There is also controversy over whether masturbation can cause acne. Some people say that masturbation can cause acne, and their arguments are quite persuasive based on their personal experiences. Others, however, claim that masturbation has no connection to acne, and there are many who hold this view. I have reviewed numerous Q&A cases on major medical websites, and many of the experts there state that masturbation is unrelated to acne. I have also read many relatively professional articles on acne, and almost none of them mention a connection between masturbation and acne. Many medical website consultants have limited expertise; their answers are either copied or based on assumptions. On one hand, they lack personal experience, and on the other, they have not conducted thorough case investigations. Another possibility is that they themselves are unclear about the matter. Worse still, some medical website consultants are using the “masturbation is harmless” theory to respond to patients, copying and pasting this theory to mislead them. Such consultation cases are very common, which is truly tragic. Patients are already in a difficult situation, seeking a clear answer, only to be met with misinformation.

However, I have also seen some Q&A cases where the responder mentioned that masturbation can cause acne and advised the questioner to stop masturbating. I believe there are still some enlightened individuals in this world, but they are few and far between. Out of 10 Q&A cases, perhaps only 1-2 truly understand the harms of masturbation, while the remaining 8 responders are essentially misleading patients. Much of the Q&A content is copied and lacks their own in-depth investigation or research. This also aligns with the “80/20 rule”: 80% of the world's population is poor, while 20% is wealthy; 80% of the world's wealth is controlled by 20% of the population, while 80% of the wealth is controlled by 20% of the population; 80% of people earn money using their physical labor, while 20% use their intellectual abilities; 80% of people are negative thinkers, while 20% are positive thinkers. Similarly, in this world, only 20% of people truly understand the harms of masturbation, while the remaining 80% are completely unaware of its dangers and have even been brainwashed by the “harmless theory,” especially in an era where such claims are widespread. The 20% who remain清醒 are already at the pinnacle! That's for medical professionals. In reality, out of 100 ordinary people, only 1 truly understands the harm of masturbation—that's already remarkable! Many professors and PhDs are unaware of the truth about masturbation. What can we do? We were born in an era where the “harmless theory” is rampant, even middle school health textbooks are dominated by the “harmless theory.” China's teenage generation has been brainwashed by the “harmless theory” since middle school! How tragic!

Based on my personal experience and research, my conclusion is that masturbation can cause acne, and acne caused by masturbation is generally stubborn and difficult to treat. It's not that once you pass puberty, the acne will disappear. Acne caused by masturbation is extremely stubborn, and some people may still have acne on their faces even after turning 30, making it a chronic condition. However, I have also observed many people in real life who masturbate but rarely develop acne. This is simply due to differences in constitutional types. Traditional Chinese medicine generally classifies human constitutional types into nine basic categories: harmonious type, qi deficiency type, yin deficiency type, yang deficiency type, damp-heat type, qi stagnation type, phlegm-dampness type, blood stasis type, and special constitution type. The harmonious type is the best, while the others have imbalances. Due to differences in constitution, the symptoms of masturbation manifest differently in each person. It may manifest as acne outbreaks in you, while in another person, the impact may be much smaller. There's no need to lament your constitution, as some people may have few acne breakouts but experience more pronounced symptoms from masturbation, such as hair loss, premature graying, lower back pain, or frequent urination. Therefore, the heavens are fair. Although you may have a face prone to acne, you may excel in other areas, so there is no need to be overly distressed.

Let us examine some real-life cases:

Case 1: Every time I engage in masturbation, I develop acne, which subsides when I abstain. The acne primarily appears on my face, nose, chin, and back.

Case 2: Since I was 15, every time I masturbate, acne appears the next day. If I don't masturbate for a few days, the acne gradually fades, leaving only a slight mark.

Case 3: Every time I masturbate or have a wet dream, acne appears on my face, and I feel very anxious.

Case 4: I remember when I was 17, I masturbated daily. After that, I noticed the acne on my face getting worse each day. Now at 30, my face is still oily, and the acne persists.

Case 5: After masturbating, I get acne. Some of it fades, but after a few hours, it becomes much more noticeable. I also have many pus-filled bumps on my head. How should this be treated? After masturbating, I feel uncomfortable in many areas. Sometimes my joints ache, and sometimes my teeth feel sensitive.

