Is it a good idea to use acupuncture for acne? Does it really work? With the growing popularity of this ancient Chinese medicinal practice, a good many people are curious about the effectiveness of acupuncture in curing different skin conditions such as acne, eczema and others. Now, available studies on this subject give us what we may call mixed opinions, however more than a few individuals who have given acupuncture a try have many positive things to say about this Traditional Chinese Medicine.
But first things first, what is acupuncture and how does it work?
Well, to put it simply, the treatment uses a number of extremely tiny needles that are placed on specific points throughout our body and this helps manage or heal different chronic conditions, ease pain, reduce inflammation and regulate our hormones.
But Acupuncture for Acne?
Yes, according to many, acupuncture can actually heal acne as well as other difficult skin conditions and in general, improve the overall health of your skin. We’ve mentioned briefly how acupuncture works but to delve somewhat deeper into the subject, here’s what an active practitioner of this medicine has to say on how acupuncture works.
Amy Kuretsky, a licensed acupuncturist, tells us that the treatment affects our body both internally and externally. Externally, acupuncture is able to reduce redness by clearing heat; reduce cystic acne by draining damp; and can soothe dryness by way of nourishing yin. And internally, the treatment works by easing an irritated gut lining and by regulating our hormones—and all of these play a crucial role not only in giving us a healthier skin but improving our overall health condition as well.
For Advanced Acne
If you have active breakouts throughout your face or have cystic acne or eczema, Amy tells us that there is nothing to worry. In such cases, the acupuncturist obvious cannot treat the condition directly which means that no needles will be put on your face. Instead, the practitioner will place those fine needles at different and specific points of your body. This will help the acupuncturist to understand the underlying causes of your skin condition and treat it accordingly.
Other Benefits
Another practitioner tells us that acupuncture for acne can benefit your skin in other ways as well. Apart from reducing inflammation and redness and helping the skin to heal, cosmetic acupuncture can also help you achieve an even-looking skin tone and can reduce hyperpigmentation, facial puffiness and can partially eliminate wrinkles and fine lines.
Treatment Schedule
A common acupuncture course consists in weekly visits to your acupuncturist for six weeks and this is normally followed by monthly fine-tuning sessions for several months which help ensure that symptoms are kept in check. For acne treatments, the initial course may last eight weeks or more (depending on the severity of the condition) followed by the usual monthly sessions.
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