Medicinal diets and folk remedies for preventing and treating melasma and chloasma, as well as acne care.

**34. What medicinal diets can help prevent and treat melasma ("butterfly rash")?**

"Butterfly spots" are facial pigmentation, also known as melasma.

It is more commonly seen on a woman's face.

Distributed around the zygomatic process, forehead, nose, and lips, varying in size, butterfly-shaped, forming the borders.

Clear brownish-yellow patches, which tend to worsen in spring and summer and lighten in winter.

Traditional Chinese medicine is called

"Facial blemishes" and "dark spots" that occur in pregnant women usually disappear gradually after childbirth.

Suffering

This spot is also frequently seen in people with liver disease, endocrine disorders, or menstrual irregularities.

Some patients

This spot appeared after taking birth control pills.

This spot has no noticeable symptoms, but it can damage one's facial appearance.

want

To prevent and treat this disease, eliminating the underlying causes is fundamental, but dietary therapy is also a viable alternative.

In addition to normal times

In addition to eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in vitamins C and A, avoid spicy, pungent, and fried foods.

For food, the following medicinal diets are available for selection.

(1) Spot-removing drink: 100g soybeans, 100g mung beans, 100g red beans, appropriate amount of white sugar

quantity.

To prepare, wash and soak the three types of beans until they swell, then mix and mash them together. Add the mixture to the juice.

Boil an appropriate amount of water, extract the soy milk, sweeten with white sugar, and drink it three times a day.

(2) Sweet Dew Skin-Beautifying Juice: 100g snow pear, 200g sugarcane, 300g grapes, honey

100 grams.

To make it, wash the pears, sugarcane, and grapes, squeeze them, remove the pulp, and mix the juice with honey.

Store the packaged container in the refrigerator. Take one spoonful each morning and evening, dissolved in boiling water. It can also be taken cold or warmed.

(3) Mulberry Honey Paste: 100g mulberries, 50g black sesame seeds, 30g prepared Polygonum multiflorum, and Angelica sinensis.

20 grams, Ophiopogon japonicus 20 grams.

Add an appropriate amount of water during preparation, and extract the medicine every 30 minutes of decoction.

Repeat the process three times, combining the three decoctions, and simmer over low heat until concentrated to a thick, viscous paste-like consistency. Add honey.

Double the volume, mix well, boil again, turn off the heat, let cool, and store in jars.

Take one spoonful each time, using

Dissolve in boiling water and take once in the morning and once in the evening.

(4) Walnut Milk Drink: 300g walnuts, 200ml milk, 200ml soy milk

200 grams of black sesame seeds.

First, put the walnuts and sesame seeds into a small stone mill, then add the milk and soybeans.

Mix the paste thoroughly and slowly pour it into the hole of the small grinding stone, grinding as you pour.

After grinding, pour out the pulp and juice together.

After boiling in a pot, add 100 grams of white sugar.

If conditions permit, divide the above-mentioned finished product into 10 portions and process them in a low-temperature environment.

Store in a warm refrigerator. Every morning, take one portion, add water and bring to a boil, then crack in one raw egg, stirring constantly until cooked through. Serve warm.

(5) Eight-Treasure Freckle-Removing Porridge: 10g raw Job's tears, 10g fox nuts, 15g lotus seeds, raw yam

30 grams of medicine, 10 grams of white hyacinth bean, 15 grams of red adzuki bean, 10 jujubes, and 200 grams of japonica rice.

Will

Add the above herbs (except for the rice) and an appropriate amount of water, decoct for 40 minutes, then add the rice and cook together until it becomes porridge.

Once cooked, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar for flavor, and eat a small bowl each morning and evening.

(6) Goat milk and egg custard: Beat 2 eggs, add 250 ml of goat milk and 80 ml of...

Mix 20 grams of rock sugar with water, steam until cooked, and it is ready to eat.

(7) Pork Kidney Congee: 1 pair of pork kidneys (remove fascia and glands, chop), 200g of japonica rice, yam

100g (peeled and chopped), 500g Job's tears.

After blanching the chopped pork kidneys to remove the blood, then...

Add appropriate amount of water to yam, Job's tears, and japonica rice, simmer over low heat until it becomes porridge, then add appropriate amount of salt and seasoning.

Fine, to be eaten in portions.

