June’s Rising Temperatures and Humidity Trigger Peak Skin Disease Season; TCM Experts Unveil “Internal-External” Prevention Strategies On June 16, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) hosted a 2026 series of health promotion press conferences, focusing on “TCM Prevention and Treatment of Skin Diseases.” Industry experts delivered in-depth insights across multiple dimensions, including clinical diagnostics, home care, emotional regulation, ethnic medicine, and TCM aesthetics, to share practical knowledge and methods for managing skin conditions through traditional Chinese medicine. TCM’s Holistic Approach: “Internal Imbalances Manifest Externally” Rooted in the principle “What exists internally must manifest externally,” TCM views the skin as a mirror of the body’s internal organ health, qi and blood balance. It advocates a holistic strategy: regulating internal organs, treating external lesions, and addressing both root causes and symptoms. Currently, TCM has extensive experience in treating common and stubborn skin conditions like eczema, urticaria, and acne, offering not only internal and external herbal formulas but also specialized techniques such as fire needle therapy, herbal steam baths, and wet compresses. NATCM’s Systematic Advancements in TCM Dermatology Ouyang Bo, Deputy Director of the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Ethnic Medicine Division at NATCM, stated: “The NATCM continues to strengthen TCM-based prevention and treatment capabilities for skin diseases. We have currently selected and built 25 national TCM specialty clinics for dermatology, including one each in Tibetan, Mongolian, and Uyghur medicine. A multi-level quality control network for TCM dermatology has also been established. In terms of standardization, we have issued 5 national recommended standards and 51 TCM-related group standards for dermatology to further规范诊疗流程 (standardize diagnostic and treatment processes). In research and talent development, leveraging the National TCM Inheritance Innovation Center, we are conducting targeted studies on psoriasis and vitiligo, supporting key disciplines in TCM and ethnic medicine (Tibetan, Uyghur, etc.), and cultivating a large pool of professionals. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen specialty and quality control center construction, deepen TCM research on skin diseases, expand health education efforts, and comprehensively improve public skin health literacy.” Personalized TCM Treatments Across Age Groups Infants: Managing Eczema and Diaper Rash in Humid Summers Infants have delicate skin, and summer’s humid heat easily triggers eczema and diaper rash. Song Ping, Chief Physician and Deputy Director of the Dermatology Department at Xiyuan Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, explained: “Summer’s combination of dampness and heat, combined with improper feeding practices, leads to internal damp-heat accumulation in infants, causing skin issues.” For infantile eczema, he recommends using dried honeysuckle (金银花) boiled water for wet compresses or baths. This gentle method effectively relieves redness, itching, and oozing. Care should focus on repairing the skin barrier: apply fragrance-free infant moisturizers immediately after bathing. Dietarily, breastfeeding mothers should avoid seafood, spicy foods, eggs, and dairy (common allergens), while introducing complementary foods to babies gradually. For diaper rash, the core care principle is keeping the area dry and isolated from irritants. After cleaning and drying the buttocks, apply a thin layer of traditional Chinese medicine oil. Change diapers frequently, allow the buttocks to air out, and avoid overdressing or overblanketing the child. If the rash is severe or accompanied by fever, seek medical attention immediately. 

Summer Skin Conditions: TCM’s Personalized “Internal-External” Management for Adults, Teens, and the Elderly Adult Eczema: “Acute vs. Chronic” TCM Treatment Principles Adult eczema often recurs frequently in summer. Liu Hong, Chief Physician at Puhuangyu Community Health Service Center, Fengtai District, Beijing, emphasized that TCM treats eczema based on “treating acute and chronic stages differently, combining internal and external therapies.” Acute stage: Focus on clearing heat, draining dampness, and stopping itching. Subacute stage: Prioritize strengthening the spleen and promoting dampness excretion. Chronic stage: Center on nourishing blood, moistening dryness, and dispelling wind to relieve itching. External therapies can include herbal wet compresses, herbal baths, or patent TCM ointments. Under professional guidance, techniques like moxibustion and cupping may also be applied. Lifestyle adjustments are critical: Avoid spicy foods, beef/lamb, sweets, and cold drinks; eat spleen-strengthening, dampness-draining foods like winter melon, coix seed (薏米), and yam. Never scratch itchy skin—instead, tap gently or apply cold compresses. Regulate emotions via Baduanjin (八段锦) or meditation to reduce recurrence. Teen Acne: TCM’s Four Syndrome-Based Approach Teens suffer frequent acne due to excess sebum production, stress, and irregular sleep. Zhou Dongmei, Chief Physician and Director of Dermatology at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, explained that acne (青春痘) falls into four TCM syndromes: lung-stomach heat excess, damp-heat accumulation, liver