Recently, a colleague shared with me that many young people nowadays love eating fried and spicy foods, often staying up late and snacking at night, leading to an increasing number of acne cases. Some middle-aged individuals are even developing “youthful acne.” During consultations, patients frequently request treatments without Western medicine, preferring herbal remedies with minimal side effects that they can prepare at home. Additionally, they often bring various home remedies to ask the doctor about, such as: “Does applying toothpaste help?”, “Can washing my face with overnight tea water remove acne scars?”, “Is egg white good for facial application?”, or “Can honeysuckle water treat acne?” How should we accurately respond to these questions while ensuring the treatment is easy to obtain, simple to apply, and directly effective?
Today, I’d like to introduce three commonly used TCM external treatments for acne.
As early as Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu), over forty different herbal formulations for treating skin diseases were recorded. Common external TCM treatments include ointments, medicinal oils, powders, and washes, each with its own advantages and indications. Among them, methods such as juice extraction for topical application, decoction for steaming and washing, and powdered application are simple, easy to prepare, and suitable for home use.
1. Steaming & Washing Method
This method involves using steam from a herbal decoction to treat the affected area first, followed by washing once the liquid cools slightly. For example, fresh honeysuckle soaked in water can help treat acne, and if honeysuckle extract is obtained, the effect is even better. Herbs such as honeysuckle, dandelion, and violet can be boiled in water to prepare a decoction, which is used first for steaming and then for washing the face. Applying this 1–2 times daily can cleanse pores, reduce local congestion and inflammation, and is effective for mild to moderate damp-heat type acne.
2. Herbal Paste Application
In this method, herbs are ground into fine powder and mixed with different liquids to create a paste for direct application to the affected area. For example, honeysuckle, forsythia, and skullcap can be finely powdered and mixed with honeysuckle extract or loofah leaf juice to form a paste that is directly applied to acne lesions for its heat-clearing and detoxifying properties.
When acne is no longer actively forming and only scars remain, herbs such as poria, white atractylodes, and white turmeric can be ground into powder and mixed with milk or honey to form a paste. This can be applied to the affected area once or twice daily. Repeated use helps reduce acne scars and repair the skin.
3. Herbal Compress (Poultice)
This method involves using fresh herbal materials with natural medicinal juices. The herbs are mashed into a paste and directly applied to the skin, covering an area slightly larger than the acne lesions to ensure complete coverage. For example, crushed hibiscus leaves mixed with loofah leaf juice enhance the effects of heat-clearing and swelling reduction. This is especially suitable for red, swollen, and painful acne caused by excessive heat toxicity. The application can be done once or twice daily.
Holistic Acne Management
TCM emphasizes a combination of internal and external treatment—nourishing the body internally to improve skin health. Patients should also adjust their lifestyle habits:
- Maintain a healthy diet, avoiding high-sugar, high-fat, and spicy foods
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption
- Avoid staying up late
- Treat underlying conditions such as constipation and menstrual irregularities
- Engage in regular physical activity
- Keep a positive mindset
By integrating these habits with herbal treatments, achieving acne-free skin is much more attainable.