I’ve struggled with acne for most of my life. At different points in time, my acne flare-ups would appear in different places on my face, seeming to follow a predictable pattern: When I used heavy conditioners on my hair, I’d inevitably get acne around my hairline. Okay, no shock there. But during a particularly bad phase of cystic acne in my early 20s, when I was still adjusting to life in Japan (and drinking far too many cans of sugary, vending machine milk tea — IYKYK), my acne would pop up all over my cheeks. Now, roughly a decade later, I get most of my acne around my chin.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where on your face breakouts occur isn’t totally random. TCM practitioners rely on face mapping (mien shiang) to diagnose the root cause of acne and help keep pimples (and other health problems) at bay. According to the traditional theory, different zones on the face are linked to various organs in the body, and acne in a particular zone means the corresponding organ may need some extra TLC. But is there any evidence that face mapping is real and effective?
The typical Chinese face map for acne
Before we break down fact versus fiction, it helps to see what Chinese face mapping actually looks like. As you can see in the image here, the face is divided into several sections:
Forehead and Nose
If you’re dealing with acne in the center of your forehead, TCM says that there’s likely something off with your small intestine, which could be caused by food intolerances or digestive conditions. Just next to that, near the temples, corresponds to the bladder, and acne in these regions is thought to be caused by bladder infections or irritation, as well as toxin buildup. Finally, the forehead — along with skin around the nose — can also be associated with the heart. Breakouts in this region could signal heart disease, poor circulation, or physical stress, according to TCM.
You’ll also notice an area connected to the liver around the eyes and eyebrows. This is often said to be caused by excess toxins, dehydration, alcohol, or poor diet.
Cheeks
The area of the face just below the eyes (and sometimes stretching to the temples) is associated with the kidneys, so kidney malfunction, as well as dehydration and poor sleep, are thought to be the culprits behind acne and irritation in this region. The rest of the cheeks are generally said to correspond to the stomach and lungs, and therefore, digestive issues, poor diet, allergies, poor air quality, and respiratory conditions are among the issues a TCM practitioner may investigate. Acne or redness that is focused along the sides of the mouth and nose may be related to the large intestine, according to traditional face maps.
Chin and Jawline
Pimples and other skin conditions on the chin and along the jawline are thought to be caused by the reproductive system, which could signal hormone changes and imbalances. Reproductive system ailments are also linked to the kidneys in TCM, so kidney conditions, dehydration, and other factors could also play a role.
How useful is face mapping for clearing acne?
It’s worth noting that Chinese face maps can vary somewhat, and not all TCM practitioners agree on the face regions and which organs they correspond to. That alone can make it difficult to diagnose acne triggers. But besides that, there also isn’t much scientific research available to prove the system’s accuracy.
That said, mien shiang has been used and passed down in China for over 3,000 years, so while it might not be backed by Western medicine (yet!), there’s no need to discredit its observations completely.
Chinese face mapping also goes beyond just skin concerns, dissecting personality traits and other personal information using facial features. And while that warrants a whole separate article, the location of your zits can clue you in to underlying health issues. For instance, dermatologists generally agree that chin acne is the result of hormonal fluctuations (such as during menstruation), similar to the traditional Chinese face map. But cheek acne, on the other hand, can sometimes be the result of using a dirty pillowcase or resting your cheek on your hand — and might have nothing to do with your stomach or lungs. And sometimes, acne just shows up where you have more oil glands.1 So, while face mapping can be useful, it often doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to breakouts.