stagnation transforming into fire, and yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity—each requiring tailored treatment. Daily care guidelines: Diet: Limit sweets, dairy, fried foods, spices, and cold drinks; prioritize high-fiber fruits/vegetables. Skincare: Use gentle oil-control products; never squeeze pimples (especially in the facial “danger triangle”). Sleep & Emotions: Sleep before 11 PM and manage stress to keep liver qi flowing—balanced emotions naturally reduce acne. Warning: Teens should avoid self-medicating with steroid creams or high-concentration acid products. Seek medical help for widespread or stubborn acne. Herpes Zoster (Shingles): TCM’s Edge in Pain Management Herpes zoster, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, primarily affects immunocompromised individuals and the elderly, with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) lingering for many patients. Song Ping noted that TCM views shingles (“snake-like sores” 蛇串疮) as stemming from liver-gallbladder damp-heat, fire-toxin accumulation, and meridian blockage. TCM’s unique advantages: Acute stage: Internal herbal formulas clear heat, drain dampness, and detoxify; combined with bloodletting cupping, fire needle therapy, and herbal compresses, they rapidly relieve pain and dry up blisters. Post-herpetic neuralgia: Treatment focuses on activating blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and stopping pain via acupuncture and moxibustion—showing strong clinical efficacy. Key advice: Seek treatment immediately after symptom onset, keep lesions clean, and rest adequately. Most patients recover well with timely care. TCM’s Holistic “Body-Mind” Approach to Skin Health Skin conditions reflect internal imbalances and emotional states. Traditional exercises, Uyghur medicine, and TCM aesthetics offer comprehensive “inside-out” care. Emotions & Skin: The Liver’s Role Liu Hong explained that TCM holds the liver governs qi flow and blood storage. Stress or depression causes liver qi stagnation, triggering acne, redness, or blood-stasis-type lesions. Three home remedies: Massage the Taichong穴 (foot dorsum) for 3–5 minutes nightly to soothe the liver and clear heat. Rub the Danzhong穴 (chest center) to open the chest and regulate qi. Adjust mindset and slow down life pace to address root causes. Traditional Exercises for Skin Health Song Ping recommended two Baduanjin moves: “Single-hand lift to regulate spleen and stomach”: Repeat 6–10 times to strengthen digestion, transform dampness, and fix spleen-deficiency-induced skin issues. “Draw bow like shooting a eagle”: Expands the chest, regulates lung meridians, and nourishes skin. Long-term practice balances body and mind, reducing chronic skin disease recurrence. Uyghur Medicine’s Specialty in Stubborn Skin Conditions Tuerxun Wuer, Chief Physician and Director of Skin Diagnosis at Xinjiang Uyghur Medical Hospital, highlighted Uyghur medicine’s strengths in treating vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema, and shingles. Its core philosophy is “balancing body fluids and correcting temperament,” following a “clear abnormal fluids, repair skin damage” approach. Key herb: Artemisia annua (驱虫斑鸠菊) activates melanin cells for vitiligo. Diet: Eat fresh fruits/vegetables, mung beans, and winter melon; avoid sweets, fried foods, and spices. Skincare: Use natural moisturizers like watermelon juice or raw cream. 

TCM Beauty: Holistic Approach to Melasma and Dull Complexion in Women Zhou Dongmei, Chief Physician and Director of Dermatology at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, emphasized that TCM beauty care follows the principle of “nourishing the inside to reflect on the outside.” Facial issues like melasma (黄褐斑) and dull complexion are closely linked to the health of the five zang organs, qi and blood balance, and meridian flow. Thus, TCM beauty care does not focus solely on the face—it starts with internal regulation, allowing a healthy glow to naturally emerge from within. Four TCM Syndromes of Melasma: Personalized Internal Regulation Melasma is classified into four TCM syndromes, each requiring tailored internal treatment: Liver qi stagnation (肝郁气滞) Liver-kidney deficiency (肝肾不足) Spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation (脾虚湿蕴) Qi stagnation and blood stasis (气滞血瘀) Beyond internal herbal formulas, TCM beauty offers specialized home care, external therapies, and acupuncture methods: Home care: Mix white Poria (白茯苓) and pearl powder into herbal face masks. Massage acupoints like Siba (四白穴), Yingxiang (迎香穴), Zusanli (足三里), and Sanyinjiao (三阴交) for a few minutes daily—long-term practice improves skin tone and reduces pigmentation. Dietary care: Regularly drink red date and goji berry tea (红枣枸杞茶) or eat white fungus and lotus seed soup (银耳莲子羹) to replenish qi and blood, nourishing the skin from within. Emotional regulation: TCM states the liver governs qi flow (“肝主疏泄”). Emotional stress or suppression leads to liver qi stagnation, which manifests as melasma or poor complexion. Prioritize relaxation to prevent this. Sleep & Sun Protection: Sleep before 11 PM to maximize the skin’s “beauty sleep” repair window. Always apply sunscreen—without it, all beauty efforts are significantly diminished. When to Seek Medical Help If melasma suddenly increases in number or changes shape, consult a doctor immediately for further examination.