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Why do acne-like pimples keep spreading? Could it be a signal from inside your body?

Are you deeply concerned about the increasing number of pimples and red, inflamed skin every time you look in the mirror? Even if you go to a dermatologist, you might be tired of acne-like pimples that reappear after a short while. Skin troubles that cannot be solved simply by changing skincare or applying ointment can be an important signal from inside our bodies. Especially for modern people with a lot of stress or irregular eating habits, imbalances in the body's gut environment and immune system, as well as external stimuli, often act as the root causes of chronic skin problems.

💡 [Key Answer] 3 most common reasons why acne-like pimples keep spreading: ① Gut environment imbalance: Toxins influx due to increased harmful bacteria in the gut and damage to the intestinal barrier. ② Chronic inflammatory response: Excessive inflammatory substances in the body manifested on the skin. ③ Autonomic nervous system imbalance: Decreased immunity and skin regeneration ability due to stress. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic finds the root of skin health through gut detoxification and restores your skin to a healthy state.

If pimples that are easily mistaken for acne appear concentrated in a specific area or repeatedly, there is a high possibility that it is not just a problem on the skin surface. This is because our body often expresses internal problems through the skin. In particular, the gut and skin are closely connected, which is called the 'Gut-Skin Axis'. When the gut environment deteriorates, toxins and inflammation-inducing substances spread throughout the body via the blood, which can manifest as skin inflammation and worsen troubles like pimples or acne.

Q. How is chronic skin inflammation related to gut health? A. The gut is where about 70% of our body's immune cells are concentrated. A healthy gut environment is necessary for the immune system to function smoothly and protect our body from external harmful substances. However, gut barrier damage (leaky gut syndrome) can occur due to irregular eating habits, stress, and overuse of antibiotics, causing harmful bacteria to increase and beneficial bacteria to decrease. When undigested food particles or toxins influx into the blood through the damaged barrier, they cause systemic inflammatory responses, which appear on the skin as pimples, acne, itching, or atopy.

Q. Does stress affect the worsening of pimples? A. Yes, stress is one of the main causes that worsen pimples and various skin troubles. Stress breaks the balance of the autonomic nervous system and excessively activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to decreased immunity and increased inflammatory responses. It also promotes the secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone, which stimulates sebaceous glands and creates an environment where pimples easily occur due to increased sebum secretion. This vicious cycle can lead to chronic skin problems by reducing skin regeneration ability.

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic does not view the reason why acne-like pimples keep spreading as just a surface problem. We approach it by looking at internal imbalances, especially problems in the gut and immune system, as key causes.

Q. How does Korean medicine diagnose and treat skin inflammation? A. Korean medicine views skin inflammation as occurring when 'heat', 'dampness', and 'toxins' accumulate in the body. When gut function is reduced, waste products and toxins are not properly discharged and accumulate, generating heat and dampness, which manifest on the skin, causing red pimples, pustular acne, and itching. At Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, we closely diagnose each patient's constitution and symptoms to find and treat the root cause within the body that triggers skin problems. In particular, we focus on creating an environment where the skin can regenerate and recover on its own through gut detoxification and immunity strengthening.

Confirming the effect of Korean medicine gut detoxification treatment through the latest clinical research

The connection between skin troubles and gut health and the effect of Korean medicine treatment are being scientifically proven through recent clinical research.

A study from Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine published in the Journal of Korean Medicine in 2020 analyzed the effect of combined herbal and acupuncture treatment on 48 patients with inflammatory acne. As a result, the number of acne lesions significantly decreased after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.01), especially with a higher reduction rate for inflammatory lesions than non-inflammatory ones. The researchers concluded that herbal medicine is effective in alleviating skin inflammation by regulating inflammatory responses and improving immune function.

Another study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine in 2022 applied Korean medicine treatment (customized herbal medicine and lifestyle guidance) for gut health improvement to patients with chronic skin inflammatory diseases for 12 weeks. As a result, significant changes were observed, such as increased diversity of gut microbial flora and a decrease in harmful bacteria. Simultaneously, skin inflammation indicators (P-value < 0.05) and skin barrier function improved, and patients' quality of life also increased. The research team suggested that gut health improvement plays an important role in regulating skin inflammation and that Korean medicine treatment can contribute to restoring the balance of the gut-skin axis.

Based on these data, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Incheon focuses on solving the fundamental internal causes for patients suffering from inflammatory pimples. Instead of just suppressing skin symptoms, we conduct gut detoxification treatment to healthy reorganize the gut environment and immune system so that the skin has the power to resist and recover from inflammation on its own.

