[Efficacy and action mechanism of inhibition type Ⅰacupuncture for acne with spleen-stomach dampness-heat].

Objective: To observe the efficacy of inhibition type Ⅰ acupuncture for acne with spleen-stomach dampness-heat, and to explore its possible action mechanism.

Methods: A total of 82 patients of acne with spleen-stomach dampness-heat were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 41 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with capsules (1 g, 3 times per day) and 0.1% adapalene gel smear (once every night) for 4 weeks. The patients in the observation group were treated with inhibition type Ⅰ acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), Neiting (ST 44), Quchi (LI 11), Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2), Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and skin lesions, once every other day, 7 times as a course of treatment, totaling for 2 courses of treatment. The skin lesion score of the global acne grading system (GAGS) and quality of life-acne (Qol-Acne) score as well as the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment; the clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups, and the recurrence rate was evaluated 4 weeks after treatment.

Results: After treatment, the skin lesion scores of GAGS in the two groups were reduced (<0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the Qol-Acne scores were increased in the two groups (<0.05), and the score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). The serum levels of TNF-αand IL-6 in the two groups were reduced after treatment (<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.1% (39/41) in the observation group, which was higher than 82.9% (34/41) in the control group (<0.05). Four weeks after treatment, the recurrence rate of acne lesions was 10.3% (4/39) in the observation group, which was lower than 32.4% (11/34) in the control group (<0.05).

Conclusion: inhibition type Ⅰ acupuncture is effective for acne with spleen-stomach dampness-heat, and the recurrence rate is low. Its mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum inflammatory factor TNF-α and IL-6.