Many women notice that while their skin remains stable most days, painful, red acne consistently flares up on their chin around their menstrual period, recurring stubbornly even with careful care. Dr. Qiu Baorun, a TCM physician at Singapore's Gongfangtang TCM Clinic, explains that this cyclical acne is closely linked to fluctuations in Qi and blood during the female physiological cycle. Addressing the underlying constitution through TCM pattern differentiation can fundamentally resolve the issue.
What Causes Your Menstrual Acne?
Dampness-Heat Accumulation (Shi Re Nei Yun):
Caused by: A preference for spicy, greasy foods, impairing Spleen and Stomach function, allowing dampness-heat to rise along the meridians to the chin.
Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis (Qi Zhi Yu Xue):
Caused by: High stress or emotional depression leading to Liver Qi stagnation, disrupting blood flow and causing blockages.
Yin Deficiency with Fire Flaring (Yin Xu Huo Wang):
Caused by: Chronic late nights depleting Yin fluids, allowing deficient fire to flare upwards and inflame hair follicles.
Tailored Management Based on Constitution:
Dampness-Heat Constitution (Red, swollen, pus-filled acne):
Diet: Drink adzuki bean and Job's tears tea daily (Job's tears must be dry-fried first). Increase intake of heat-clearing, dampness-draining foods like winter melon and bitter gourd.
External Care: Apply cool compresses made from boiled honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua) and forsythia (Lian Qiao) to acne. Combine with Gua Sha along the back's Bladder Meridian to expel dampness-heat.
Blood Stasis Constitution (Dark red acne with hard nodules):
Diet Therapy: Start drinking Hawthorn Rose Tea (5g hawthorn + 3g dried rose buds boiled in water) one week before period. Drink Brown Sugar Ginger Jujube Tea twice weekly.
Acupressure: Apply pressure daily for 3 minutes each to Xuehai (SP10, 3 finger-widths above the inner knee) and Sanyinjiao (SP6, 4 finger-widths above inner ankle).
Liver Qi Stagnation Constitution (Often with premenstrual breast tenderness):
Herbal Tea: Boil 10g fried malt (Chao Mai Ya), 5g dried tangerine peel (Chen Pi), and 3g dried rose buds (Mei Gui Hua) in water as tea to soothe the Liver and regulate Qi.
Acupoints: Focus on massaging Taichong (LV3, between 1st & 2nd metatarsal bones). Supplement by tapping the Gallbladder Meridian (outer thigh) before bed.
Case Study
Patient: Ms. Zou, 25, Teacher
Chief Complaint: Long-term chin acne flare-ups during menstruation. Acne was red, swollen, painful, worsened premenstrually, accompanied by dark menstrual blood and dysmenorrhea.
Diagnosis: Liver Qi Stagnation with Dampness-Heat
Treatment Plan:
* Herbs: Modified Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San (Moutan & Gardenia Free Wanderer Powder), plus heat-clearing/dampness-draining herbs like dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) and alisma (Ze Xie).
* Acupuncture: Twice weekly needling at Taichong (LV3) and Xuehai (SP10), with moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV4).
* External Care: TCM herbal masks combined with gentle cleansing. Avoid using overly oil-controlling skincare.
Outcome: After 2 months, Ms. Zou's menstrual acne reduced by 70%, menstrual blood color normalized, and dysmenorrhea eased. After 3 months of consolidation therapy, skin regained smoothness and menstrual cycle normalized.
Consistent, correct management can not only eliminate menstrual "period acne" but also help your body achieve greater harmony and balance. Remember, true beauty is an outward reflection of inner health.