The skin is our body's largest immune and detoxification organ. If acne-like pimples repeatedly spread, it is a signal that the skin's detoxification function is not working properly and evidence that toxins and inflammatory substances are continuously flowing from the gut.

Dalimchae's gut detoxification treatment focuses on creating an internal environment where the skin can recover healthily, rather than just temporarily calming skin troubles. The key is to break the vicious cycle where toxins accumulated in the gut wall create systemic inflammation via the blood and manifest on the skin.

• Improvement of gut environment: Herbal medicine prescribed according to individual constitution and symptoms inhibits harmful gut bacteria and helps the growth of beneficial bacteria. This strengthens gut barrier function and reduces the possibility of skin inflammation by blocking toxin influx.
• Immunity enhancement: Immune cells are activated through gut detoxification, and overall immunity is enhanced. This helps the skin resist external stimuli and internal inflammation more strongly.
• Promotion of detoxification and discharge: It helps effectively discharge accumulated waste and toxins, reducing the burden on the skin. It contributes to recovering the overall condition of the body as well as the skin.
• Strengthening skin regeneration: A healthy gut and balanced immune system increase skin cell regeneration and recovery, helping improve pimple marks and form a healthy skin barrier.

At our Incheon pimple clinic, we aim to create a healthy skin foundation where skin troubles do not easily recur through this gut detoxification treatment.

If 3 or more of the following items apply, it is necessary to check the root cause inside the body beyond just skin trouble management and consider Korean medicine treatment.

• Frequent indigestion, bloating, heartburn, constipation, or diarrhea.
• Pimples worsen or skin breaks out when stressed.
• Pimples appear repeatedly in specific areas (chin, around the mouth, forehead, etc.).
• Skin is dull and recovery is slow even after enough sleep.
• Skin often turns red or is accompanied by itching.
• Frequent consumption of spicy, salty, oily, or flour-based foods.
• Dermatological treatments or ointments are not effective or only have temporary effects.

3 or more items apply → Suspect gut environment imbalance → Review Korean medicine gut detoxification treatment at Dalimchae Incheon 5 or more items apply → High possibility of chronic internal problems → Immediate visit and precision diagnosis recommended

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Incheon conducts the following systematic treatment process to solve the root cause of skin inflammation.

1. Precision Diagnosis: Along with Korean medicine diagnosis such as consultation, pulse diagnosis, and abdominal diagnosis, we accurately grasp the patient's body condition and cause of skin problems through autonomic balance tests and body composition analysis if necessary.
2. Customized Herbal Prescription: Based on diagnosis results, we prescribe personalized herbal medicine effective for gut detoxification, inflammation relief, and immunity strengthening. Herbal medicine discharges toxins, restores gut function, and builds the skin's own power to become healthy.
3. External Treatment: Directly calms skin inflammation and promotes regeneration through acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and external applications.
4. Lifestyle Guidance: We provide detailed guidance on lifestyle management for skin health, such as proper eating habits, sleep management, and stress relief, to increase treatment effects and prevent recurrence.

Through this overall treatment process, we help solve the fundamental cause of skin troubles and regain healthy and clean skin.

Q. How long does it take to treat acne-like pimples? A. The treatment period can vary depending on the cause of the pimples, individual skin condition, and lifestyle habits. Usually, consistent treatment and management for more than 3 months are recommended, and it is important to have enough time for internal environment improvement and skin regeneration.

Q. I have indigestion along with pimples; can they be treated together? A. Yes, since Dalimchae views the main cause of pimples as related to gut environment imbalance, indigestion and pimples can be treated together. Through gut detoxification, we aim for both digestion improvement and skin inflammation relief.

Q. Can pimples recur after Korean medicine treatment? A. Korean medicine treatment focuses on solving the fundamental problem inside the body to lower the recurrence rate. However, if irregular lifestyle habits or stress continue after treatment, they can reappear, so consistent management is necessary.

Q. I'm looking for a skin trouble clinic in Incheon; what tests does Dalimchae Incheon conduct? A. To grasp each patient's symptoms and constitution, Dalimchae Incheon basically conducts Korean medicine consultation, pulse diagnosis, and abdominal diagnosis. If necessary, we add autonomic balance tests or body composition analysis to objectively analyze the body's overall imbalance and establish a customized treatment plan.

Acne-like pimples are not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. Herbal medicine is, after all, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae website first!

This article is health information summarized by Dalimchae medical staff based on actual questions received in the clinic. Medical Supervision | Skin Disease Treatment Criteria, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch, Korean Medical Doctor Min Jihong (Inflammatory Skin Disease Column)