.1% to 85.1% in China10–12 depending on the region, subjects' ages and nationality studied.
Sebaceous glands lubricate the hair and the skin to stop it drying out. They do this by producing an oily substance called sebum. In acne, the glands begin to produce too much sebum. The excess sebum mixes with dead skin cells and both substances form a plug in the follicle.
One of the ten subjects studied developed acne one week after vitamin B12 supplementation. To further understand the molecular mechanism, we revealed that vitamin B12 supplementation in P. acnes cultures promoted the production of porphyrins, which are known to induce inflammation in acne.
Most people have acne on and off for several years before their symptoms start to improve as they get older. Acne often disappears when a person is in their mid-20s. In some cases, acne can continue into adult life. About 3% of adults have acne over the age of 35.