10 TCM Tips for Radiant Skin
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a treasure trove of knowledge when it comes to healing, nurturing, and maintaining beautiful skin.
As a skin-specific acupuncturist and herbalist, here are some of my favorite insights to help you achieve glowing and healthy skin.
1. Balance Your Diet with Chinese Medicine
Tip: A balanced diet is fundamental for skin health according to TCM principles. There’s a few guidelines in TCM for supporting healthy digestion, which in turn supports healthy skin.
Minimize overly spicy or greasy foods, which can exacerbate skin issues and lead to imbalances.
Dairy can sometimes be an issue for people with weaker digestive systems, as it can create dampness in the body, which can exacerbate some skin issues.
Aim to eat at regular intervals and focus on consuming warm, cooked foods rather than raw, cold ones. This approach promotes optimal digestion, especially if you feel gassy or bloated after eating.
Regular bowel movements are crucial for eliminating toxins and maintaining a healthy, vibrant complexion. If constipation is an issue, consult with an acupuncturist or herbalist to find the right solution for your constipation, as there are multiple causes in TCM (including blood deficiency, yin deficiency, and various types of heat).
Focus on a diet that’s rich in whole, unprocessed foods that are cooked well.
2. Hydrate from Within with Yin-Nourishing Foods
Tip: Hydration is not just about drinking water; it’s also about consuming moisture-rich foods that help keep your skin moist and supple. Incorporate hydration-rich foods into your diet, such as steamed fruits and vegetables, congees, porridges, broths, and soups. Tremella mushrooms, known for their incredible moisture-retaining properties, are a fantastic addition to your diet. These foods help nourish Yin, which is crucial for maintaining skin hydration and overall vitality.
If you’re frequently roasting meat and vegetables, switching to poaching, sauteing, and steaming your food can help increase the moisture content of your diet. While the caramelization and concentration of flavors in roasted foods is delicious, the flavor concentration comes from removing water from the food, which makes your food less hydrating.
3. Avoid Overexposure to the Sun
Tip: Excessive sun exposure can lead to skin damage and premature aging. Often what we see as aging is really just photoaging, or damage from sun exposure. In TCM, overexposure to the sun is believed to deplete Yin, leading to dryness and other skin issues. Protect your skin by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with high SPF, wearing protective clothing, and choosing a stylish wide-brimmed hat for additional protection. I recommend mineral-based sunscreens, as chemical sunscreens can aggravate some sensitive skin.
Additionally, incorporating a diet rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamin-c can provide added support. Foods such as berries, dark leafy greens, and nuts can help protect your skin from within.
I personally love Laurel Skin’s Sun Serum, which strengthens the skin’s barrier and includes oils that help improve the skin’s response to sun exposure. It is not a sunscreen, but another tool in the toolbox.
4. Practice Manual Techniques: Gua Sha, Cupping, and Facial Massage
Tip: Manual techniques like Gua Sha, cupping, and facial massage can significantly benefit your skin by improving circulation and enhancing the flow of Qi (energy). Essentially, these tools bring greater health and vitality to your face, which then improves your appearance. Gua Sha, for instance, involves using a smooth-edged tool (generally made of stone or stainless steel) to gently scrape the skin, promoting better energy flow and helping to improve skin texture and tone. If you don’t have a special tool, you can even use a smooth spoon!
I definitely recommend learning these techniques from a professional, as while they’re generally safe, you don’t want to hurt yourself by doing too much, or damaging the tissues in any way. Gentle is often best. My favorite expert in Gua Sha is Sandra Lanshin, whose techniques I highly recommend.
5. Regulate Your Emotions
Tip: TCM emphasizes the profound connection between emotional well-being and skin health. Emotional stress can aggravate skin issues such as acne, eczema, or premature aging. To maintain emotional balance and prevent stress-related skin problems, engage in stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga, or Qi Gong. For some folks, exercise really helps, too. As a busy mom, who used to meditate for lengthy periods of time before having kids and running a business, I make it a goal to meditate 5 minutes a day. Even 5 minutes really helps!
I’m also a huge fan of speaking to licensed therapists when you’re experiencing overwhelm or strong emotions. It is always good to have somebody on your team!
Acupuncture is also amazing for regulating stress. If you’re going through a stressful time, ask for ear seeds at your next appointment! These little stickers, placed on your ears, can stimulate acupuncture points associated with emotional regulation. They’re one of my favorite tools to offer clients!
Additionally, there are some herbal formulas (especially those that contain nervines and adaptogens) that can help people regulate their emotions and stress more effectively.
6. Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule
Tip: Adequate rest is crucial for skin regeneration and overall health. According to TCM, it is ideal to go to bed before 10:30 PM, as that way you’ll be asleep before the liver’s peak energy time, which starts around 11 PM. The regulation of liver qi is really important in TCM for skin health. Aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night allows your skin to repair and rejuvenate, promoting a healthier complexion.
They call it “beauty sleep” for a reason!
7. Use Acupuncture for Skin Health
Tip: Regular acupuncture sessions can be highly effective for balancing energy flow, regulating emotions, and addressing specific skin concerns. Acupuncture helps improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall skin health by targeting meridian points related to the skin.
Incorporating acupuncture into your skincare routine can complement other treatments and support your skin’s natural healing processes.
Consult with a qualified acupuncturist to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique skin needs.
8. Balance from Within using Herbal Medicine
Tip: Consult with a qualified herbalist to develop a routine to support your health from within. While many herbs are considered “beauty herbs,” like bai shao (peony root, or paeonia lactiflora), bai mu er (tremella mushrooms), or mei gui hua (rose, or rosa rugosa), the truth is that any herb can be a beauty herb if it makes you feel better!
Because herbal medicine is so nuanced, and your body is constantly changing throughout the seasons, it is often best to speak with somebody to guide your herb choices. There are lots of qualified TCM dermatologists who can help you; look here for somebody in your area.
9. Practice Seasonal Skincare Adjustments
Tip: Adjusting your skincare routine according to the seasons is essential for maintaining healthy skin. In TCM, different seasons affect the skin in various ways. In the autmumn, support dry skin that’s been in the sun during the summer. In winter, focus on using richer, moisturizing products to combat dryness and support the skin’s barrier. During the spring, focus on detoxification and promoting qi and blood circulation. In summer, opt for lighter, products with antioxidant support to help your skin adjust to greater sun exposure.
10. Flow leads to Glow
In Chinese medicine, there’s a famous phrase from the Huang Di Nei Jing: “If there is free flow, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free flow.”
Essentially, where there is flow, you see health.
Where there is flow, you glow.
And if there’s no flow?
Well, that’s where we start to see skin that’s dull, tired, and muscles that experience pain (especially in the jaw, temples, and the neck).
Engaging in practices that help you feel greater flow in your life, whether through exercise, conversations with friends, journaling, hobbies, meditation, herbal medicine, acupuncture, or a pleasurable skincare routine will all encourage greater flow in your life.
In Conclusion
There’s so many more practices you can engage in. As you can see, Traditional Chinese Medicine has lots of ways to support healthy skin!
If you’d like a personalized consultation to put together a solid plan for your skin’s needs, book a consultation here.