(8) Five-White Cake: 50g white hyacinth bean, 50g white lotus seed, 50g white poria cocos, white chrysanthemum

15g, 50g yam (peeled), 200g flour, 100g white sugar.

lentils, lotus seeds,

After grinding Poria cocos, yam, and chrysanthemum into a fine powder and sifting it, mix it with flour, add water to make dough (or you can add...).

(Fresh yeast) Let it ferment, then knead in white sugar. Steam over high heat for 30 minutes. Remove from steamer.

Then cut it into pieces and eat it.

(9) Steamed Duck with Rehmannia: 100g Rehmannia glutinosa, 200g Dioscorea opposita, 30g Lycium barbarum, and white...

One duck (approximately 500g after plucking and gutting), scallions, ginger, pepper powder, Shaoxing wine, clear broth, salt.

Add appropriate amounts of MSG and other seasonings.

During preparation, all duck bones are removed, leaving only the duck meat, which is then cut into 1mm pieces.

Diced rice into cubes, marinate with salt, pepper, rice wine, scallions, and ginger for about an hour; slice raw rehmannia root.

Place the peeled and sliced ​​yam in a gauze bag and put it at the bottom of a large bowl. Add the duck meat and goji berries.

Place the meat and pork together on a cloth bag, add clear broth, and steam for about 2 hours, until the meat is tender and cooked through. Turn the meat over and plate.

Once the medicine bag is removed, it can be consumed.

(10) Braised Pork Knuckle with Magnolia Bark: 700g pork knuckle, 15g magnolia bark, 10g cyperus rhizome, 10g immature bitter orange peel.

10 grams of Angelica sinensis and 6 grams of Ligusticum chuanxiong.

During preparation, crush all the herbs, put them into a gauze bag, and mix them with the pig's blood.

Place the pork hock and pork knuckle in a pot, add water, bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then simmer over low heat until reduced to 80% of the original volume.

When cooked, add various seasonings such as Shaoxing wine, ginger, salt, soy sauce, brown sugar, and MSG.

Waiting for juice

Once the pork hock is tender and mushy, remove the herbal packet and it's ready to be served.

(11) Stewed turtle with astragalus: 50g astragalus, 30g wolfberry, 500g turtle.

Making

First, slice the astragalus root and wrap it in gauze.

Wash the goji berries, and cut the turtle into pieces after removing its internal organs.

Place the astragalus root and other herbs in a pot with an appropriate amount of water, simmer until cooked, then remove the dregs. Add ginger, scallions, and MSG.

Salt and other seasonings should be consumed once a week.

(12) Angelica, Lily Bulb and Rabbit Meat: 15g Angelica, 50g Lily Bulb, 10g Panax notoginseng, rabbit meat

250 grams.

To prepare, wash and chop the lily bulbs and angelica root, grind the notoginseng into powder, and steam them together with the rabbit meat.

Add an appropriate amount of water to a bowl, simmer over low heat until tender, season, and then drink the soup and eat the meat.

**35. What are the causes of melasma? How is it treated?**

Localized light brown or brown skin pigmentation changes on the face, commonly known as melasma, are a common condition in China.

Medically, it is also known as "melasma" or "liver spots".

Commonly seen in healthy women, from puberty to menopause.

It can occur in any of these situations, but is most common during the second to fifth month of pregnancy, and gradually disappears after delivery and with the onset of menstruation.

This may be related to increased levels of progesterone in the body.

Some studies have found that melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is present during pregnancy.

Increased secretion, elevated serum copper, and active melanocyte function.

About 20% of women taking oral contraceptives may experience adverse reactions after 1 to 20 months of use.

The appearance of melasma is related to the combined effects of estrogen and progesterone; some women with chronic melasma...

Illnesses (menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, etc.) as well as liver disease, hyperthyroidism, and gallbladder disease.

"Hepatic spots" can also occur in patients with tuberculosis, chronic alcoholism, and a small number of visceral tumors.

It is related to endocrine disorders of the ovaries, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, etc.

Melasma is limited to facial exposure.

The affected area often worsens after sun exposure in summer, indicating a certain relationship with sun exposure; long-term use...

This condition also occurs in 10% of epilepsy patients using phenytoin, and it can also be seen in men.

but

The cause of melasma remains unknown in most outpatient and clinical cases.

The treatment principle is to identify the possible causes and treat them accordingly.

