Face Mapping & Traditional Chinese Medicine

Face mapping is a technique used in traditional Chinese Medicine & Auyerveda by Chinese medicine practitioners and reflexologists.  It is often used on skin analysis prior to a Facial Dermalogic, which gives great opportunity for understanding how certain areas of your face are related indirectly or directly with your health, indicating imbalances in key organs in your body.


While internal problems can be one of the main reasons for acne, especially if you get cystic pimples, there are several other factors that can be responsible for breakouts. These range from skin care products, hygiene, hormones, allergies, genetics, etc. However, understanding what it means when you get pimples on certain facial zones is a good place to get ideas about how to clear your skin.


So what's your skin trying to tell you & what organs should you be paying attention to?


Forehead: 
Break outs can usually mean a build up of toxins in the digestive system & bladder. Up your intake of water to flush out the toxins and improve your diet or take a closer look to see if there are foods that you have a tolerance to. Eliminate processed foods and refined sugars where possible.

Facial Region Advice of Solution
Forehead

• Go to bed early (10pm) and wake up early (6am). Even if you can't fall asleep, it's good to relax so your liver can rest and be ready for work the next day
• Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins
• Drink less soda and carbonated beverages
• 20-30 minutes of light exercise every day, especially outdoors
• Practice relaxation techniques to worry less
• Get enough sleep with a regular sleep schedule
• Eat healthy foods, chewing thoroughly to improve your digestion
• Reduce refined sugar in your diet
• Keep a daily food diary to see if your acne is related to certain food groups (like dairy)
• Practice better hygiene (i.e. washing bangs and hair, cleaning hats)
• Check if shampoos, conditioners, and hair products are irritating skin

Eyes, orbital area & the space above your nose:
Redness, flakiness, oiliness (inbetween the brows), itchy eyes here is related to your liver and possible allergies. Cut back on the booze, heavy, fatty or rich foods (are you eating out a lot?) and also dairy. Saturated fats are difficult for the liver to proces, so go easy on the grease... Whilst refined sugars will convert into fats and cholesterol if the liver processes too much!
Fresh orange or even lemon juice are great for invigorating the liver & also great for cleansing both your body & liver.

Facial Region Advice of Solution
Between the Brows

• Exercise, but avoid overly strenuous exercise
• Get more sleep
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid smoking
• Eat lighter foods and foods that are less "rich" (like butter and cheese)
• Avoid late night snacks

Temples

• Eat less processed food, junk food, and fast food
• Reduce the amount of unhealthy fat in your diet (healthy fats from avocado and fish are okay)
• Eat cooling foods like bitter melon, cucumbers, and gourds
• Practice better hygiene, especially during the summer and if you wear makeup and/or sweat a lot

Under the eyes & ears:
Notice any dark circles under your eyes? It's not just a lack of sleep that's an issue, you're most likely dehydrated. The area under your eyes & your ears, if they appear redder/hotter than normal are related to your kidneys so keep hydrated and reduce your intake of alcohol, moderate your intake of caffeine, avoid too much salt in your diet and if you must, do a detox. 
I always notice how some of my friends who have a low tolerance of alcohol (or are allergic to alcohol) react to drinking when I see their ears & cheeks go red! It's always the first place to color.


Nose:
Apparently redness, broken capillaries & puffiness are related to any underlying heart or blood problems. (Or you may simply have a cold & have been blowing your nose too much!)


Facial Region Advice of Solution
Nose

• Eat less pungent foods (spices, garlic, etc)
• Eat less meat
• Eat less salt
• Eat warm temperature foods (not too cold or hot)
• Get more fresh air
• Exercise everyday (like going for a walk)
• Massage the area around your nose for better circulation
• Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin B

Cheeks:
This area is related to the lungs and respiratory system. Irritation from pollution, smoking or passive smoking will cause broken capillaries, puffiness, inflammation or minor breakouts here.

Facial Region Advice of Solution
Left Cheek

• Maintain a normal daily routine
• Try to keep a positive mood
• Eat more cooling foods such as gourds, winter melons, and green beans
• Don't overeat, especially junk food
• Try to decompress and relax
• The liver is the strongest from 1-3 AM. This is when you should be sleeping
• The liver is weakest at 1-5 PM, so schedule difficult work for the morning
• If you have to work in the afternoon, rest your eyes for 5 minutes every hour
• Practice proper hygiene, especially if you live in a polluted city
• Check laundry detergent for any irritating ingredients
• Change pillow cases frequently if you sleep on this side of your face
• Clean cell phones with rubbing alcohol
• Lower left cheek acne could represent poor dental health, so keep your gums and teeth healthy by flossing and brushing regularly

Right Cheek

• Avoid fast food and junk food
• Avoid mango, taro root, wine, and seafood or other foods you may be sensitive to
• Eat less sugar
• Get more fresh air
• The lung is strongest at 7-9 AM. This is the best time for aerobic exercise
• Practice proper hygiene, especially if you live in a polluted city
• Check laundry detergent for any irritating ingredients
• Change pillow cases frequently if you sleep on this side of your face
• Clean cell phones with rubbing alcohol
• Lower left cheek acne could represent poor dental health, so keep your gums and teeth healthy by flossing and brushing regularly

Mouth area:
Any congestion here shows underlying problems with your stomach and digestive system - up your intake of fibre and try to eat clean - include lots of fruit, veggies!

Facial Region Advice of Solution
Lip Area

• Eat more fiber
• Include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet
• Eat less spicy and fried foods
• Massage abdominal area in a clockwise motion
• Change your toothpaste and/or chapstick

Chin area:
I don't know if this applies to everyone, but breakouts here are usually very common for many women. Hormonal imbalances & even stress are the main causes. I normally just take Omega 3 vitamins & switch it up with Vitamin E with Evening Primrose Oil. Research shows that Vitamin E is actually better for PMS. (via Livestrong)
Apparently, depending on which side you have breakouts as this area is also related to your ovaries, you can probably determine which side you're ovulating... now that's just weird!

Facial Region Advice of Solution
Chin and Jaw

• Reduce the habit of eating before bed
• Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables
• Get more rest
• Get your hormones checked for imbalances
• Get 20 minutes of exercise each day
• Sleep early and wake up early, getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night
• Reduce stress as much as possible (yoga, meditating, listening to music, writing in a journal, etc.)
• Massage your body for relaxation, particularly the abdomen
• Practice proper hygiene
• Check toothpaste, mouthwash, and chapsticks
• Drink spearmint tea
• Take omega-3s to help regulate hormones

It is also important to keep in mind that the above remedies are just suggestions that may or may not apply to everyone. Since everyone's skin is so unique and different, what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. Ultimately, it is up to you to do proper research before using or doing anything to your skin.

Acne can be as much internal as it is external and while lifestyle changes may not make acne go away completely, healthy habits will provide long-term benefits both to your skin and your health.

You might just think this is all a load of rubbish and most likely don't apply to you, but next time you experience any congestion, breakouts or notice anything out of the ordinary on your face take another peek at this face map again! Are there any noticeable correlations?

---

Information used from:
http://www.skinacea.com
http://mybigfatgreekmove.blogspot.com
http://www.glamour.com
http://pinterest.com