We've all heard that "everything old is new
again," and, in the case of an ancient technique known as face mapping,
that cliché might hold, especially when it comes to an understanding your
breakouts. Take, for example, that pesky breakout in the middle of your
forehead. The theory of face mapping connects that specific area of your face
to an organ or body part, and that association allows you to make changes to
your diet or lifestyle that may help heal your acne flare-ups from the inside
out. Read More. digitalfitnessworldIntrigued? We were, too. That's why we consulted three doctors—Daniel Hsu, DAOM, LAc, Rachel Nazarian, MD, and Onyeka Obioha, MD, FAAD—to get the full story on face mapping: where it comes from, how it works, and how you can use it to diagnose the causes of different facial breakouts.
MEET THE EXPERT
Daniel Hsu, DAOM, LAc, is a doctor in New York, NY, who
specializes in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Hsu serves as the team chair
for the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Rachel Nazarian, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and
fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She specializes in cosmetic treatments,
skin cancer, and dermatologic surgery.
Onyeka Obioha, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified medical and
cosmetic dermatologist in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in acne,
hyperpigmentation, scarring, and hair loss.
What Is Face Mapping?
Face mapping is an ancient practice rooted in Ayurveda teachings and Chinese medicine that treats your face as a road map to pinpoint underlying issues in other parts of your body. "Face mapping goes back thousands of years," says Dr Hsu. "A lot of it comes simply from clinical experience. Nowadays, you have all types of blood tests and scans, but back then, doctors would have to diagnose by looking, touching, and asking questions."
Chinese medicine states that all organs have a different colour, temperature, and taste and are manifested in a certain way. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver, for example, is displayed in the eyes. One of the first symptoms of jaundice (a liver disease) includes yellowing of the eyes: "that was true 2000 years ago, and it's still true today," Hsu says.
Dr Nazarian agrees that location-based breakouts are a common issue, explaining that "we do see certain trends that may create patterns of acne breakout on specific areas of the face such as female hormonal acne presenting as lower face and neck pimples." However, she encourages patients who use face mapping to combine this treatment style with approaches that are more focused on the lesions themselves (rather than relying only on their location to inform treatment).
"You should treat your face with an individualized approach, unique from everyone else. Ultimately, the same cause can present as different distributions of acne in different people. Some people break out on their cheeks with stress, others on their forehead or even their back. Again, the type of acne is more important than the area," says Nazarian.
How Does Face Mapping Work?
Hsu says that the quality of the skin on your face expresses your health. "The body is made up of a bunch of systems—lymphatic, neurological, digestive, to name a few—and all of these systems are tied together," he explains. "It's tough to affect one without affecting others."
Hsu also states that face mapping is a way to verify what's going on inside your body since all parts of your body (including organs) are interlinked. "In Chinese medicine, we look at the body as a whole and how everything works together," he says.
Dr Obioha points out that, from a strictly scientific, dermatological perspective, "there is no [direct] evidence that breakouts on the skin correspond to imbalances of internal organs." That said, she does believe that "there are certain patterns of facial breakouts that [offer] clues to breakout triggers."
Reading Your Breakouts
Keep scrolling to see what your breakout locations might be saying about your health and how you can reduce flare-ups in your usual acne hotspots
Above the Brows
According to Chinese medicine, the area above your brows is linked to your gallbladder and liver. If you're getting breakouts there, try eating less processed or junk food and reducing the amount of fat in your diet.
For more valuable tips on banishing your forehead acne, follow this advice from Obioha: "For forehead breakouts, switch to oil-free hair care products. Also, most people wash their face first and then apply hair products afterwards. These products can drip down onto the forehead and clog pores. I always advise my patients with forehead breakouts to do the reverse: Apply hair products first, then wash your face to prevent buildup on the forehead from the scalp."
Between the Brows
Hsu says that breakouts between your brows might mean that
you're drinking or smoking too much or eating too many rich foods. "Cut
down on rich foods, butter, Read More. gravtechnology