signal from your body?

According to Ayurvedic teachings and Chinese medicine, the pimple dujour is exactly that.

We were, too.

Close up of woman looking at her face in handheld mirror

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Meet the Experts

What Is Acne Face Mapping?

Face mapping goes back thousands of years, says Dr. Hsu.

A lot of it comes simply from clinical experience.

A demonstration of face mapping.

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According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver, for example, is manifested in the eyes.

You should treat your face with an individualized approach, unique from everyone else.

Ultimately, the same cause can present as different distributions of acne on different people.

Some people break out on their cheeks withstress, others on their forehead or even theirback.

Again, the pop in of acne is more important than the area, says Dr. Nazarian.

How Does Acne Face Mapping Work?

Dr. Hsu says that the quality of the skin on your face provides an expression of your health.

Its very difficult to affect one without affecting others.

“Breakouts in this area often signal stress or digestive stagnation.

Avoid drying foods like apples, melons, potatoes, eggplants, beef, and peas.

Instead, eat moisture-rich foods such as avocados, sweet fruits, cherries, and oranges.

Exfoliate gently with rice or almond powder, and steam with mint leaves to cleanse pores and boost circulation.

Also, most people tend towash their facefirst, then apply hair products afterward.

These products can drip down onto the forehead and clog pores.

Cut down on rich foods, butter, cheese, and late-night snacks, he advises.

Incorporate more exercise into your routine, and get more sleep.

Holecek expands on this, noting differences between the right and left sides of the space between the brows.

“A vertical line on the left side suggests pent-up emotions affecting the spleen.”

“Staying hydrated and enhancing digestion with spices can help,” says Holecek.

“Ayurveda even suggests chewing food thoroughlyup to 30 times per biteto aid digestion.”

Nose

Your nose, in the face mapping canon, is connected to your lungs and heart.

“The Pitta dosha, associated with fire, governs the nose and cheeks.

Breakouts in this area may indicate high blood pressure or circulation problems,” adds Holecek.

Medications containingretinoidsare the ideal jot down of [treatment for these blemishes].

Left Cheek

Chinese medicine is really big on left and right, Dr. Hsu tells us.

“Acne on the cheeks may result from dirty pillowcases, cell phones, or frequent face-touching.

Keeping these clean can reduce breakouts,” echoes Holecek.

Right Cheek

Dr. Hsu says that the right-side cheek has a connection to your lungs.

Mouth Area

If you suffer frombreakouts around your moutharea, your diet could be partially responsible.

Stress can also be a huge part of it.

“Hormonal fluctuations often show up on the chin, particularly around menstruation.

“Kapha imbalance leads to water retention,bloating, and stubborn, pus-filled acne.