ESSENCE Senior Beauty & Style Editor Akili King believes ‘glow’ is more than skin deep. In The Ritual Report, she shares personal healing practices—from acupuncture for skin and grounding benefits to ‘dopamine dressing’—designed to inspire readers to find creative ways to soothe their nervous systems and reclaim their magic from the inside out.

Over the years, I’ve learned: when in doubt, turn to acupuncture. 

Anytime I’ve struggled with something for a prolonged period of time—be it stress, sleep, asthma, or even eczema—acupuncture has always been the thing that helps me get through to the other side. I even turned my best friend, who is afraid of needles, by the way, into an acupuncture lover for her back pain. That’s how strong my belief is in the practice. 

When it came to the last year and a half, I’d really been struggling with intense eczema flare ups and inflammation. Probably from stress and maybe even hormones shifting as I enter a new decade. The root cause when it comes to flare ups like these is certainly hard to pinpoint, which is what makes it so frustrating. Your body and skin become so sensitive that it feels like it could be any and everything—and the cycle of stressing about it all certainly doesn’t help. 

What’s helped me the most, again, is weekly acupuncture sessions, therapy, seeing my dermatologist, lymphatic drainage practices, switching up my nutrition (I was vegan for 10 years and now eat more fish), removing fragrance from my beauty arsenal completely (I mean fragrance free detergent, soap, deodorant, no perfume, fragrance free skincare, etc). As a beauty editor, this feels kind of nightmarish and boring. But what had to be done, had to be done. It’s felt like a true overhaul and reset of the nervous system if I’m being honest. And, most days, I’m still figuring it all out. But acupuncture consistently, paired with all of the above has been a God sent.

Specifically, throughout the winter, I was seeing Dr. Merlin Williams, founder of Pro Balance Acupuncture, in Bed-Stuy who really helped me with eczema flare ups on my hands, and overall stress as I was facing a lot of seasonal depression throughout the season. 

“The first phase of your plan focused on clearing heat and reducing itch so the flare could settle down and the skin could stop ‘staying on high alert,’” he shares. “Once the heat started to subside, the plan shifted into a second phase focused more on nourishing the blood and stabilizing so the skin can rebuild and become less reactive over time,” he says. Of course my busy work schedule and holiday schedule at the time interrupted some of the rhythm. “But, it is also one of the most common reasons eczema takes longer to fully turn the corner. This approach works best when treatments and herbs are uninterrupted, because consistency is what creates momentum,” he shares. 

Recently, I’ve also been seeing an acupuncturist who specializes in skin specifically, Saher Hussaini DACM, L. Ac. and Founder of Set Your Intention Acupuncture at her chic studio in Manhattan. There, she makes me a tea blend every session that is specific to my health needs before we begin each session. “One of the primary things we’ve been working on together is your atopic eczema. In Chinese medicine, the skin is often an expression of what’s happening internally. I’ve looked beyond your visible symptoms to understand the underlying factors that may be contributing to it, whether that’s inflammation, digestion, stress, sleep or other aspects of your overall health,” she shares. “From a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) lens, we’ve focused on nourishing and cooling the body while supporting healthy digestion and helping to regulate your nervous system,” she adds. 

For her, it’s a true holistic approach—from teas and TCM herbs, to cupping and moxibustion. “I like to say that acupuncture has a compounding effect because every treatment builds on the last,” she mentions. “My goal isn’t to calm a flare temporarily, but to improve the body’s overall resilience over time so that healthier skin becomes easier to maintain. That’s why I often say we’re not just treating eczema, we’re treating the person who happens to have eczema.” 

So, whether you’re experiencing eczema, pain, stress, or anything in between, and looking to try something new, consider acupuncture. Below, for more information from two acupuncturists that I go to myself, and absolutely trust. 

What is Acupuncture?

“Acupuncture is a form of Classical Chinese Medicine that involves inserting very thin needles into specific points on the body to regulate how energy, blood, and fluids move. From this perspective, the body functions best when everything flows smoothly and stays in balance,” says Dr. Williams. “When that flow is disrupted, it can lead to pain, stress, or illness. Acupuncture works by restoring that balance, helping the nervous system calm down, improving circulation, and supporting the body’s natural ability to heal itself.”

