Rocky Mountain TCM
Acupuncture · TCM Dermatology
Siddha Varma Therapy
Rocky Mountain TCM
Acupuncture · TCM Dermatology
Siddha Varma Therapy
Specialized Chinese Medical Dermatology for chronic cystic acne
Chronic Cystic Acne Deserves
Chronic Cystic Acne Deserves More Than
More Than Another
Temporary Fix.
Another Temporary Fix.
Deep, painful breakouts can persist despite years of skincare, prescriptions, and dietary changes. Discover how specialized Chinese Medical Dermatology evaluates your individual acne pattern and builds a treatment strategy around your skin, history, and recurring flares.
Recognizing chronic cystic acne
Not all severe acne looks or behaves the same.
Understanding the distribution, depth, timing, and aftermath of breakouts helps shape the clinical evaluation. “Cystic acne” is commonly used to describe severe inflammatory acne, including deep nodules and cyst-like lesions.
Deep Nodules & Cyst-like Lesions
Large, tender bumps that develop beneath the skin and may persist for weeks.
Deep, painful inflammation
Repeated lesions in the same areas
Potential for scarring
Hormonal-Pattern Acne
Breakouts that cluster around the jawline or lower face and may change around the menstrual cycle.
Cyclical flares
Jawline and chin involvement
History of androgen-related symptoms
Adult Persistent Acne
Acne continuing into adulthood or recurring after previous improvement.
Long treatment history
Recurring inflammatory lesions
Changes with stress or hormones
Truncal Acne
Inflammatory acne affecting the back, chest, and shoulders, sometimes with deep lesions.
Large affected areas
Pain with clothing or exercise
Scarring or dark marks
Acne Scarring & Residual Marks
Repeated inflammation can leave textural scars or lingering discoloration even after active lesions settle.
Atrophic or raised scars
Post-inflammatory erythema
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Acne That Needs Differentiation
Some acne-like conditions require a different diagnosis or treatment approach.
Folliculitis and rosacea-like eruptions
Medication-associated acneiform eruptions
Evaluation of unusual or rapidly worsening lesions
Is this approach right for you?
For people who are tired of cycling through acne treatments without
lasting control.
You may be a good fit if you experience recurring painful nodules, adult hormonal-pattern breakouts, scarring concerns, or repeated flares despite previous skincare and medical treatment. Our approach is designed for people who value individualized assessment, communication, and ongoing treatment adjustments—not an overnight promise.
Chinese Medical Dermatology
How Chinese Medicine differentiates cystic acne.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the appearance of a lesion is only one part of the diagnosis. Its
depth, color, tenderness, location, recurrence, and accompanying symptoms help distinguish patterns and guide individualized herbal treatment. These are traditional diagnostic categories, not biomedical diagnoses.
01 / HEAT
Lung Heat
Often considered when acne presents with red, inflamed papules, especially across the face and upper body. Associated signs are assessed alongside the skin presentation.
02 / HEAT
Stomach Heat
May be considered with pronounced inflammatory lesions, facial redness, and accompanying digestive or heat-related signs.
03 / DAMP-HEAT
Damp-Heat
A pattern often considered with oily skin, inflamed pustules, and recurring eruptions, evaluated in the context of the patient's overall signs and symptoms.
04 / PHLEGM
Phlegm Accumulation
May be considered in deep, persistent nodules, indurated lesions, and longstanding cyst-like acne.
05 / BLOOD
Blood Heat
Considered in intensely red, inflamed eruptions where the broader Chinese Medicine assessment supports a heat pattern involving the Blood level.
06 / STAGNATION
Qi and Blood Stagnation
May be considered in chronic, recurrent, painful, or persistent lesions, particularly when other signs support stagnation.
The Rocky Mountain TCM approach
How Chinese Medical Dermatology approaches chronic cystic acne.
Traditional Chinese Medicine distinguishes acne by lesion appearance, location, inflammatory activity, associated symptoms, and the person’s broader pattern. Herbal strategies are individualized and adjusted as the skin changes.
01
Investigate your full acne history
We review onset, distribution, painful lesions, cycle-related flares, digestion, sleep, stress, previous medications, skincare, and scarring history.
02
Identify the Chinese Medicine pattern
Patterns may include Lung or Stomach Heat, Damp-Heat, Phlegm accumulation, Blood Heat, and Qi or Blood Stagnation. These are traditional diagnostic frameworks—not equivalent to biomedical diagnoses.
03
Treat, monitor, and adjust
Chinese herbal formulas and supportive topical or lifestyle strategies are selected for the individual presentation. We track new lesions, tenderness, inflammation, healing, and tolerability, adjusting care as needed.
01
Understand the pattern
We organize the full history, flare behavior, digestion, sleep, stress, medications, topicals, and treatment response.
02
Differentiate the root
Your case is evaluated through Chinese Medicine pattern differentiation rather than a diagnosis-only protocol.
03
Build the strategy
Recommendations may include herbs, nutrition, topical care, acupuncture, lifestyle changes, or functional testing.
