Herbal Medicine Treatment for Acne at Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic

An acne management plan that considers overall body health, differing from approaches involving isotretinoin, minocycline, and similar medications

01. What makes Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic's herbal medicine for acne different?

1) It can reduce the burden on your body.

When acne symptoms worsen, dermatology clinics typically

• 
  
• 
  
• prescribe antibiotics (e.g., minocycline, doxycycline), or
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• may utilize sebum regulators (isotretinoin-based).
• 
  
• 
  

While these treatments can help improve acne, they can affect not only the skin but also the entire body. This can lead to various known side effects such as dryness, gastrointestinal issues, changes in liver function values, and an imbalance in gut microbiota.

In particular, isotretinoin (Isotretinoin) class drugs are associated with the possibility of birth defects, joint pain due to reduced joint fluid, worsening depression, and other serious adverse reactions have been reported. Therefore, prescribing them for mild to moderate acne is generally avoided, and regular observation and guidance from medical staff are essential when taking them.

In contrast, the herbal medicine treatment for acne based on Sipmi-Paedoksan (Decem Miasmatum Expellentium Pulvis) used at Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic, primarily relies on a prescription that has shown a tendency for rare reports of special side effects even with long-term use in Korean medicine clinical practice, both domestically and internationally.

This is done while also considering efficacy.

These prescriptions

• 
  
• 
  
• do not indiscriminately eliminate beneficial gut bacteria like antibiotics,
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• and avoid excessively suppressing sebum secretion like isotretinoin-based drugs.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Therefore, they have been carefully designed to minimize the burden on liver function.
• 
  
• 
  

We often receive questions like, "Can't herbal medicine also put a strain on the liver?" However, current reports indicate that the risk of hepatotoxicity is often reported to be higher with isotretinoin and some antibiotic-based drugs. Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic's prescriptions have been developed to have a relatively wider safety margin than these medications.

2) You can try it at a reasonable cost.

Many people worry about the cost of taking herbal medicine, which can amount to hundreds of thousands of won.

Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic's herbal medicine treatment for acne focuses on the primary goal of acne management and has a streamlined prescription. Therefore, unnecessarily expensive medicinal ingredients are not indiscriminately included.

As a result,

• 
  
• 
  
• Even based on a one-month supply, it has been priced so that you can start without financial burden.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Additionally, if needed, trial dosages in 10-day increments can also be considered.
• This arrangement considers the convenience of our patients.
• 
  
• 
  

Therefore, we hope you consider this a cost level that allows you to start herbal acne management without significant burden.

3) Mechanisms applicable to various acne types

The primary action of this herbal medicine prescription focuses on alleviating an environment within the body where inflammatory reactions are prone to occur.

Acne is primarily

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. increased sebum secretion,
4. 
   
5. 
   
6. 
   
7. the activity of acne bacteria (C. acnes),
8. 
   
9. 
   
10. 
    
11. and inflammatory reactions,
12. 
    
13. 
    

known to be caused by a complex interplay of various factors. Simply trying to solve only one problem may make it difficult to achieve satisfactory results.

Among these, Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic's herbal medicine treatment for acne is particularly strong in managing acne bacteria (the second factor) and controlling inflammatory reactions (the third factor).

Due to these characteristics,

• 
  
• 
  
• In cases of acne with active sebum secretion, it can help reduce the likelihood of sebum progressing to inflammation.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• For recurrent acne even with low sebum production, it can be expected to alleviate the tendency for it to easily turn into inflammation.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• For skin sensitive to external irritation, it can contribute to calming post-inflammatory effects such as lingering redness and heat.
• 
  
• 
  

A key aspect of this prescription is that it is not an approach that broadly eliminates even beneficial bacteria like antibiotics. Furthermore, it does not adopt a mechanism that drastically suppresses sebum to cause dryness, like sebum regulators.

This is an approach that aims to manage acne symptoms while maintaining the overall health balance of the skin and body.

4) Kkeut Korean Medicine Clinic's Customized Combination Based on Sipmi-Paedoksan

The fundamental basis of this prescription is Sipmi-Paedoksan (十味敗毒散), which has been utilized in Korean medicine for a long time. This herbal formula has traditionally been applied to various skin conditions such as inflammatory skin problems, folliculitis, frequently recurring breakouts, and acne.

This prescription is one of the herbal medicines frequently mentioned in acne-related papers and research.

Our Korean medicine clinic has further developed this,

• 
  
• 
  
• Herbs that help relieve inflammation
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Herbs that help improve redness (erythema)
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Herbs that help skin regeneration
• 
  
• 
  

by adding small amounts of these, adjusting it into a customized prescription for acne management.

You can understand this as a prescription where herbs are adjusted according to acne symptoms, unlike a typical Sipmi-paedoksan prescription.

5) Convenient Stick-Type Herbal Medicine

Traditional decoctions are perceived as cumbersome to prepare, difficult to store, and not easy to take due to their strong scent.

The acne herbal medicine prescribed at our clinic is

• 
  
• 
  
• Stick-type, convenient for portability and consumption
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Can be taken without water
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• We have adjusted the taste to reduce bitterness and make it comfortable for people of all ages to consume, just like regular red ginseng sticks.
• 
  
• 
  

Therefore, we made it easier for those who previously found it difficult to take herbal medicine to consume it with relative ease.

This form was designed for those who know the benefits of traditional decoctions but find it hard to take them consistently.

02. Sipmi-paedoksan, what kind of prescription is it?

Sipmi-paedoksan is also known as ‘Jūmi-haidoku-tō’ in Japan and is a common herbal prescription used for acne-related skin conditions.

According to related research and reports,

• 
  
• 
  
• it can help regulate inflammatory reactions (skin redness, swelling) caused by acne bacteria,
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• may help reduce the likelihood of inflammation occurring in the skin, and
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• can contribute to the alleviation of secondary problems (such as hyperpigmentation, redness) that may arise from repeated inflammation.
• 
  
• 
  

Effects such as these have also been observed.

One thing to remember here is that this prescription is not a “medicine that forcibly reduces sebum.”

Since sebum serves necessary functions in our body, rather than excessively suppressing it, “regulating the balance to prevent inflammation from occurring” can be safer and more beneficial for long-term skin health.

Considering these points, our clinic has adopted this prescription as an acne herbal medicine that can be used with other treatments such as laser, extraction, and soothing care with minimal burden.

03. Dosing Instructions

• 
  
• 
  
• Initial Observation Period : 10 days
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Is redness alleviating?
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Is the frequency of painful acne outbreaks decreasing?
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• We focus on these two factors.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

• 
  
• 
  
• Recommended Dosing Period : 4 weeks
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Is the acne outbreak cycle lengthening?
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Is acne that repeatedly appeared in specific areas subsiding?
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Is skin recovery speed improving after extraction or laser treatments?
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

It is designed to be safe for continuous use for over a month for preventive purposes.

• 
  
• 
  
• Dosing Method : It is recommended to take 2-3 times a day, regularly, regardless of meals.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Concurrent Treatments : Designed to be used in conjunction with treatments such as extraction, Secret, Elysiss, and Agnus.
• 
  
• 
  

04. Cases to Consider This Prescription

• 
  
• 
  
• If symptoms improve with antibiotic use, but recur when medication is stopped
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Even if sebum secretion is not high, if pores clog slightly, they quickly become red or inflamed
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Skin that, once it develops redness, rarely subsides and persists for a long time
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Individuals who feel their skin is sensitive and believe delicate care is needed
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Individuals who desire treatment but wish to avoid medication that could burden their body
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Individuals who prioritize the safety of long-term medications due to pregnancy plans or general health concerns
• 
  
•