Dr. Hussaini chimes in.  “Acupuncture is one pillar of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and part of one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced medical systems. It involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body to help regulate the nervous system, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and support the body’s natural healing processes,” she says. “From a TCM perspective, acupuncture helps restore the smooth flow of qi, our vital energy, throughout the body. In a biomedical sense, research suggests it can influence the nervous system, help modulate pain pathways, promote local circulation, and support the release of endogenous chemicals involved in pain relief and relaxation.”

What are some misconceptions about acupuncture? 

“Many people think of acupuncture as a treatment primarily for pain, but its applications extend far beyond that. In my practice, I regularly work with patients experiencing stress, anxiety, sleep concerns, hormonal and menstrual health conditions, digestive issues, skin disorders, migraines, and those seeking fertility support,” says Dr. Hussaini. “I aim to understand how different systems of the body are connected and address the underlying patterns that contribute to a person’s health concerns.”

Benefits Of Acupuncture

“Acupuncture helps the body return to balance by improving circulation, calming the nervous system, and supporting natural healing processes. One of its biggest benefits is reducing stress and anxiety by shifting the body out of a constant fight-or-flight state. It is also commonly used for pain relief, helping with issues like back pain, neck tension, headaches, and joint discomfort by promoting blood flow and reducing inflammation,” Dr. Williams shares. “Many people experience better sleep, improved digestion, and more stable energy levels as their system becomes more regulated. Over time, acupuncture can strengthen the body’s resilience, making it easier to handle stress, recover from illness, and maintain overall well-being.”

Skin & Acupuncture In General

“In Chinese medicine, the skin is often a reflection of what’s happening internally, so I rarely look at concerns like acne, eczema, or premature aging as purely cosmetic. Rather than treating the skin in isolation, I spend time understanding the entire person, including their digestion, hormones, stress and sleep, because each of these systems can influence the health and appearance of the skin,” says Dr. Hussaini.

“That’s ultimately why treatment is so individualized. Two patients may approach me with concerns of acne, for example, but the underlying cause can be completely different. Instead of applying the same treatment to everyone with the same biomedical diagnosis, I identify each person’s unique pattern and tailor their care accordingly.”

What is eczema from an acupuncturist’s point of view?

“From a Classical Chinese Medicine perspective, eczema is the result of internal imbalance showing up through the skin. The Lung governs the skin, the Spleen manages fluids, and the Blood nourishes it. When the Spleen is weak, dampness builds up and can turn into heat, which is pushed to the surface, causing redness, itching, and sometimes oozing,” Dr. Williams says. “In chronic cases, Blood deficiency leads to dry, cracked, and persistently itchy skin. Wind is almost always involved, which is why eczema itches and flares unpredictably, often with environmental or stress triggers. Overall, eczema is seen as a problem of fluid imbalance, heat, and weakened surface defense rather than just a skin condition.”

What is the best acupuncture treatment for eczema?

“The best treatment strategy for anyone with eczema is consistent and phased. First, calm the flare by clearing heat, drying dampness if present, and stopping itch so you can stop the scratch cycle. Next, shift into nourishing and stabilizing so the skin is less reactive and less likely to flare from stress, weather, or diet changes,” says Dr. Williams. “This works best when acupuncture and herbs are paired with practical skin care and lifestyle anchors, because eczema is a skin barrier issue plus an immune reactivity issue, and both are strongly influenced by sleep, stress load, digestion, and consistency of the protocol.”

According to TCM, what should those with eczema avoid?

“Avoid anything that reliably ramps heat, inflammation, or irritation in your system. That usually means hot showers, overheating and staying sweaty, fragrance heavy soaps and detergents, rough fabrics, and harsh exfoliation or strong actives on the skin during a flare,” says Dr. Williams. “From a food perspective (refer to the guide that I previously provided you with), the most common flare amplifiers are alcohol, heavy greasy fried foods, very spicy foods, and high sugar intake. Even when the diet is very clean, consistency still matters. The goal is to reduce inputs that keep the skin in an inflamed, reactive loop.”

Read the original article on Essence.