01
Understand the pattern
We organize the full history, flare behavior, digestion, sleep, stress, medications, topicals, and treatment response.
02
Differentiate the root
Your case is evaluated through Chinese Medicine pattern differentiation rather than a diagnosis-only protocol.
03
Build the strategy
Recommendations may include herbs, nutrition, topical care, acupuncture, lifestyle changes, or functional testing.
Symptom management
Focuses mainly on the visible skin symptoms
Short, medication-centered visits
General recommendations
Temporary control may be the main goal
Comprehensive evaluation
Examines the full pattern behind chronic or recurring disease
Detailed clinical history and individualized planning
Chinese Medicine pattern-based and integrative recommendations
Long-term reduction of recurrence is the clinical direction
A clearer path forward
The goal: fewer painful breakouts, calmer skin, and greater confidence.
We work toward reducing the frequency and severity of deep inflammatory lesions, supporting healing, and limiting new scarring. Results vary by acne severity, hormonal factors, previous treatment, and individual response.
PATIENT STORIES
Real acne experiences. Not generic success stories.
Your consultation process
Know what happens before and after the discovery call.
STEP 01
Schedule a discovery call
Talk about your acne history, previous treatments, and whether our approach may be appropriate.
STEP 02
Complete your intake
If you proceed, share photographs, medications, menstrual or hormonal history when relevant, and other clinical details.
STEP 03
Differentiate your pattern
We evaluate your lesions and broader symptoms using Chinese Medical Dermatology alongside relevant modern medical history.
STEP 04
Begin individualized care
Discuss a tailored treatment direction, how changes will be tracked, and when your formula or strategy may need adjusting.
STEP 01
Reserve your appointment
Select the consultation, complete
payment, and choose an available time.
STEP 02
Complete your intake
Share your eczema history, treatments,
diet, medications, labs, symptoms, and
major concerns.
STEP 03
Review the full pattern
We examine your case through Chinese
Medicine and an integrative clinical
framework.
STEP 04
Receive your direction
You leave with an explanation of the
likely pattern and the most appropriate
next steps.
YOUR PRACTITIONER
Seth Drake, L.Ac., MSOM
Licensed Acupuncturist
18+ Yrs Experience
Board Certified
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Integrative Dermatology
Chinese Medical Dermatology
Functional Medicine Dermatology
Seth Drake has more than 18 years of experience in Classical Nei Jing Style Acupuncture and Chinese Medical Dermatology. His clinical work brings together Traditional Chinese Medical Dermatology, Chinese herbal dermatology, nutrition, functional testing, and individualized lifestyle guidance.
His practice is built for patients with chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune, dermatological, and difficult-to-resolve conditions who need a broader, more organized clinical approach.
“The goal is not simply to suppress symptoms. It is to understand the pattern well enough to help the body move toward greater stability.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs about cystic acne care.
Understand the process, expectations, and what individualized Chinese Medicine treatment can—and cannot—promise.
Can Chinese Medicine help chronic cystic acne?
Chinese Medicine dermatology offers individualized herbal and supportive approaches for inflammatory acne. Some studies suggest benefits from particular herbal interventions, but the quality of evidence varies and it is not established as a reliably superior replacement for evidence-based acne therapies.
What TCM patterns are associated with cystic acne?
Patterns considered can include Lung Heat, Stomach Heat, Damp-Heat, Phlegm accumulation, Blood Heat, and Qi or Blood Stagnation. Pattern selection depends on lesion characteristics and the full clinical presentation, not just where acne appears.
Do you work with hormonal or menstrual-cycle acne?
Yes, cyclical timing and associated symptoms are important parts of the assessment. Hormonal-pattern acne does not automatically indicate a hormone disorder; further medical evaluation may be appropriate for certain accompanying symptoms.
Will I have to stop my current acne medication?
No. You do not need to stop prescribed treatments to discuss care. Any changes to isotretinoin, hormonal medication, antibiotics, or other prescriptions should be coordinated with the prescribing clinician.
How long will it take to see changes?
Response varies with severity, duration, and treatment history. We monitor new lesions, pain, inflammation, healing, and scarring risk over time rather than promise a fixed clearance date.
What happens during the discovery call?
You can describe your breakouts, what you have tried, and what you hope to change. We explain how our individualized approach works and discuss whether a full consultation is a good next step.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Let’s talk about your acne. Not sell you another product.
Tell us about your painful breakouts, how long they have persisted, what you have tried, and what you want to change. We will explain how Chinese Medical Dermatology evaluates cases like yours and whether working together makes sense. There is no obligation to begin treatment.
A conversation about your skin history
An introduction to our clinical approach
An opportunity to discuss whether we are a fit
You know your acne history. Let’s explore a more individualized approach.
You know your acne history. Let’s explore a more individualized approach.
If deep, recurring breakouts are affecting your comfort and confidence, start with a conversation about your
experience and what a personalized care plan could involve.
Rocky Mountain TCM
Classical Chinese medicine for the treatment and management of chronic and resistant inflammatory conditions. Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and evidence-informed functional medicine.
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