Case 6: I have a six-year history of masturbation. During this period, I have had acne on my face, and after each instance of masturbation, I notice an increase in acne. Currently, I experience premature ejaculation during sexual activity and may also have prostate issues.

Case 7: Why do I notice that after masturbating, acne breaks out extensively on my face? Within one or two days after masturbating, acne rapidly proliferates on my face.

Case 8: I started masturbating around age 16, and it's been over five years now. Gradually, acne started appearing on my face, and my nose has almost developed into rosacea due to the acne. After the acne disappears, it leaves many scars. On my face and nose, I can squeeze out white substances. At the worst point, a large area of my face swelled up, and when squeezed, it contained pus and blood. The same happened on my shoulders.

Case 9: I am 18 years old and have had acne for three years. Every time I masturbate, I get a lot of acne on my face, ears, and neck. Recently, it has become more severe. Before, it was just on my back and chest, but now it is also on my buttocks.

Case 10: Why do I get acne on my forehead after masturbating? Why is that?

Case 11: I masturbate no more than twice a week, but my face has started breaking out in acne and blackheads.

Case 12: I'm 22 years old, and every time I masturbate, I get acne. I used to be a handsome guy, but now… I realized it was due to my persistent masturbation. I used to do it once a day, but then I forced myself to stop for two weeks, and the acne mostly disappeared. However, I couldn't resist anymore, and as soon as I started masturbating again, the acne came back.

Case 13: Masturbation really does worsen acne. I've personally tested it, and it's true.

Case 14: Since last year, my face has been covered in acne. Even after squeezing them out, they keep coming back. I also have the habit of masturbating, and I know it's not good, but I can't control myself. Recently, I noticed that whenever I masturbate frequently, my acne worsens after a few days, becoming larger and redder, with some even as big as soybeans.

Case 15: After masturbating, my acne started to flare up, my mood became depressed, and I masturbated even more frequently, about once a day, and my face became a mess!

Case 16: I have a lot of acne on my face. I've tried many skincare products, visited the hospital, and taken a lot of medication, but nothing has worked. The acne on my face keeps growing wildly. I have a habit of masturbating; I can't fall asleep without doing it almost every night.

Case 17: I'm 23 now, and I developed this bad habit ten years ago. Acne started appearing right away and has persisted until now, covering my back and face. Every time I masturbate, acne appears, and it's very noticeable—it increases significantly the next day. If I abstain for half a month, it subsides a lot. Why is that? I've also noticed that since developing this bad habit, it feels like my whole body is sick, especially my brain, which has become dull. My mind is constantly racing with random thoughts, even while studying, making it hard to concentrate. I can't control myself, and I have vivid dreams all night long.

There's a popular belief that masturbation can “release heat” and help clear up acne, while abstaining from masturbation can cause acne to flare up. Many people even recommend masturbation to others as a way to clear up acne. In fact, this is completely misleading. This misconception has existed for over a decade; I heard it as early as middle school. If masturbation could reduce acne, why do many people end up with more acne the more they masturbate? One wave hasn't subsided before another arises, and it can even erupt all over the face, turning someone into an “acne-faced person”! Some people have a misconception that after masturbating, their acne seems to have subsided a bit, or that the next morning after masturbating, they feel like their acne has gone down. In reality, masturbation is a form of energy expenditure and release. Immediately after the energy is released, the acne may temporarily subside, as described in Case 5. I can clearly tell everyone that the true pattern is: first subside, then erupt! There will definitely be a strong rebound! Because masturbation can disrupt hormonal balance and cause acne, the temporary reduction in acne is merely an illusion. Soon after, a major acne outbreak may occur!

Based on feedback from many cases, many individuals who have quit masturbation and adopted a healthy lifestyle, eat a light diet, exercise regularly, and avoid staying up late, have seen their endocrine system gradually adjust over time. As a result, their acne has significantly reduced, their skin feels smoother and more delicate to the touch, and oil production has decreased. These are all facts. The facts prove: by consistently practicing a healthy lifestyle, acne will subside, and skin quality and complexion can be improved. This is indeed the case. If you believe that masturbation can “release heat,” you may fall into a vicious cycle, making it difficult for acne to heal.

Key points for recovery:

1. Maintain a light diet: Keeping your diet light is crucial, as spicy foods and certain trigger foods can lead to acne breakouts. Even if you haven't masturbated, consuming spicy foods can still trigger a severe acne outbreak.

