FAQ

General Questions

Take 2 -3 capsules once daily.

Refrain from consuming alcohol, coffee, and tea. Keep an interval of 2 hours before or after western medication. 

This product is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If you are unsure about what type of formula to go for, we have a handy acne quiz that will help you with just that!

  1. Refrain from touching your face unnecessarily.
  2. Wash your face twice a day, and keep your face moisturised after washing. Do not over-cleanse your face as it can cause dry skin and worsen existing acne. 
  3. Wash hands frequently, especially before touching your face or applying skincare  and makeup.
  4. Choose non-comedogenic makeup and if you have oily skin, opt for water or gel-based products to reduce the tendency of clogged pores. Remove makeup and cleanse your skin before sleeping.
  5. Manage anxiety and stress, as it can increase production of cortisol and adrenaline, which exacerbate acne.
  6. Do not scratch your skin or burst pimples, as this may push the infection further down or spread throughout your skin, causing more blockages, swelling, redness, and even scarring.
  7. Wash your pillowcase and face towels regularly.
  8. Change your face mask regularly or wash it regularly if it is reusable.
  9. Wash your face after removing  your face mask.

    From TCM’s point of view, acne can be due to a variety or combination of internal disharmony. Ultimately, your face mirrors your internal health. When problems manifest on the skin, it is often signalling a deeper imbalance going on somewhere in the body. Each type of imbalance is reflected in its characteristic symptoms and signs, i.e., shape and appearance of pimples, body areas in which pimples develop.

    As there is “no one size fits all” treatment plan, a consultation with a physician to diagnose your body constitution more accurately would be the best option. Depending on your condition,  a personalised herbal formula and acupuncture treatment will be prescribed to restore healthy skin.

    Click here to learn more about our acne management programme. 

The forehead reflects mainly the Heart, Small Intestine and the Liver systems. Stress, irritability and the lack of sleep are the main triggers that ignite heart-fire and liver-fire, leading to the formation of acne around the forehead area. 

Acne found around the nose area indicates excessive stomach-fire and poor bowel movements in the body. This excessive stomach-fire in the body is usually a result of overconsumption of unhealthy food such as spicy food, deep fried food, processed food and raw cold food. 

The upper cheek also belongs to the stomach and acne around this area often manifests together with acne around the nose. The lower cheeks, on the other hand,  belong to the lungs (right) and the liver (left). The respiratory system is closely related to the lung’s health. Hence, acne dominant around the right side of the lower cheek area are often related to respiratory ailments such as sinus and allergies issues. In TCM, the liver governs our emotions and thus, being under a stressful environment can also result in acne breakouts around the left side of the lower cheeks. 

Acne found on the cheeks can also be due to poor skincare habits or long hours of wearing face masks. 

Lastly, the chin and jawline area belongs to the reproductive system which is governed by the kidney. From a TCM perspective, hormonal imbalance is caused by the deficiency in the kidney and liver system. Therefore, common causes for acne around this area includes stress, menstrual cycle, post-birth control pills, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and menopause. 

Source: https://pulsetcm.sg/what-your-acne-is-telling-you-based-on-face-mapping/

People with acne problems are advised not to consume ‘heaty’ foods. 

‘Heaty foods’ are usually the foods that can generate Heat or Dampness-Heat in your body and cause symptoms like redness, swelling, heat, pain, and pus formation. 

Example of heaty foods include

  • Alcohol
  • Mutton 
  • Milk 
  • Cheese
  • Curry
  • Chilli
  • Ginger, onion, garlic 
  • Cinnamon, star anise, pepper
  • Leaks, chives
  • Oily foods, deep-fried foods
  • Biscuits, cookies, chips
  • Sugar
  • Sweetened foods/drinks
  • Some fruits such as durian, jackfruit, longan, lychee, rambutan, mango 

 

Besides that, foods which can weaken Spleen and cause Phlegm-Dampness are also to be avoided. Phlegm-Dampness tends to cause nodules and cysts like acne on the face. You can find out more on what other kinds of food to avoid here.  https://pulsetcm.sg/tcm-perspective-how-certain-foods-can-cause-acne/