During pregnancy, it is appropriate to supplement with vitamin C-rich foods.

Vegetables and fruits; those with severe or large patches of chloasma can use vitamin C.

The injection solution is administered intravenously at a dose of 1g daily; it can also be mixed with 400mg of glutathione for intravenous drip twice a week; generally, patients can use 200mg of vitamin C.

Take orally three times daily; local iontophoresis may also be used.

For local application, 3% hydroquinone cream can be used, requiring continuous topical application and massage for several months to achieve results; for stubborn cases...

A 20% hydroquinone monobenzyl ether cream can be used, but it can cause permanent pigment loss as a side effect; also...

Topical corticosteroids can be used, such as fluocinonide ointment, triamcinolone acetonide urea ointment, and super-strengthened corticosteroids.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) cream is used to reduce or inhibit melanin production and deposition, achieving a certain effect.

Traditional Chinese medicine often uses medications that soothe the liver and regulate qi, strengthen the spleen and kidneys, and promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, such as Xiaoyao San.

Modified versions of Ginseng Spleen-Strengthening Pills and Golden Cabinet Kidney-Qi Pills can be used, and finely powdered Poria cocos can be applied topically.

The following two prescriptions can be tried:

(1) Cornus officinalis 10g, Dioscorea opposita 10g, Rehmannia glutinosa (raw and prepared) 10g each, Angelica dahurica 10g, and other herbs.

Poria cocos 15g, Angelica sinensis 10g, Bupleurum chinense 6g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 15g, Paeonia lactiflora 10g, Lycopus lucidus 10g

Take 10 grams of licorice root, decocted in water, twice a day, for a course of two months. It is mostly effective.

(2) 20g mother-of-pearl, 9g silkworm pupae, 9g white chrysanthemum, 12g artemisia capillaris, and prunella vulgaris.

12g of herbs, 12g of Serissa japonica, 9g of loofah sponge, 9g each of red and white peony root, and 12g of Poria cocos.

Take 3 grams of raw licorice root, decoct and drink. Most patients will see results after 2 weeks to several months of use.

**36. What are some folk remedies for removing blemishes and beautifying the skin?**

(1) Spot-removing soup.

Take 10 grams each of loofah sponge, silkworm pupae, white poria cocos, white chrysanthemum, and red dates.

Take 20 grams of pearl powder and 3 rose petals, decoct twice, mix the decoctions, and take in two divided doses after meals.

Medication

During this period, avoid using acidic or alkaline soaps and cosmetics, avoid strong sunlight, and avoid certain foods.

One should absolutely avoid consuming stimulating or warming foods, and should avoid worrying or becoming depressed.

One course of treatment lasts 10 days and is effective.

Patients can undergo 1-2 more courses of treatment to consolidate the results, which is more effective in eliminating melasma.

(2) Eating 3 to 5 persimmons a day can help prevent and help eliminate age spots.

(3) Angelica dahurica spot-removing powder.

Take 20 grams of Angelica dahurica and 300 grams of winter melon seeds (shelled).

Grind 30 grams of lotus seeds into a fine powder. Take 15 grams after each meal and dissolve it in boiling water.

Cleanses and disinfects skin

freckle.

(4) Seven White Spot-Removing Powder.

20 grams each of white silkworm pupae, white aconite, white borax, and white gypsum;

Grind 6 grams each of talc and white clove, and 2 grams of borneol into a fine powder. Take the powder with a small amount of water before bed each night.

Mix the powder with water and apply it to your face. Wash it off in the morning. Continue this for more than a month to remove freckles.

(5) Duckweed and Poria powder: Grind 250 grams each of duckweed and Poria into a fine powder and apply externally to the affected area.

Effective for tinea versicolor and freckles.

Simultaneously, decoct 20 grams of Polygonatum odoratum and take it once a day for 15 days as one course of treatment.

Procedure.

Consistent use can eliminate freckles.

(6) Winter melon spot-removing liquid.

Peel and cut one winter melon into chunks, then marinate it with 1500 ml of Shaoxing wine and water.

Boil 1000 ml of water until thoroughly cooked, then strain out the solids. Simmer the winter melon juice over low heat until it becomes a paste. Apply this paste every night to improve complexion.

Facial blemishes disappear, leaving skin as smooth as jade.