2. Limit screen time: Prolonged screen time can lead to “screen face,” which affects skin quality and complexion, and may also disrupt hormonal balance and cause acne. Therefore, screen time should be limited.

3. Avoid staying up late: Staying up late is harmful to the body and liver, impairing the body's detoxification capabilities. It also negatively impacts skin quality and complexion and may lead to acne breakouts.

4. Engage in regular exercise (primarily aerobic): Regular exercise is crucial for regulating hormonal balance. Activities such as jogging, brisk walking, or playing sports are all beneficial.

5. Completely abstain from masturbation: Abstaining from masturbation is the foundation for recovery. Otherwise, no matter how much supplementation or skincare you do, it will be undermined.

6. Control the frequency of nocturnal emissions: As mentioned in previous articles, nocturnal emissions can lead to acne breakouts, and my personal experience supports this. Nocturnal emissions can offset some of the benefits of abstaining from masturbation and may temporarily disrupt hormonal balance.

7. Seek active treatment: For severe acne breakouts, active treatment is necessary. Whether through medication or medical devices, it is worth trying if conditions permit. However, the key is to completely abstain from masturbation, as otherwise, the condition is likely to recur.

8. Acne scars: Mild acne scars will fade over time, becoming less noticeable or even invisible. If the scars are deep, you can visit a hospital for treatments like skin resurfacing.

Acne locations (excerpt):

Acne on the forehead: High stress levels and a bad temper can lead to heart fire and poor blood circulation.

Acne between the eyebrows: Chest tightness, irregular heartbeat, and palpitations.

Acne on the nose tip: Excessive stomach fire and digestive system abnormalities.

Acne on the sides of the nose: Related to ovarian function or the reproductive system.

Acne on the right cheek: Abnormal lung function.

Acne on the left cheek: Impaired liver function and heat toxins.

Acne around the lips: Constipation leading to toxin accumulation in the body, or use of toothpaste with excessive fluoride.

Acne on the chin: Endocrine imbalance, excessive toxins, and digestive system disorders.

Traditional Chinese medicine classification of acne:

1. Lung meridian wind-heat syndrome: Characterized by facial flushing, red and itchy acne, or pus-filled lesions, thin yellow tongue coating, red tongue, and a fine, rapid pulse. Acne on the face, nose, chest, and back is attributed to the lung, caused by wind-heat obstructing the skin along the lung meridian;

2. Damp-heat in the spleen and stomach: Characterized by red, swollen, and itchy rashes, often accompanied by constipation, indigestion, abdominal distension, a thick yellow coating on the tongue, and a slippery and rapid pulse. This is often caused by excessive consumption of greasy, spicy, and sweet foods, leading to internal heat and dampness in the spleen and stomach, which then affects the face.

3. Liver Qi Stagnation Syndrome: Commonly seen in women, with recurrent skin rashes that are significantly associated with the menstrual cycle. Generally, older women with irregular menstruation fall into this category.

4. Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency Syndrome: Commonly seen in adults over 30 years old, with skin rashes that are red but not bright, often accompanied by a dull complexion, pigmentation, fatigue, a thin white tongue coating, and a soft and slippery pulse.

5. Heat-Toxin Blood Heat Type: This condition is common in young individuals with vigorous blood and qi, where rising yang heat interacts with wind-cold, leading to stagnation and obstruction of the skin.

Summary:

In Western medicine, doctors may diagnose hormonal imbalance, excessive sebum secretion, or blocked sebaceous gland ducts. In traditional Chinese medicine, doctors may diagnose dysfunction of the five zang organs. In traditional Chinese medicine, the kidneys are considered the root of the five zang organs! Masturbation damages the kidneys, inevitably leading to dysfunction or imbalance of the five zang organs, thereby causing acne! Western medicine also notes that the kidneys have a very important characteristic: they are an endocrine organ that secretes numerous hormones, which regulate blood pressure and normal bone development. Therefore, masturbation damaging the kidneys can indeed lead to endocrine imbalance. Of course, the concept of the kidneys in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are not the same. The former has a broader meaning and does not simply refer to the kidneys in an anatomical sense. If you want to get rid of acne, my advice is to stick to abstaining from sexual activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you do everything right, your body will gradually adjust back to normal. For severe acne, it is best to combine abstinence with active treatment, which will help you recover faster.