Acne - Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Acne · Damp-Heat Accumulation Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Face/Skin

Pattern Overview

Damp-Heat Accumulation is a common pattern in acne, characterized by seborrhea with inflammation, cystic acne, oily skin, nodules, painful lesions, and pustules. The core pathogenesis is accumulation of Damp-Heat in the skin, causing sebaceous gland inflammation, cystic lesion formation, and severe acne.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Cystic acne, nodules, oily skin, pustules, painful lesions |

| Associated Symptoms | Sticky mouth, yellow urine, constipation, irritability |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Damp-Heat accumulating in the skin |

| Etiology | Poor diet, spicy and rich food intake, alcohol consumption, stress |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Quchi (LI11) | Lateral end of the elbow crease | Clears Heat and detoxifies |

| Hegu (LI4) | Dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpals | Disperses Wind and clears Heat |

| Yinlingquan (SP9) | Below the medial condyle of the tibia | Transforms Dampness and drains Heat |

| Fenglong (ST40) | 8 cun above the lateral malleolus, 2 cun lateral to the tibial crest | Transforms Phlegm and Dampness |

| Sanyinjiao (SP6) | 3 cun above the medial malleolus | Regulates Dampness and nourishes Blood |

Clinical Recommendation: Filament needle, reducing method; may combine with cupping to drain Damp-Heat.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Yin Chen Hao Tang (茵陈蒿汤) or Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (黄连解毒汤)

Composition:

Artemisia (Yin Chen Hao), Gardenia (Zhi Zi), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Coptis (Huang Lian), Phellodendron (Huang Bai), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Clears Damp-Heat, detoxifies, and reduces cystic lesions.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Cystic acne | Add Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao to clear Heat and detoxify |

| Oily skin | Add Bai Xian Pi, Ku Shen to reduce sebum |

| Painful lesions | Add Ru Xiang, Mo Yao to relieve pain |

| Constipation | Add Da Huang to drain heat |

Western Mechanism Reference

Seborrhea with inflammation, elevated fatty acid content in sebum, and NF-κB inflammatory pathway activation. Damp-Heat Accumulation corresponds to cystic acne, where elevated sebum fatty acid content and NF-κB pathway activation contribute to severe inflammatory lesions.

References

  1. Dermatology of TCM - Acne with Damp-Heat Accumulation.

  2. Zang-Fu Pattern Differentiation: Damp-Heat → Clearing Pathway.

  3. WHO. (2023). Skin health. World Health Organization.

Explore More

  • Find your solution at MendGod.com – Personalized herbal protocols and acupressure tools for skin health.

  • Deepen your knowledge at TcmCIO.com – Full research papers and clinical case studies on TCM dermatology.