(7) Nardostachys jatamansi freckle-removing powder, containing Nardostachys jatamansi, Kaempferia galanga, Elsholtzia ciliata, Angelica dahurica, Sophora flavescens, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Ligusticum striatum, and Sterculia lychnophora.

15 grams each of silkworm, white aconite, trichosanthes root, mung bean powder, and neutral soap; grind all the above ingredients together.

The finest powder passes through a 100-mesh sieve.

After each face wash, take 1 part of the above-mentioned spot-removing powder and add it to your usual facial cleanser.

Apply 5 parts of your usual balm or milk to the dark spots on your face; this is effective for dark spots in women.

(8) Donkey-hide gelatin and walnut soup. 250g each of donkey-hide gelatin and rock sugar, longan pulp, black sesame seeds, and walnut kernels.

150g each of red dates, 500g pitted red dates, and 750g rice wine.

First, mix the dried longan pulp, black sesame seeds,

Grind the walnut kernels and red dates into powder and set aside.

Soak the donkey-hide gelatin in rice wine for about ten days, then place it in a bowl or...

Steam in a jar until the donkey-hide gelatin is completely dissolved, then add longan, black sesame seeds, walnuts, jujube powder, and rock sugar, and stir.

Mix well and continue steaming until the rock sugar dissolves.

After cooling, it will become a jelly-like consistency. Take 2 spoonfuls on an empty stomach every morning.

Food is prepared by mixing it with water.

It is most suitable for middle-aged and young women to prevent blemishes and improve complexion; middle-aged and elderly women can add 50 grams of ginseng.

It is generally best to take it around the winter solstice.

**37. What dietary and skincare precautions should be taken for acne?**

Acne, also known as pimples or blackheads, is common during adolescence.

Mainly due to body

Increased secretion of androgens leads to increased sebum production, causing problems in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

When the ducts are blocked, Propionibacterium acnes proliferates, causing skin and appearance problems.

Acne that resembles pimples and contains powdery substances.

In mild cases, only red papules appear in batches on the face; in severe cases, ...

When secondary infection occurs due to other bacteria, scabs will form, and pitted scars may remain after healing, with residual pigmentation.

Freckles directly damage facial appearance, causing considerable distress to many young men and women.

According to experts

Based on their opinions, the key points for self-protection against "acne" are as follows.

(1) First of all, you should pay attention to adjusting your own diet.

The diet should consist mainly of light vegetarian food.

Mainly, eat less fatty, sugary, creamy, seafood, and foods considered "heating" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (shrimp, crab, clams).

Avoid shellfish, fish, eels, etc.; avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy or irritating foods; eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.

And foods rich in vitamins A, B₂, and B₆. Vitamin A promotes the growth of epithelial cells.

Foods rich in Vitamin A have the effects of preventing follicular keratosis and reducing sebum secretion.

It should include vegetables such as carrots, spinach, shepherd's purse, bell peppers, kale, bitter lettuce, and coriander; and fruits.

Early oranges, mangoes, and other fruits contain vitamin B₆, which plays a role in the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids.

It mainly comes from the outer skin of cabbage, grains, and seeds.

Vitamin B₂ is found in wheat germ flour, bran, and other wheat products.

Skin, buckwheat flour, alfalfa, wolfberry leaves, dried bamboo shoots, matsutake mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, golden thread dates, fresh peaches,

Dried longan pulp, dried mulberry, almond, red pear, dried yam, longan, lentils, kidney beans, dried tofu

It is abundant in silk.

(2) Wash your face daily with facial cleanser, sulfur soap, boric acid soap, or other neutral soap and warm water.

Wash twice to reduce sebum buildup in hair follicles, but wash gently and avoid squeezing pimples with your hands.

Oil-based cosmetics.

Be sure to wash your hands and face after eating seafood.

(3) Frequently and gently massage the face to promote the expulsion of sebum plugs and eliminate sebum accumulation.

(4) Minimize the use of iodizing and bromide-containing drugs, and avoid using or applying them topically to the skin.

Steroid hormones are medications that can easily cause acne.

(5) If it is confirmed that there is a Propionibacterium acnes infection, erythromycin or tetracycline can be taken to inhibit the bacteria.

It can reduce the excessive secretion of fatty acids on the skin surface; patients with severe cases should use sexual hormones under the guidance of a doctor.

white.

Do not abuse medication on your own.