Acupuncture & the Skin: Restoring Balance in Dermatologic Disease

“Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into the Treatment of Psoriasiform Dermatitis”

Patient Story (Initials: L.R.)

L.R., a 51-year-old woman, was diagnosed with Psoriasiform Dermatitis, a severe chronic inflammatory skin disorder that resembles psoriasis but carries its own unique challenges. Her symptoms began about three years ago, shortly after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (in my opinion, such cases may be more commonly triggered by a COVID-19 infection itself).

Despite multiple consultations with dermatologists, she found little relief. She underwent UV light therapy three times a week, tried dozens of creams and prescription formulas, but none brought her sustained improvement. Living with asthma and dealing with seasonal flare-ups made her condition even more difficult to manage. At times, her feet would crack so severely that walking became painful and nearly impossible.

Frustrated with the lack of progress, L.R. finally decided to listen to a trusted friend—one of my patients—who encouraged her to try acupuncture as an additional therapy as he knew my experience in the dermatological field.

She is now awaiting an allergist consultation to rule out systemic causes. I have advised her to continue follow-ups with her dermatologist and to report the outcomes of her acupuncture treatments, so that both approaches can be integrated into her care plan.

Initial Presentation

When L.R. first came to me on August 11, 2025, the condition of her hands and feet was extremely severe—I had not encountered such an aggressive case in quite some time. We began a carefully structured course of acupuncture treatments, and I documented her progress with photos at each session.

By September 16, 2025, after five sessions, the improvement was remarkable—her skin had improved by nearly 80%. Today, following her sixth session, she is ready to return to physical activity and can once again wear workout shoes without pain.

It is important to note that during this time—from session one through session five—no changes were made to her dermatologist’s treatment plan. She continued using the same regimen as before; the only new element introduced was acupuncture. This strongly suggests that acupuncture was the key factor driving her improvement.

Beyond the visible changes in her skin, L.R. also reports that she now sleeps better, feels calmer, and has more energy—further evidence of the holistic benefits acupuncture can provide.

Understanding Psoriasiform Dermatitis

Psoriasiform Dermatitis is a complex chronic condition that may overlap with psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis. Symptoms often include:

Dry, thick, raised patches of skin (sometimes silvery-white)
Red, scaly, itchy plaques
Inverse rashes in skin folds
Nail changes (discoloration, dents, or detachment)

Causes & Risk Factors may involve:

Genetics and immune dysregulation
Environmental triggers (stress, illness, climate changes)
Lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, or alcohol consumption

Conventional Medicine Approaches

Topical treatments: corticosteroids, Vitamin D analogues, emollients
Light therapy: UVB or PUVA
Systemic medications: used in moderate to severe cases

While these therapies can help, many patients—like L.R.—find them insufficient or limited in long-term effectiveness.

How Acupuncture May Help

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, Psoriasiform Dermatitis is treated similarly to psoriasis and eczema. Acupuncture aims to:

Reduce itchiness, scaling, and thickness of skin plaques
Improve circulation and restore immune balance
Support stress reduction (a known trigger for flare-ups)
Provide fewer long-term side effects compared to medications

Recent research reviews (2016–2022) suggest that acupuncture can be a safe and effective complementary treatment for psoriasis-related skin conditions. It may also help regulate stress and anxiety, which are often closely linked to flare-ups.

🔍 Recent Research Examples

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for psoriasis — This overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (to July 2021) suggests acupuncture could be a useful complementary therapy for psoriasis, though the authors caution that much of the evidence is of low to moderate quality. Annals of Palliative Medicine
Acupuncture-Related Techniques for Psoriasis — A 2016 network meta-analysis comparing different acupuncture styles and related methods for psoriasis, examining acupoint stimulation, etc. Liebert Publishing
The effects of acupuncture for patients with psoriasis: Study protocol for an RCT — Sets out a well-designed randomized controlled trial to compare manual acupuncture vs sham acupuncture in psoriasis, including measurement of psychosocial factors (anxiety, stress, depression). PubMed

(Photo of my published Monograph back in Brazil, Sao Paulo, early 2000’s)

My Background in Dermatology & TCM

My journey in the dermatologic field through acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) spans more than two decades. In 2003, I authored and published the monograph:

“Dermatite Atópica em Duas Visões: Atopic Disease in Two Visions”

This work was carried out at the Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal in São Paulo, Brazil, in collaboration with the Chinese Medicine Association, as part of my formal training after completing my foundational studies in TCM/Acupuncture for physicians.

During the early 2000s, I also undertook a 15-month dermatology internship at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic – Padre Bento Hospital in Guarulhos, where I gained extensive exposure to chronic skin conditions and their conventional management.

These combined experiences led me to a turning point: I chose to pause my path in dermatology specialization and fully dedicate myself to TCM. I then entered the five-year TCM Doctor residency for physicians at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, which profoundly shaped the integrative approach I continue to bring to patient care today.

A Message of Hope

L.R.’s journey is still in progress, but her early results already demonstrate how acupuncture can make a meaningful difference where other therapies have not provided relief. Her determination to embrace holistic care is inspiring for anyone living with similar challenges. One of the milestones she is most excited about is being able to return to her beloved aqua fitness classes—something she had to give up for over a year due to the severity of her symptoms.

It is important to emphasize that acupuncture is most effective when used as part of a complementary and integrative care plan. I have encouraged L.R. to continue her regular follow-ups with her dermatologist and to share the progress of her acupuncture treatments, so that Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine can work hand in hand to achieve the best possible results.

For those living with chronic skin disorders, acupuncture may provide not only symptom relief but also a renewed sense of hope and an improved quality of life.

(This patient kindly gave permission for her case story and treatment photos to be shared.)

PHOTOS Of her hands and feet after 5 treatments. ( one month after consultation) :