Some foods with ‘Cooling’ properties, Dampness-removal properties are usually recommended to help reduce acne breakouts. These foods help to clear the Heat and Dampness from our body, and reduce the occurrences of breakouts. Here are some recommended recipes:


Winter Melon Soup

Ingredients:

  • Wintermelon with skin 冬瓜(带皮)500g
  • Chinese barley 中国薏米 60g
  • Dried lotus leaf 荷叶 12g
  • Lean meat 瘦肉250g 

Instructions:

  1. Cut winter melon into big cubes, retaining the skin in the process.
  2. Rinse all the ingredients with water. 
  3. Put the rinsed lotus leaf into a filter bag.
  4. Put all the ingredients into a pot of 1.5 litre water.
  5. Boil with high heat, and reduce to medium-low heat after the soup boils.
  6. Cook for 1 hour. Turn off the heat and season with 1 teaspoon of salt.

 

Honeysuckle White Chrysanthemum Tea

Ingredients:

  • Honeysuckle 金银花 6g
  • White chrysanthemum 杭白菊 6g
  • Tangerine peel 陈皮 6g

Instructions:

  1. Break the tangerine peel into small pieces.
  2. Place all the ingredients into a tea bag.
  3. Pour boiling/hot water into the cup.
  4. Let it steep for 5 minutes.

for Cystic Acne:

Of course, everyone's body condition is different and you may see results at a different pace.

for Cystic Acne: Generally, for simple cystic acne cases, it takes at least 1-3 months of regular intake of the acne capsules to see results. Following this, acne outbreaks should be minimal and kept in control.

No known side effects. However, should you feel unwell, stop medication immediately.

If symptoms persist even after discontinuing, please consult a doctor or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

for Adult Acne:

Of course, everyone's body condition is different and you may see results at a different pace.

for Hormonal Acne: We recommend consuming this product for prolonged regular consumption (around 6 months) for the most effective result. This product works to regulate hormonal imbalances and one's body constitution, reducing the frequency and severity of breakouts. 

This Chinese medicinal capsule combines a family of herbal actives with all-natural plant-based ingredients.

There are no steroids, hormones or antibiotic compounds inside.

This product contains Cortex phellodendri 黄柏 (berberine). It may cause the following side effects: Occasional nausea, vomiting, rashes and fever.

Contraindicated in children less than 1 year, Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient individuals, pregnant and breastfeeding women. Stop medication immediately if symptoms develop. If symptoms persist even after discontinuing, please consult a doctor or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

Yes, they can take this as an alternative treatment as well. Men are susceptible to hormonal acne as well as testosterone levels fluctuate, resulting in increased sebum and breakouts.

They are also more likely to experience hormonal acne in other areas like the neck, back, shoulders and chest.

Everyone’s PCOS and acne journey is different. For more on managing PCOS, it is best to consult with your friendly TCM physician to assess your body condition and determine if there are any other underlying issues.

Adult Acne is caused by an imbalance of hormone levels in the body. Adult acne is usually linked to hormonal changes— fluctuations of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. While both men and women can suffer from hormonal acne, women are more likely to be affected, with hormone fluctuations occurring monthly during menstruation cycles, or during pregnancy and menopause.


This means that your body has too little or too much of a certain hormone and it affects the amount of oil your skin produces, leading to increased occurrences of acne. E.g. A high level of progesterone in the body may stimulate the sebaceous glands in the skin, increasing sebum-production which ultimately leads to acne outbreaks.

Hormonal acne is usually located around the chin and jawline areas. 

While both men and women can suffer from hormonal acne, women are more likely to be affected, with hormone fluctuations occurring monthly during menstruation cycles, or during pregnancy and menopause.

Men may experience breakouts when testosterone levels fluctuate too. They are also more likely to experience hormonal acne in other areas like the neck, back, shoulders and chest.

Other signs of hormonal imbalance include: irritability, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycle, and insomnia.

If you are still unsure about the best formula for your acne, take our handy acne quiz!

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