Acupuncture Assessment for Severe Acne
Acne is a common skin disease which most often affects:
1). Teenagers 2). Women before the menstrual period 3). Women after taking, or stopping, birth control pills 4). Some patients that have a family history of acne.
Chinese Medicine describes the etiology of acne as an imbalance in internal physiological and energetic systems, where this imbalance produces heat, toxic stagnation, and blood stasis in the body. Therefore, treatments should address the imbalance in these systems, clear heat, reduce toxicity, and move blood stasis. Dr. Yang has used Chinese Medicine to treat patients for over 30 years. These patients came from many different countries, and have all received effective results, decidedly including those patients with severe acne. The following is an assessment of the findings of Dr. Yang’s research.
Severe acne patients commonly experience:
1). Long-term acne (some have it only a few years, others have it for 10 years or more). 2). Massive amount of large pimples covering large areas. 3). Acne appears on various places such as the face, the chest, neck, shoulders and back. 4). Patients may use different acne treatment products (e.g. cream and medicines), which are effective while still actively in use, but acne returns after stopping taking such products. These products may also be ineffective for some patients. 5). Patients with cystic acne (big and deep pimples).
Dr. Yang’s protocols for treating acne usually only takes one week to be effective, and after two months of treatments, most patients have their acne problem under control. Once the acne is under control, another month of treatment will usually stabilize the condition more completely. Signs of effectiveness after one week of treatment: 1). Pimples decrease in size 2). Decrease of amount of pimples (though there will likely still be a few new pimples here and there) 3). Change in the color of the pimples 4). Smaller acne scabs that decrease in size or disappear.
Dr. Yang,
Thank you so much for your phone call to check on how I am doing. It was very kind of you. I am sorry I have not called you back sooner. After seeing you in Feb. I went out of town for two weeks, then came down with a cold/ flu for two weeks which took me into March. During this month I have been doing extremely well. No acne, minimal allergies and my overall health has been very good. I have not been in to see you because I have been doing so well. I will most certainly come to see you should I begin to experience problems again, but you have done such a wonderful job of alleviating my acne, allergies, sleeping issue and stress level that I am doing very well.
Thank you again for your kindness. You are welcome to share my letter with any of your patients.*
*Results may vary from individual to individual and depending on person.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Yang for taking extra time and effort to help me this past spring. I would also like to pass on the heartfelt appreciation from several students he has helped with the same problem.
Ever since the age of 14 I was faced with acne and now at age 23 I am still faced with it. Appearing mostly on my face and somewhat on my upper back, my acne seemed to flare up around my menstrual cycle. Soaps I have tried include Proactiv solution, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, and Clean and Clear. Most of which severely dried my skin or did not help my acne at all. I have also been prescribed oral antibiotics such as Erythromycin, Tetracycline, and Minocycline, which I took one pill of, 3 times a day. In most cases these antibiotics had several side effects including sun sensitivity, headaches and abdominal cramping. In addition to oral prescriptions I have also used topical creams and gels such as Retin-A gel, Differin cream, as well as Benzoyl Peroxide cream. I used both prescription modalities from the age of 14 to age 21. At age 21 I decided to decrease my prescriptions because I was no longer seeing an improvement in my complexion and I had been on and off several antibiotics since the age of 14. By age 22 I was no longer taking any prescriptions and started seeking out other options.
I entered the Florida College of Integrative Medicine in August of 2005 and immediately started getting regular treatments at the clinic. Focusing mostly on my complexion I was advised to change my diet, however it wasn’t until this past spring when Dr. Yang approached me about an herbal formula when I started to really see an improvement in my acne. I began taking a custom made formula specifically for me in January of 2007. I took this formula 3 times a day for a week and was advised to see Dr. Yang again after one week on the formula. After one week, I had seen some reduction in redness, but still had small papules. Dr. Yang responded by altering the formula and I tried it again for another week. Once I had finished that round he again altered the formula slightly and gave me this same formula for 3 rounds. By mid March I was off the formula completely and had seen a remarkably big improvement in my complexion overall. I no longer had white or red papules on my face or back. Several people I have been in contact with have noticed the improvement and asked me what I did. I have received compliments from both friends and family, and it feels good to not have to worry about talking to people, because I don’t have the acne I once did, that they would stare at. I feel more confident and happy to have been able to conquer this problem with the help of Dr. Yang.
I really appreciate the time Dr. Yang took in approaching me about his herbal formula that he had to treat acne. I know he has been very successful in treating many students in our school. In addition, I know if it wasn’t for him, today I would still have bad acne.
Sincerely, *
*Results may vary from individual to individual and depending on person.
When I first entered the Florida College of Integrative Medicine (FCIM) in January 2007 I had been dealing with acne for almost 10 years. I started getting treatments for my acne in February and, due to Dr. Yang’s expertise in customizing herbal formulas, I started seeing a noticeable difference in my complexion within a week.
I was thrilled! My acne began when I was about 13 years old and simply never let up. It started my face, but then progressed to breakouts on my back, upper arms, and chest. It was uncomfortable and difficult to manage. My breakouts seemed to be made slightly worse with diet and menses, but nothing seemed to make them better. As a teenager I tried benzoyl peroxide, Differin gel, Neutrogena soaps, Clean and Clear, Proactiv, Murad, and even topical and oral antibiotics like Erythromycin (often in large doses). While I was with my dermatologist I was recommended all of these products, often in combination, but even when I was very studious about taking care of my skin, my acne never truly went away.
At 18 I moved to Florida to start my undergraduate degree and simply decided that enough was enough with chemicals. I let plain soap and sunshine do what they could and tried to pretend that it didn’t bother me. I had given up all hope of ever having a clear complexion.
Luckily, 4 years later I encountered Dr. Yang at FCIM. He started me on his herbal remedy in February of 2007. Each week he would question me about my progress and how I felt, and each week he would customize my herbs to make sure they would have their maximum effectiveness. My acne was very stubborn and it took almost 3 months to get my complexion to stabilize. I certainly didn’t mind because with every week that went by I noticed fewer and smaller breakouts, and even the redness and scarring from previous breakouts was disappearing! Now, 6 months later (3 months of herbs, 3 months of observation to make sure my complexion had stabilized), I am nearly acne-free.
The ability to manage my complexion is now a reality for me. It is a very nice feeling to wake up in the morning and feel comfortable with how I look. It’s even nicer to know that my acne will not return because Dr. Yang’s herbs have treated the cause of the acne, and not simply its symptoms (like so many of the “usual” acne medications do).
I am grateful to Dr. Yang for his time and effort. Every time someone notices how much my complexion has improved, I tell them about Dr. Yang. Even now I am trying to get a few of my friends to come and see him for the same problem!
Thank you, Sincerely, *
*Results may vary from individual to individual and depending on person.