Abstract
Acne and rosacea are inflammatory skin conditions that can be frustrating for patients and challenging for physicians to treat. As a result, many patients seek alternative therapies. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of treatment used as a complement to or, in some instances, as a substitution for Western medical therapies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years and has been used in the management of multiple dermatologic conditions, including acne and rosacea. In small studies, herbal remedies, acupuncture, and cupping have shown favorable outcomes in acne and rosacea, with few reported side effects.
This chapter summarizes the evidence reported in the English literature to support the use of TCM therapies in the treatment of acne and rosacea. TCM, used either as a monotherapy or as a complement to Western therapies, may be cost-effective and well tolerated by certain patients who seek alternative therapies.