Skin disease: Common questions

Common questions on treating skin disease.

Dear Dr. Fan:
My son is 19 and has nodular or cystic acne on his face. Currently, he is taking antibiotics for acne, which worked initially. We are exploring the possibility of treating him with traditional Chinese medicine. Before proceeding with this option, I was wondering if you can answer the following questions:

1. Will you be able to treat him with TCM?
Yes, this condition can be treated.

2. Is this going to be a permanent cure?
Cured or maintained to minor, the extend that there is no additional triggers such as food, medicine side effect, immune weakness,etc. In the other side, treating skin conditions with antibiotic or cortisone can have side effect or make it worse. Taking antibiotic or cortisone has to be consulted with your dermatology.

3. Are you a in-network doctor of United Health?
I am IN acupuncture provider of United health, BCBS. However, acupuncture is mostly covered for pain related condition. It does not cover Herbs also.

4. Roughly how much does it cost per visit?
Generally visit once every week or 2 weeks. If there is pain related condition, fee may be reduced or no need to pay based on the reimbursement from insurance.

5. How many visits are needed for the treatment?
Treatment need for 2 months. You need to purchase herbs at local herb store. Herbs can be $30-$60 for 2 weeks intake.
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Following is an article which I think is helpful to understand Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine for Skin Conditions
Questions and Answers

Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac. in New York

Your skin is one of the most vulnerable organs of your body. Though seldom life threatening, skin disorders can be very uncomfortable and may cause chronic disabilities. In addition, because skin is so visible, skin disorders can lead to psychological stress.

Skin problems, which affect more than 10 million Americans, can be one of the most frustrating and stubborn group of symptoms to successfully treat. Many pharmaceutical solutions offer quick relief but do not provide a lasting solution, and come with risks such as toxic build-up in the body and weakening of other organ systems. More and more people are choosing alternative solutions, which are safer and which address the root cause of the symptom instead of covering it up each time it re-appears.

Q: Is Chinese Medicine effective for treating Skin Disorders?
A: Yes. In fact, dermatology is a recognized specialty in traditional Chinese Medicine. Treatments for skin disorders have been described as early as 1100-221 BC in China. Throughout the United States today, many patients are frustrated with stubborn skin conditions that are not satisfactorily treated using Western medications, or they find that results do not last consistently. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs offer a natural solution to improving skin conditions.

Q: What types of skin conditions can Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs treat?
A: The most common skin conditions treated are acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and dry or itchy skin.

Q: According to Chinese Medicine, what causes skin conditions
A: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is a whole system of interconnected parts. Although skin problems manifest externally, their root causes are often complex, and involve internal imbalances between qi, blood, yin, yang, and different energetic systems of the body. Usually the pathology involves a combination of internal imbalances and external pathological environmental factors. Internal imbalances include; a weak immune system, digestive disorders, poor diet, unbalanced lifestyle, stress, genetic constitution, and unbalanced emotions. Pathological external environmental factors are often weather related and which invade the body causing symptoms to appear on the skin.

Examples of recognized environmental factors involved in skin conditions are as follows. These aspects of diagnosis are often seen in combination with each other.

Heat: characterized by appearance of redness, burning or heat sensation, and symptom worsens with alcohol, anger/stress, hot/spicy food, and hot weather.

Wind: characterized by quick onset, and movement of symptoms to different areas of the body, itchiness, and aversion to wind.

Damp: characterized by oozing or weeping conditions, feeling of body heaviness. Dampness can also be an internally generated factor worsened by eating rich, oily or dairy foods.

Dry: characterized by scaly itchy skin which is worse in dry, winter or autumn weather.

Cold: characterized by open sores, purplish color, wet discharge and slow healing, and usually a chronic condition.

Q: How is the imbalance analyzed?

A: Important factors are considered before making each individual diagnosis and treatment plan. Aside from careful inspection of the exterior skin condition, relevant information includes the type of eruption, color, temperature, foods, activities, climates or emotions that affect the symptoms, details about onset, duration and frequency of the problem, along with any other signs in the body including digestion, energy, emotions, sleep, and immune system.

Q: How are skin conditions treated?
A: Each condition for each individual patient is unique, and is treated as such. It is usually very important to use Chinese herbs daily, taken internally along with topically applied liniments, with acupuncture. In addition, dietary changes are often recommended, since metabolism of certain food can contribute to skin conditions.

An example of how Chinese Medicine would treat eczema is by:
Strengthening the immune system, thereby decreasing sensitivity to external or environmental hazards
Balancing the internal organ systems and treating the internal imbalances that are contributing to or causing eczema
Releasing toxins from the skin, thereby eliminating the itchy, red rash
Building the yin and blood, which help nourish and repair damaged skin

Q: How long does it take to get results?
A: The amount of time it takes for skin conditions to resolve varies depending on duration and severity of the condition. In general, results are sometimes noticed as early as one week into treatment, but often take several months to clear up significantly. This is because it takes longer to balance the body from the inside out, rather than just address the problem topically or temporarily. However, the treatment of the whole body, rather than just the skin, is the key to eliminating the problem and not just covering it up. According to Chinese medicine, when a chronic condition has settled in the skin, it is an indication that the person’s general health has been compromised for quite a long time. Treating skin conditions with Chinese medicine is well worth the time and patience it requires. A healthy balanced body is significantly less likely to have a recurrence of the skin condition.