If eyes are the windows to the soul, then the face is the window to understanding the body. We’re talking about acne face mapping, an ancient practice rooted in traditional Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.
The face is divided into three main zones: upper, middle, and lower. Any imbalance within the organs and our systems will show on our faces in the form of breakouts, redness, dryness, or irritation.
The practice connects a specific area of your face to an organ or body part to pinpoint underlying physical complications. If you’ve got zits constantly popping up in the same area, this guide could zero in on potential triggers. Once you isolate the problem, you can try altering your diet or lifestyle to see if it solves the issue.
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Our T-zone has the highest concentration of oil glands, so when you’re stressed, your skin produces more sebum, which could clog pores.
The forehead also relates to the nervous system and digestive system, so a weak immune system, poor blood circulation, and bowel congestion could be contributing factors to your breakout.
Up your water intake and consume less processed food. Reduce the amount of fat in your diet by cutting out dairy, fried food, and packaged snacks.
Take digestive enzymes and probiotics and do yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises to balance the digestive and nervous system. Get more sleep; trade your late night Instagram scrolling for soothing music or a book to read.
If pimples are popping up between your brows, you might be experiencing imbalance in the kidney, stomach, or spleen. Blemishes on your nose, on the other hand, suggest blood pressure or circulatory issues.
To boost blood circulation, go easy on the salt, spices, meats, processed food, and coffee. Instead, get regular exercise and cut down on vices, especially drinking and smoking. Also, up your water, fruit, and vegetable intake for a healthier digestive tract.
Loading up on essential fatty acids like omega 3 and 6 can reduce inflammation too, so try adding flax seed, avocado, and olive oil into your diet.
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As city dwellers, we’re exposed to environmental air pollution which cause our lung health to deteriorate, potentially leading to epidermal flare-ups. Smoking could also trigger breakouts and broken capillaries around your cheeks.
Our cheeks are supposedly connected to an imbalance in the liver, so an excessive amount of toxins can cause blemishes. For most of us, however, our bacteria-filled hands/iPhones are probably the culprit for cheek zits.
Avoid touching your face during the day, and remember to clean your phone with an anti-bacterial wipe or an alcohol swab once a week. Change your pillowcases and washcloths frequently too—they’re perfect breeding grounds for bacteria.
If you’re one for Chinese herbal medicine, try making tea or soup with Luo Han Guo. Also known as the “monk fruit”, the herb cleanses the colon, detoxifies the liver, and treats lung congestion. And if you’re a smoker, try to quit. It’s a difficult lifestyle change to make, but your body and your skin will thank you.
Fluctuating hormones during your menstrual cycle can cause a spike in facial oil production. Since acne bacteria thrives in sebum, you might find yourself growing a beard of acne once a month.
The shifting ratio of progesterone to estrogen can affect a woman’s testosterone levels, which can contribute to acne too.
In addition to topical salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide treatments, we suggest cutting out sweet, starch-filled foods, including fermented food. That means lowering your intake of processed sugar, dairy, dried fruit, yeast, alcohol, gluten, and fried foods.
Last year, the anti-inflammatory benefits of spearmint tea caught on and with good reason. Drinking two cups of organic spearmint tea daily reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 25% after a month and by 51% after three months. So herbal cleanse for a couple months to soothe hormonal flare-ups.
Ginseng-infused food and beverages can help too. Ginseng is an adaptogen, an anti-inflammatory herb which supports physical endurance, mental clarity, heart health, and the immune system.
Alternative medicine isn’t for everyone, but we hope this guide is useful for those who seek a different approach to healing persistent acne.
However, if your breakouts have been getting consistently worse even after trying out the face mapping practice, visit a dermatologist or skin specialist soonest to help you.
This article was first published on 24 September 2018 and last updated on 12 May 2024.
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