Dermatology

The AcuMedic Dermatology Clinic provides specialist syndrome acupuncture treatment and powerful Chinese herbal medicine specifically tailored to treat a wide range of skin conditions.

Treatment is performed by a fully qualified CMIR-registered doctor with extensive Western medical training.

Our Dermatology Clinic treatment includes:

• A full Chinese Medical diagnosis with personalised lifestyle advice
• Syndrome acupuncture if appropriate
• An optional Chinese herbal prescription (charged separately) tailored to your individual condition and health needs

The AcuMedic Dermatology Clinic in London offers treatment for conditions such as:

• Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea
• Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis
• Psoriasis (Palmoplantar Pustulosis, as well as Psoriatic Arthritis)
• Painful Skin Abscesses
• Hives (Urticaria)
• Grover’s disease
• Oily or Dry skin
• Skin Infections such as Molluscum contagiosum (MC)
• Allergic Skin Reactions to food
• Warts and Verrucas
• Ichthyosis

If your condition is not on this list, just ask for Free Health Advice and our Doctors will let you know if, and how, they can help. You can also visit our centre and one of our doctors will speak to you for free as a walk-in service.

How we can help you

Acupuncture treatment is available all over the world but not all acupuncturists are the same. Many acupuncturists in the West are only trained in a small modality of acupuncture such as trigger point acupuncture or perhaps 5 Element acupuncture.

AcuMedic in London treats with syndrome acupuncture which is based on the complete system of theories in Chinese Medicine (including trigger point and 5 Element). This is authentic acupuncture treatment as practised in China and is based on Syndrome Differentiation diagnosis.

True Syndrome acupuncture is not easy to find in the West and requires many years of training. Syndrome acupuncture at AcuMedic in London is performed only by CMIR-registered doctors with a minimum of 10 years clinical experience. The CMIR (Chinese Medical Institute and Register) is an organisation with strict codes of conduct and qualification requirements. Our doctors are sufficiently experienced that many of them teach Western Doctors in acupuncture.

See our free guide on Chinese Medicine for anti-ageing.

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+ How it works

Chinese Medicine works on skin by treating imbalances in the person’s internal health which manifest as skin problems amongst other symptoms. For example, common chronic skin conditions, itchiness, spots or dry skin can be treated by improving the functional health of Lungs, Spleen, Liver or Kidneys.

The state of the skin should be seen as a reflection of the whole internal health of the person which is influenced by various external factors (including your lifestyle, diet, the environment, etc.). Chinese medicine is ideally suited to treating skin conditions because it understands how the health of the skin is the manifestation of the state of the body’s key internal organs (such as the Lungs and the Stomach) and because it can combine various herbs to simultaneously treat all of the affected organs, and thus treat the given skin condition at its root cause.

Chinese Medicine combines various herbs into a formula that simultaneously treats all of the affected organs – and thus treats the given skin condition – at its root.

To find out more read our brief Introduction to Chinese Medicine.

+ What to Expect

An AcuMedic doctor will carry out a full Chinese Medical diagnosis (including tongue- and pulse-diagnoses to check internal health) and will talk to you to learn a bit about your skin issues.

A Dermatology Clinic appointment usually lasts between 25-40 minutes. This includes consultation, diagnosis and acupuncture treatment. If you are prescribed raw Chinese herbs then this can take up to half an hour to prepare after your appointment.

+ Diagnosis and Consultation

There are four main diagnostic methods in Chinese Medicine which are observing, pulse diagnosis, questioning and listening. Each method has a unique function in the process of collecting different clinical information and understanding the root cause of your skin condition. Therefore all four diagnostic methods must be used to make an accurate diagnosis of your health and individualise the treatment so that the health of your skin can be improved.

Observing involves looking at all the outward manifestations of your condition, which are not confined just to the appearance of your skin. This is done by observing your general vitality, complexion, figure in addition to your skin. One of the most well known parts of observing is tongue diagnosis. The tongue is like a mirror showing the state of your internal organs. The AcuMedic doctor will be able to judge the condition of your essential energy (Qi), identify the location of the affected parts inside your body, determine what is exactly is wrong and identify how your condition might progress just from looking at your tongue.

There are over 50 different pulse types and the AcuMedic doctor will take your pulse on both wrists to determine which pulse type you have. Your pulse is identified in terms of depth, speed, strength, shape and rhythm. Your pulse is an indicator of how Qi and blood are moving around your body, therefore how well your internal organs are functioning. From your pulse the doctor can determine a great deal about your physical and emotional condition and the root cause of your skin issues. This information is very important for determining the right treatment for you.

The doctor will ask you a huge variety of questions to learn about your symptoms and general lifestyle. It may seem like some of these questions are odd, but it all goes towards building a complete picture of you and your health. No matter how trivial something might seem to you, tell your doctor. No symptom that you have is unrelated or unimportant to the health of your skin and diagnosis. It is also very useful for your doctor to see the results of any medical tests you have had so make sure you bring them along to your first consultation and whenever you get new results through.

Once the doctor has finished diagnosing you, they will tell you about your particular Chinese Medical syndrome. These syndromes often have funny sounding names, like Liver Qi Stagnation or Kidney Yin Deficiency, but do not let that put you off. They will accurately explain why you have the symptoms you have and therefore what treatment you need to alleviate your skin issues.

The doctor will then suggest an acupuncture treatment plan based on the diagnosis to return you to good health, thereby easing all of the different symptoms at the same time while tackling the skin condition at its root.

If the doctor feels that you should take some Chinese herbal medicines in addition to acupuncture then a prescription will be written for you. This is charged separately to your treatment. The prescription may be in the form of raw Chinese herbs or herbal extract capsules which are assembled and dispensed by our expert dispensary on our premises.

Chinese herbs provide the essential nutrition the body needs to overcome any physical, mental or emotional imbalances.

+ Treatment

After consultation you will probably be asked to lie on the bed and remove some clothing to receive acupuncture. The doctor will provide you with a blanket to cover yourself. Micro-fine needles will be inserted and you will be left alone to relax for about 20-40 minutes.

Please be aware that this is crucial treatment time for the acupuncture to have a therapeutic effect and you have not been forgotten. Just relax and enjoy the sensation of the acupuncture treatment (many patients will fall asleep). If you need to call the Clinic reception then there is a bell to alert us to come and talk with you.

Usually, the acupuncture needles do not hurt when they are inserted, although if a lot of blocked energy has built up at one area of your body, you may feel a pricking and pulling sensation as the Qi begins to flow again in there. Most people find acupuncture incredibly relaxing.

AcuMedic doctors only use sterile disposable acupuncture needles. AcuMedic actually invented the disposable acupuncture needle.

For people who are afraid of acupuncture needles, please speak to your doctor who may recommend a different treatment based on electro-acupuncture instead of needles. Electro-acupuncture works in the same way as conventional acupuncture, but instead of using needles, an electronic pointer is used to stimulate the acupuncture points on the body.

You will be given a specific and individualised herbal prescription for you to purchase. Please note that this is completely optional however with Dermatological conditions it is usually viewed as essential to take herbal medicines in order to achieve a good outcome.

+ After the Treatment

After the treatment you should notice an improvement in your symptoms and in the general appearance of your skin. The most substantial improvement should occur after you have taken a few daily doses of your prescribed Chinese herbal medicine. You should also notice a general improvement in your overall health. For example, you should feel relaxed and more calm. Please be advised that sometimes the skin condition can temporarily get worse before improving. This is a common reaction to the herbal medicine and should not cause you any alarm.

To find out more about being a patient at AcuMedic please take a look at the AcuMedic Patient Handbook.