Skin complaints

Skin complaints are common and can present in very different ways. Itching, redness, pimples, flaking or dry skin can cause physical discomfort, but can also affect your self-confidence and daily life. Some complaints arise suddenly and disappear again, while others persist for a long time or flare up regularly.

Conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis and rosacea each have their own features and possible causes. Even within the same condition there can be large differences: the skin can be dry and itchy, for example, but also red, warm, inflamed or moist.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are used for various skin complaints. Chinese medicine looks not only at the skin itself, but also at the overall picture of complaints and the underlying TCM pattern. On the individual complaint pages you can read in more detail about specific skin conditions.

Common skin complaints

Skin complaints can present in various ways. Within this group you will find information about, among other things:

The complaints can be accompanied by redness, itching, a burning sensation, pimples or inflammation, small blisters, weeping skin lesions or thickening of the skin. Which features are most prominent differs greatly per condition and per person.

On the individual pages you can read more about the possible causes, treatment and TCM patterns with specific skin complaints.

Possible causes of skin complaints

Skin complaints can have various causes, and often several factors play a role at the same time. Depending on the condition, genetic predisposition, allergies, hypersensitivity reactions, hormonal changes, infections, inflammatory processes or autoimmune reactions can be involved.

Contact with irritating substances, certain medicines and environmental factors such as heat, cold, dry air or sunlight can also cause or worsen complaints. In addition, some people notice that their skin reacts to stress, diet, sleep or hormonal changes.

Which factors are relevant differs greatly per skin condition. That is why we look not only at how the skin looks, but also at the onset and course of the complaints and at any other health problems.

What can acupuncture do for skin complaints?

The acupuncture treatment is tailored to the specific skin complaint and your personal situation. We look at the features of the skin, the course of the complaints and factors that may contribute to their onset or return. Dry, chronically itchy skin, for example, calls for a different approach than red and inflamed skin.

Depending on the complaint, a treatment can focus on:

Within Chinese medicine these treatment principles are tailored to the underlying TCM pattern. Which principles are relevant with eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea or other skin complaints is described in more detail on the individual complaint pages.

What can Chinese herbal medicine do for skin complaints?

Chinese herbal medicine is regularly used for skin complaints, sometimes in combination with acupuncture. Which herbs are chosen depends on the features of the skin and the underlying TCM pattern. As a result, two people with the same skin condition can receive a different herbal treatment.

Depending on the pattern, a herbal treatment can focus on:

Because herbs are taken daily, they can also support the body in between treatments. On the individual complaint pages you can read in more detail which treatment principles can be applied to specific skin conditions.

How does Chinese medicine view skin complaints?

Western medicine distinguishes various skin conditions, such as eczema, acne, psoriasis and rosacea. Such a diagnosis provides important information about the condition and possible treatment. Chinese medicine also looks at how the skin complaints present and which other symptoms are present at the same time.

Redness and warmth, for example, are assessed differently than dry, flaking skin. Itching, moisture, pus, the location of skin lesions and factors that improve or worsen the complaints also provide information about the underlying pattern.

With skin complaints, various TCM organ systems play a role within Chinese medicine. These are not the same as the anatomical organs from Western medicine, but describe groups of bodily functions.

The Lungs are associated among other things with the skin and the protection of the body's surface. The Spleen plays a role in the processing and distribution of food and fluids. Blood has a nourishing function for the skin and hair. Depending on the skin complaint, other organ systems can play a role as well.

In addition, concepts such as Wind, Heat and Damp are used to describe different skin pictures. Wind, for example, is often linked to quickly changing complaints and itching, Heat to redness and warmth, and Damp to moist or weeping skin lesions.

A recognisable combination of skin features and other symptoms is called a TCM pattern. This pattern forms the basis for the treatment and explains why two people with the same Western diagnosis can be treated differently within Chinese medicine.

Only a few common patterns are described below. Other patterns are possible and several patterns can occur at the same time. Not everyone with the same pattern has all of the symptoms mentioned. Which pattern is present is established on the basis of the overall picture of complaints. On the individual complaint pages you can read in more detail which patterns occur regularly with specific skin conditions.

Common TCM patterns with skin complaints

Wind

Within Chinese medicine Wind is used to describe complaints that arise suddenly, change quickly or are accompanied by clear itching. Skin lesions can come and go or spread across different areas.

Common symptoms:

Examples of Western conditions: hives (urticaria), allergic skin reactions and some forms of eczema.

Heat

Within Chinese medicine Heat is associated with redness, warmth and active inflammatory skin lesions. The skin can feel sensitive or burning and complaints can worsen with warmth.

Common symptoms:

Examples of Western conditions: acne, rosacea, inflamed eczema and some forms of psoriasis.

Damp and Damp-Heat

Damp is used for skin pictures in which moisture plays an important role. When Damp combines with Heat, skin lesions are often both moist and red or inflamed. According to Chinese medicine the Spleen plays an important role in the processing of fluids and can therefore be involved in this pattern.

Common symptoms:

Examples of Western conditions: weeping eczema, acne and seborrhoeic eczema.

Blood deficiency

Within Chinese medicine one of the functions of Blood is to nourish the skin and hair. When this nourishment is insufficient, the skin can gradually become drier and more sensitive. This pattern is seen more often with long-standing skin complaints.

Common symptoms:

In addition, fatigue, dizziness, a pale complexion or dry eyes can occur.

Examples of Western conditions: dry skin, chronic dry eczema, some forms of hair loss and itching without clear skin inflammation.

Blood stagnation

With long-standing skin complaints, according to Chinese medicine the flow of Blood can run less smoothly locally. Skin lesions can therefore become persistent and remain present in the same place for longer.

Common symptoms:

Examples of Western conditions: long-standing psoriasis, chronic eczema and some other persistent or chronic skin lesions.

These patterns give a general picture of how skin complaints can be distinguished within Chinese medicine. With eczema, for example, different patterns may be prominent than with acne, rosacea or hair loss. That is why this is described in more detail on the individual complaint pages.

Prognosis

How a course of treatment develops depends greatly on the specific skin condition, the severity, how long the complaints have been present, any underlying causes and the personal situation. Acute skin complaints generally respond faster than conditions that have been present for a long time or return regularly.

With severe or active complaints, a higher treatment frequency may be appropriate at first. With chronic skin complaints more time is usually needed, and the treatment is adjusted to how the skin develops.

Because the course differs greatly per skin condition, the individual complaint pages describe in more detail what you can expect from a course of treatment for that specific complaint.

Contact

Do you suffer from skin complaints and would you like to know whether acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine can mean something for you? During a first consultation we discuss your complaints, medical history and any underlying factors in detail. On that basis a treatment plan is drawn up that suits your personal situation. You can book an appointment online right away or get in touch for more information.

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