Sometimes we receive inquiries about “acne.”
Most involve teenagers, but occasionally adults ask about their own acne as well.
Sometimes we receive inquiries about “acne.” Most involve teenagers, but occasionally adults ask about their own acne as well.
After all, it’s just acne—yet it’s not just acne. Because the face is such a visible area, everyone ideally wants clear, blemish-free skin. Even a single large, red pimple on the forehead can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. Fortunately, Kampo herbal medicine and acupuncture are both very effective for treating acne.
Acne is medically called acne vulgaris (in Japanese, 尋常性痤瘡／面皰／ざ瘡).
It develops when excess sebum clogs the pores, allowing resident bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes to overgrow. These bacteria feed on sebum, and when they proliferate excessively, they trigger inflammation. The term “vulgaris” simply means “common,” indicating that acne is an ordinary condition that can affect anyone.
The primary cause in teenagers is usually hormonal imbalance, which drives excess sebum production. Adults can also develop acne; the mechanism is the same, but in adults the main factors tend to be stress and irregular lifestyle habits. For example, in women, leftover makeup, eating lots of greasy foods, or lack of sleep can all contribute to breakouts.
In Kampo medicine, we choose formulas that address the person’s underlying constitution (the root cause) while simultaneously clearing existing heat and detoxifying the body. In acupuncture, we incorporate pulse diagnosis and abdominal diagnosis to assess the whole-body condition, then insert needles at the local acne site. We use techniques that surround the lesion or disperse superficial heat. The needles, thinner than a hair, are inserted less than 1 mm deep—more like “touching” the skin than pushing in.
These same techniques can be applied to other skin issues—stretch marks, surgical scars, old injury marks, bruises, even warts. When acupuncture is combined with oral Kampo formulas and herbal topical applications, healing is much faster.
At Kakikofu, we do not perform cosmetic acupuncture purely for aesthetic purposes. However, we focus heavily on improving conditions such as acne, folliculitis, and warts. Our goal is to help you regain clear, acne-free skin. We also treat issues like facial nerve paralysis and ptosis (drooping eyelid) early on, since addressing them promptly is beneficial both functionally and cosmetically.
