Acne and skin health issues are more complicated than we realize because stress, hormonal fluctuations, dieting, and other lifestyle choices can have a negative impact on our bodies. As teenagers, during menstruation, or when pregnant, acne outbreaks tend to show up in the form of deep cystic pimples on the cheeks and chin region of the face. Many people turn to topical treatments and antibiotics to face acne issues, which only provide surface-level relief. But as their forties approach, the focus shifts from self-medication to visiting a specialist, which is where acupuncture comes in as a holistic treatment.
In this blog, I will discuss the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating hormonal acne for men and women.
Contents Table:
What is Hormonal Acne?
Why Consider Acupuncture?
Understanding Hormonal Acne: A Holistic View
How Acupuncture Works
What to Expect During an Acupuncture Session
Hormonal Acupuncture vs. Hormone Therapy: A Comparison
How Acupuncture Helps Balance Hormones Naturally
Conclusion :
FAQs on Hormonal Acupuncture
1. What is hormonal acne?
Hormonal acne usually appears at the jawline, chin, and regions of the lower cheeks and manifests itself as cystic deep pimples. It frequently flares up during stressful times, puberty, pregnancy, or menstruation. Changes in hormone levels, particularly androgens like testosterone, which increase oil secretion and clog pores, are the root cause of the issue.
2. Why Think About Acupuncture
Acupuncture is regarded by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a type of treatment that uses methods for balancing the body's energy, or "Qi". Certain meridians can be stimulated to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and restore hormonal balance.
3. Examining Hormonal Acne: A Comprehensive TCM Approach
While Western medicine may use medication to achieve a treatment procedure, practitioners of TCM and acupuncture examine the entire body, including lifestyle, to identify the true imbalances and seek resolution at the kidney, spleen, or liver meridian.
4. How Does Acupuncture Work?
Without requiring any invasive procedures on the pituitary, hypothalamus, or ovaries, acupuncture helps the body relax by balancing the HPO axis, which is the peak functioning of reproductive hormones.
Reduction of Stress
Improving relaxation makes it possible to reduce cortisol, which is produced by ongoing stressful situations, as well as other hormone-related changes that may impair bodily functions like skin health.
Better Blood Circulation
The skin detoxification process is made easier through the reduction of scarring and other blemishes supporting enhanced circulation.
Lower Inflammatory Levels
When acne is active, concentrate on preventing more outbreaks and reducing systemic inflammation to keep the blemishes hidden.
5. What to Expect During an Acupuncture Session
The doctor will ask you questions about your cycle, digestion, sleep, and stress during your initial visit. Fine needles will be inserted into certain points, such as the face, arms, legs, and abdomen, depending on your medical history. A single session typically lasts between thirty and sixty minutes, and in order to see any discernible improvements, a course of six to ten sessions is recommended.
6. Acupuncture for hormonal acne vs. Hormone Therapy: A Comparison
Many people struggle to decide whether to use acupuncture or hormone therapy (HRT or medications) or go the natural route with something like acupuncture when dealing with an imbalanced cycle, such as irregular periods, PCOS, thyroid issues, menopausal symptoms, or fertility issues. This is how they compare.
🔹 Approach
Acupuncture for hormonal acne activates energy pathways (meridians) to aid in the natural secretion and control of hormones. It enables the system to eliminate the need for foreign substances through rebalancing itself.
Hormone therapy is the use of synthetic or bioidentical hormones, such as progesterone, oestrogen, and occasionally even thyroid medications. These are given specifically to change the levels of a person’s hormones.
🔹 Speed of Results
For menopausal hot flashes or severe thyroid dysfunction, quicker relief is achieved by using hormone therapy during acute cases.
Since acupuncture targets the underlying cause of the issue and seeks to restore balance while minimising side effects, it may require a little more time (one session or two to several weeks).
🔹 Side Effects
Acupuncture rarely causes negative side effects, and when it does, they might only be minor bruising or fatigue following treatments. Otherwise, acupuncture is quite safe and tender. Thirdly, it puts the individual back in a homeostatic state.
Some of the side effects of hormone therapy, along with potential long-term risks, include weight gain, mood swings, and occasionally blood clots, depending on the dosage and duration.
🔹 Long Term Impact
Acupuncture positively alters a person's natural stress responses, like healing, lessening, or eradicating stressors and protecting the body from dysfunction.
While acupuncture is effective in the short term, ongoing adjustments may be required. The surface-level issues are not always the foundational concern that requires attention.
8. How Acupuncture Helps Balance Hormones Naturally
Benefit
How It Helps
Rebalances hormones
By supporting endocrine glands like ovaries, thyroid, adrenal
Reduces stress
Lowers cortisol and inflammation
Improves fertility
Supports ovulation and egg/sperm quality
Stabilizes mood
Boosts serotonin and reduces anxiety
Enhances circulation
Promotes healing and detox
Conclusion:
Because it treats the underlying problems rather than just the symptoms, acupuncture for hormonal acne is a more natural way to treat this skin condition, which can be extremely bothersome. For those who value their health, aromatherapy for menopause symptoms is even more alluring because these natural approaches typically have fewer side effects than birth control pills or menopause medications for oestrogen dominance.
Acupuncture therapy may be the ideal option for you if you are looking for a safe way to normalise your hormonal disorder and clear your face of imperfections.
FAQs on Hormonal Acupuncture
1. What is hormonal acupuncture?
The application of tiny needles to specific body parts in order to biomechanically alter the endocrine system is known as hormonal acupuncture, and it is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine. It balances hormones, lowers stress, and aids in thyroid and reproductive processes.
2. Does acupuncture really help people get their hormones back in balance?
Indeed. Acupuncture has important effects on the hormone pathways of the HPO axis and triggers the reflexes of the nervous system. It improves blood flow, lowers inflammation, and calms the body's stress reactions while re-establishing homeostasis.
3. How can this treatment help with balance hormone issues?
Acupuncture for hormonal acne can support conditions such as:
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
Irregular or painful periods
Menopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats)
Infertility (in both men and women)
Thyroid imbalances
Low libido
Mood swings and PMS