Regulate excess sebum and recurring clogged pores when oily skin and comedones dominate.
In brief
The Acne programme at PULSE TCM is physician-led care for persistent breakouts, oily skin, and post-acne marks, viewed through Lung Heat, Damp-Heat, Liver qi stagnation, and Yin deficiency. Plans may combine body and facial acupuncture, customised herbal formulas, and in-house acne supplements after consultation. Results vary; your physician sets expectations at assessment.
- MOH-registered
- Pattern-based plans
- 15 clinics
The programme
Regulate the interior to clear the exterior
Persistent breakouts are often more than a surface issue. This pathway looks at internal heat, dampness, and circulation first, then builds a personalised TCM plan after consultation.
Conventional care often focuses on clearing sebum and surface bacteria after breakouts appear. In TCM, recurring acne may reflect disharmony in the Lungs, Stomach, or Liver, with patterns such as toxic Heat, Damp-Heat, or constrained Liver qi. Traditional face mapping helps link facial zones to possible internal patterns so care stays specific. Your physician names the pattern in plain language, then chooses modalities that clear Heat, move dampness, or support Blood circulation for repair. At PULSE, MOH-registered physicians also refer to dermatology when acute infection or severe cystic disease needs conventional care first. For clinic-facing acupuncture and herbal benefits with four breakout syndromes, see TCM acne management. For the three internal patterns behind acne, see TCM perspective on acne. For a zone-by-zone map of forehead, nose, cheek, and chin patterns, see our TCM acne face map.
How care unfolds
Care pathways
Support shaped for clarity, calm, and repair
Three common entry points. Your assessment may name a different mix of patterns and goals.
Ease painful flares from within by clearing excess Heat and restoring internal balance.
Calm active inflammation
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Encourage local microcirculation to support tissue repair and the gradual fading of lingering marks.
Support healing & marks
Book this pathway* Acne care is adjunctive under physician guidance. Seek medical assessment for acute skin infection, rapidly spreading cellulitis, or severe allergic reactions.
Approach to healing
Therapies used in acne plans
Your physician recommends a combination based on your assessment. Not every visit uses every modality.
Targeted acne acupuncture
A dual approach using body acupuncture to address internal Heat and facial acupuncture to support local microcirculation, helping ease swelling and support blemish recovery when that fits your pattern.
Acupuncture treatment
Customised herbal prescriptions
Bespoke herbal formulations prescribed after assessment to clear systemic Damp-Heat, support digestion, and help regulate excess sebum from within when your physician includes them.
Chinese herbal medicine
In-house acne supplements
Physician-developed daily supplements that may complement clinic care by supporting skin repair and barrier comfort between visits. Suitability is confirmed after consultation.
Body and facial acupuncture are a common foundation. Customised herbal formulas and in-house acne supplements join when indicated.
Your clear-skin roadmap
A journey from calm to resilience
Every skin journey is unique. The phases below are a general guide. Session count, frequency, and pace are customised after your initial clinical assessment based on constitution, acne pattern, and severity.
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Control & calm
Assess constitution and target active flares with acne acupuncture and personalised herbal medicine when indicated. Focus: calm breakouts and help regulate excess sebum. Many people notice less swelling and redness in active lesions, with skin that feels less oily.
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Regulate & repair
With active flares quieter, shift toward restoring internal balance and supporting the skin’s natural repair. Focus: ease underlying organ disharmony, reduce new breakouts, and encourage gradual fading of dark spots and marks. Texture often feels smoother in this phase.
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Maintenance & resilience
Build longer-term skin resilience with periodic maintenance and dietary guidance when useful. Focus: keep internal balance steadier against hormonal and lifestyle triggers. Goal: fewer recurring flares and a skin barrier that tolerates everyday stress more calmly.
The PULSE approach to acne management
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Decoding body patterns
Tongue, pulse, and traditional face mapping help name root patterns such as Damp-Heat or Liver qi stagnation in plain language.
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Personalised treatment plan
Face and body acupuncture with herbal support when indicated, aimed at clearing Heat, calming local inflammation, and regulating sebum.
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Proactive restoration
Plans adjust as flares settle, marks fade, and the skin barrier strengthens, with referral when dermatology is safer first.
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MOH-registered, bilingual physicians
TCMPB-registered under MOH. English and Mandarin care across the network.
Physicians
TCM physicians for acne & skin health
TCMPB-registered under MOH. Several physicians work with internal medicine, women's health, and facial or skin-related care relevant to this pathway.
Dr Sim Beng Joo
Advisor / Consultant Physician
Gastrointestinal Syndromes · Pain Management · Sleep / Fatigue
Dr Kevin Tang
Consultant Physician
TCM Oncology · Pain Management · Gynecology
Physician Fang Ying
TCM Physician
Pain Management · Sports Injuries · Gynaecology
Physician Ji Hui Jun
TCM Physician
Gynaecological Issues · Women’s Health · Digestive Issues
Physician Yumi Yen
TCM Physician
Pain & Injury · Dry eye · Internal Medicine
Physician Patricia Wang
TCM Physician
Eye Conditions · Internal Medicine · Pain Management
Physician Judy Zhu
TCM Physician
Facial Beauty Acupuncture · Facial Nerve · Cosmetology
From the clinic
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Acne often mirrors digestion, sleep, and stress as much as the skin itself. Naming Heat, dampness, or Liver constraint early lets us support clearer rhythm without chasing every new spot alone.
