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  4. Vol 7, Issue 2, 2026

Analysis of the Approach to Selecting Herbs for External Wash Formulas for Facial Dermatitis Based on Skin Lesion Pattern Differentiation

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DOI: 10.23977/medsc.2026.070217 | Downloads: 1 | Views: 42

Author(s)

Jin Shasha 1, Yang Xin 1, Zhao Chan 2

Affiliation(s)

1 First Clinical School of Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China
2 Department of Dermatology, Baoji Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated with Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Baoji, China

Corresponding Author

Zhao Chan

ABSTRACT

Facial dermatitis is a common condition in dermatology. According to its clinical manifestations and affected location, it can be categorized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) under disease terms such as "facial wandering wind", "powder-flower sore", "rosacea-like nose", and "medicinal toxin". Although these diseases differ in name, their skin lesions share highly consistent features, all centering on facial erythema accompanied by burning sensation, pruritus, dryness, and scaling. Based on this, TCM achieves the therapeutic principle of "treating different diseases with the same method." This article proceeds from the core pathogenesis of "blood-heat as the root, wind pathogen as the manifestation, and Yin/(Yin represents the nourishing, moistening, and cooling aspect of the body) damage as the transformation," and categorizes commonly used external wash herbs according to their functions into three groups: those that clear heat and cool blood, those that dispel wind and relieve itching, and those that moisten dryness and engender flesh. The nature, taste, channel tropism, specific actions, and characteristics for external use of each herb are discussed. A formula construction strategy of "first identifying the predominant symptom, then determining the herb category, and finally considering modifications" is proposed, and combination schemes for eight common skin lesion patterns are summarized. Grounded in skin lesion pattern differentiation and characterized by the selection of concise, targeted herbs, this article aims to provide a reference for clinical herb selection in Chinese herbal external wash therapy for facial dermatitis.

KEYWORDS

Facial dermatitis, Chinese herbal external wash, Skin lesion pattern differentiation, Clearing heat and cooling blood, Moistening dryness and engendering flesh

CITE THIS PAPER

Jin Shasha, Yang Xin, Zhao Chan. Analysis of the Approach to Selecting Herbs for External Wash Formulas for Facial Dermatitis Based on Skin Lesion Pattern Differentiation. MEDS Clinical Medicine (2026). Vol. 7, No.2, 137-147. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medsc.2026.070217.

REFERENCES

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