There's a reason it's called "common acne" -- nearly everyone suffers from a pimple outbreak at some point in life. It starts when greasy secretions from the skin's sebaceous glands (oil glands) plug the tiny openings for hair follicles (plugged pores). If the openings are large, the clogs take the form of blackheads: small, flat spots with dark centers. If the openings stay small, the clogs take the form of whiteheads: small, flesh-colored bumps. Both types of plugged pores can develop into swollen, tender inflammations or pimples or deeper lumps or nodules. Nodules associated with severe cases of acne (cystic acne) are firm swellings below the skin's surface that become inflamed, tender, and sometimes infected.

Diagnostic Essentials for Acne Vulgaris in TCM:
(1) Skin rashes mostly occur on the face, in the regions of the forehead, cheek and beside the nose in particular, and also on the upper part of the chest and back and scapula. The basic lesions are sebaceous papules in size of the needle tip and sesame seed, with red color on the border and small black dot on the tip, called "Black Head Acne". If it is squeezed, its tip is seen in black color and yellow and white semi-transparent fat is discharged from its body. There is small pustule on the tip in some cases. After rupture and absorption, temporary pigmentation or small-pitted scar can be left.

(2) In some severe cases, there are various forms of lesions, such as inflammatory nodes, cysts, abscess and scars.

(3) Seborrhea oleosa often exists simultaneously.

(4) Because of its slow duration, it can occur repeatedly. Mter adolescence, it can be cured gradually by itself or relieved