Acupuncture for Acne, Psoriasis, Allergies

Acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies and other related conditions is the current interest of several study groups, aiming to investigate and validate the preliminary studies on the effects of acupuncture as a therapy for these conditions. The first study on acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies was done in 1992 and focused on acupuncture as a treatment for allergies on skin.

Conducted in China, the small study took 61 patients who are known to be resistant to convenient treatments and gave them acupuncture treatments instead at an average of nine sessions each. According to the proponents of the study, acupuncture produced extremely good results. More than 50% of the patients treated with acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies experienced remissions and complete healings, while most underwent some improvement in their conditions.

In acupuncture philosophy, there are certain points in the body called meridians which are known to balance and restore correct energy flow through the body. By targeting specific skin meridians, the therapy will treat the blockages and nervous conditions that lead to conditions like acne, psoriasis, and allergies.

In Russia, a different study was also conducted on acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies, and other related conditions. Like the one done in China, this study also showed equally good results. According to the findings, 20% of patients who underwent acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies, and other skin conditions had remissions. In addition, an approximate 50% of patients showed good improvements in psoriasis symptoms.

Larger studies have also been done in the west. However, majority of them have given mixed results. So far, there has been no clear evidence showing that acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies, and other skin conditions is an effective treatment. But individual cases continue to show improvement. In addition, some acne and psoriasis patients say that after going through several acupuncture sessions, their symptoms have shown some significant improvement. 

Psoriatic arthritis especially, a painful condition where the joints are inflamed, is known to improve after acupuncture. And if the treatment is done on the classical pain controlling meridians, the condition is said to become less painful.

A Common Factor

Acne and psoriasis are different diseases with different histories and symptoms. Neither is allergic in origin, but both are affected by mood. Thus, tension or depression has a tendency to worsen the condition. This is the common factor between acne, psoriasis, allergies, and other skin conditions and the reason why all three conditions can benefit from the same treatment. 

By sheer tradition, acupuncture is not used as a cure for mood disorders. However, due partly to the results of previous studies on acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies, and other conditions, the treatment’s coverage continues to expand. Depression and stress are widespread diseases in our society and lead to many related conditions, of which the allergies and particularly skin allergies are prominent. If controlled studies show therefore, that acupuncture is effective in improving acne, psoriasis, and allergies, it may well be because of the stress-based nature of these conditions.

Acupuncture for acne, psoriasis, allergies, and other stress based conditions is an innovative and exciting idea that may be worth further research, especially since drug based treatment on all these conditions are still far from perfect and show significant side effects.