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Facial work and constitution care belong together. I look at oil, flare pattern, and how the whole system is holding before choosing body points, facial needling, or herbs.
Patient stories
Patient stories from acne care
Limited-time offer
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Locations
Find an acne management clinic near you
Private treatment rooms islandwide, near MRT, with bilingual teams and consistent hygiene standards.
- 15 clinics islandwide Including ION Orchard, Great World, Paragon, Woodleigh, Millenia Walk, Raffles Place, and neighbourhood locations across Singapore.
- Comfort and privacy Calm rooms built for confidential consultations on breakouts, oiliness, and post-acne marks.
Quick answers
Before you book
Three frequent questions. Full answers sit further down the page.
- How does TCM treat acne differently from conventional Western dermatology?
- Dermatology often targets surface bacteria and sebum. TCM names internal patterns such as Heat or digestive dampness, then builds a personalised plan. The two can sit side by side.
- Is it suitable for all acne types?
- Most often used for active acne and post-acne marks. Acute infection or rapidly worsening cystic disease may need dermatology first; your physician will advise.
- What should I expect during my first acne management session?
- An in-depth consultation and TCM diagnosis come first. Body and facial acupuncture may follow in the same visit when appropriate and you agree to proceed.
FAQs
Acne questions, answered
Dermatology continuum, acne types, first visit, sensation, timelines, downtime, and herb safety.
How does TCM treat acne differently from conventional Western dermatology?
Conventional care often uses topicals or medication to target surface bacteria and excess sebum. TCM focuses on naming internal patterns that may contribute to breakouts, such as excess Heat or digestive dampness, then builds a personalised plan. The approaches can sit side by side; tell your physician about any dermatology treatment you are already using.
Is it suitable for all acne types?
This programme is most often used for active acne and post-acne marks. Suitability depends on your pattern and severity. Acute infection or rapidly worsening cystic disease may need dermatology first; your physician will advise.
What should I expect during my first acne management session?
Your first visit starts with an in-depth consultation. MOH-registered physicians use traditional diagnostic methods to assess constitution, then outline a personalised plan. If you agree to proceed, body and facial acupuncture may be performed in the same visit when appropriate.
Does facial and body acupuncture for acne hurt?
Most people find the treatment comfortable. We use single-use, medical-grade needles that are very fine. You may feel a brief mild tingling or dull ache (De Qi) on insertion; it is not usually described as sharp pain. Physicians adjust technique to your comfort.
How many sessions before I see visible improvements in my skin?
Many people notice less redness and swelling within the first two to three sessions. Skin renewal takes time, and every constitution is different, so pace varies, especially with chronic or hormonal acne. Your physician sets expectations after assessment.
Is there any downtime after an acne acupuncture session?
Most people return to usual activities straight away. Mild temporary pinkness at needle sites is common and typically settles within about an hour. Occasional minor bruising can occur and usually clears on its own.
Are your herbal medicines and daily skin supplements safe?
Safety is a priority. Custom herbal formulas and in-house skin supplements are prepared under quality controls aligned with Singapore regulations. They are matched after assessment; tell your physician about allergies, pregnancy, and any Western medicines you take.
How can I book for the programme?
Use the online booking form, WhatsApp, or phone. Select Face & Skin Conditions as the concern and Acne Management as the service interest when prompted.
References
Sources & page citations
- Law MP, Chuh AA, Molinari N, Lee A. An investigation of the association between diet and occurrence of acne: a rational approach from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2010;35(1):31–35. PMID:19549242
- Chen HY, Lin YH, Chen YC. Identifying Chinese herbal medicine network for treating acne: Implications from a nationwide database. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2016;179:1–8. PMID:26721214
- Huang H, Liu Y, Wu S, Zhao D, Zheng H, Zhu M. Current state of research on acupuncture for acne: a scoping review. Frontiers in Physiology. 2025;16:1661850. doi:10.3389/fphys.2025.1661850
- Sheng Y, Zheng X, Xu J. Anti-acne mechanisms of Yuqingyan, a novel multi-herbal formula derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2026;358:121002. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.121002
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Traditional Chinese medicine: What you need to know. 2019. nccih.nih.gov
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board. Registration & practice standards for TCM physicians. Ministry of Health, Singapore. healthprofessionals.gov.sg/tcmpb
- Ministry of Health Singapore. TCM practitioners (Healthcare Professional Portal). hpp.moh.gov.sg/tcm-practitioners
Clinically reviewed
Reviewed by Dr Sim Beng Joo
Advisor (Science & Strategy) / Consultant Physician · TCMPB T1303003A
MOH-licensed TCM physician and biomedical scientist, with clinical work spanning digestion, pain, sleep or fatigue, and related internal patterns that often sit beside skin change.
View full profileEducational information based on clinical experience and TCM principles. Not a substitute for personalised consultation. Speak with your healthcare provider before starting new treatments. TCM complements (and does not replace) urgent or specialist Western medical care, including acute skin infection, severe cystic disease requiring dermatology, or medical emergencies.
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Begin your acne consultation
Tell us what you are noticing, active flares, oily skin, hormonal breakouts, or lingering marks. We will match you with the right physician and clinic.