Acne develops most often on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, or back and can range from mild to severe. It can last for a few months, many years, or come and go your entire life. Mild acne usually causes only whiteheads and blackheads. At times, these may develop into an infection in the skin pore (pimple). Severe acne can produce hundreds of pimples that cover large areas of skin. Cystic lesions are pimples that are large and deep. These lesions are often painful and can leave scars on your skin. Acne can lead to low self-esteem and sometimes depression. These conditions need treatment along with the acne.

Symptoms and signs of Acne in TCM include:
1. Syndrome of Accumulation of Heat in the Lung and Stomach
Main Symptoms: Skin rashes mostly on the face, especially on the forehead, cheek and beside the nose, in red color or with pustule, reddened tongue, yellow or yellowish and greasy coating, rapid or slippery and rapid pulse.

2. Syndrome of Accumulation of Phlegm and Blood Stasis
Main Symptoms: Mostly nodular and cystic acne, in lingering duration and repeated seizure, visible nodular cysts, or scars, reddened tongue or purple dark tongue, whitish and greasy or yellowish and greasy coating, wiry or slippery pulse.