OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy of warming moxibustion on cystic acne.

METHODSNinety-four cases were randomized into an observation group, control group 1 and control group 2. The basic treatment of body acupuncture combined with fire needling was applied in all of three groups. In observation group, cone moxibustion was added on Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Pishu (BL 20). In control group 1, Isotritinoin soft capsule was taken orally, and in control group 2, no any other therapy was administered. The efficacy, the scale change in skin lesion before and after treatment and adverse reactions were observed in three groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the total effective rate was 84.4% (27/32) in observation group, was 71.0% (22/31) in control group 1 and was 51.6% (16/31) in control group 2. The efficacy in observation group was superior to that in control group 2 (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between observation group and control group 1 (P > 0.05). The improvement in skin lesion in observation group was equal to that in control group 1 (P > 0.05), and was superier to that in control group 2 (P < 0.05). Control group 1 presented some adverse reactions, such as dry skin and cheilitis.

CONCLUSIONWarming moxibustion can improve the efficacy of body acupuncture and fire needling on cystic acne, which is equal to the efficacy of Isotritinoin soft capsule, but no any adverse reaction is induced.