- Improper gua sha use can trigger breakouts—especially in acne-prone or sensitive skin—due to poor tool hygiene, overly heavy oils, or using too much pressure.
- Experts recommend using clean, disinfected tools (preferably stainless steel), lightweight non-comedogenic oils, and gentle outward strokes to prevent irritation or bacterial spread.
- If breakouts occur, pause gua sha and treat with salicylic acid, niacinamide, or benzoyl peroxide; once skin clears, reintroduce gua sha carefully with proper technique and hygiene.
Despite being around for literal thousands of years, gua sha—a Chinese skin healing technique—is more popular than ever these days. From viral TikTok videos to pricey (yet very relaxing) professional gua sha treatments, the time-tested practice is a popular way to sculpt and contour the face via a unique scraping motion with a quartz, jade, or stainless steel tool.
People swear by gua sha for instantly sculpting the face, reducing puffiness and fine lines, promoting healthy blood flow, and stimulating proper lymphatic drainage. But not everyone who regularly practices is as lucky, as the skin ritual can sometimes backfire, leading to breakouts that seemingly pop up overnight. The reality is that gua sha might be the secret cause of unexplainable breakouts, especially if you’re not using it right.
Ahead, three experts break down what's going on when it comes to gua sha and acne, and share their best tips for keeping your skin clear.
Can gua sha cause acne?
Despite all the buzz surrounding gua sha and its face-sculpting benefits, it turns out using it incorrectly can trigger breakouts in some people. According to licensed aesthetician Amy Peterson, one of the main goals of gua sha is to boost lymphatic drainage, which in turn flushes out toxins, helping de-puff the face and sculpt it. “Think of gua sha like a mini workout for the skin that promotes healthy circulation while lifting and defining the natural contours.”
But for all the good gua sha offers, there’s also the potential for it to jumpstart skin purging. According to board-certified dermatologist Jenny Liu, MD, acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin types are more susceptible to breakouts from gua sha because they already tend to experience clogged pores or inflammation. And if the tool or skin isn’t properly cleaned, or if the gua sha technique is too aggressive, she says that those too can result in additional stimulation and exacerbate underlying skin issues.
While gua sha-induced breakouts aren’t in the same class as hormonal or cystic acne, they are more along the lines of what traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Sandra Lanshin Chiu calls a detox breakout. These small pimples or whiteheads come to the surface quickly and disappear fast. “After the first breakout, they usually don’t return once the skin has completed its purge,” she adds. In the event of more painful, red, and raised pimples that surface post-gua sha, Lanshin credits those to already being on their way to the surface long before the skin was treated. “Often, I find that breakouts from gua sha surface faster when menstrual cycle changes, sudden high stress, or using a new skincare product is involved,” she says.
How to gua sha and avoid acne:
1. Be smart about your tools
Gua sha tools are typically crafted from stainless steel or natural stone, with the latter more prone to harboring bacteria that can transfer into the pores and trigger breakouts. “Metal tools may be easier to disinfect thoroughly, but regardless of the tool, if it isn’t cleaned properly, the risk of breakouts increases,” Dr. Liu adds.
While your gua sha tool of choice is important, the serums and oils you layer onto give the gua sha the ability to effortlessly glide across the skin matter too. Applying heavy, rich skincare products to help the tool glide smoothly across the skin can clog pores, resulting in breakouts, especially in oily and acne-prone skin. To counteract that, Peterson suggests non-comedogenic, clean, lightweight oils suitable for your skin type to reap the benefits without congestion. “Rosehip, argan, sea buckthorn, and jojoba oils are good options, and so is a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum, which gives a good amount of slip as well.”
2. Follow the proper technique
There’s another reason why gua sha may be the culprit of breakouts. The technique used should be gentle and consist of short, outward strokes along lymphatic pathways. Pressing too hard and gliding a gua sha over breakouts ramps up irritation and pushes bacteria and debris deeper into pores, causing flare-ups, redness, and broken capillaries. “Using a gua sha with too much pressure defeats the purpose of draining and sculpting, which is why it's best to keep it light on the skin,” Peterson adds.
While the ritual of gua sha is relatively safe for most skin types, it’s best to avoid it on active acne or open wounds, as Dr. Liu says these conditions can spread bacteria, damage the skin barrier, and increase the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring.
How to reset your skin after a gua sha-induced breakout:
If you think gua sha may be the culprit of your breakouts, press pause and make sure to treat the skin accordingly. Dr. Liu recommends salicylic acid cleansers or spot treatments to unclog pores, a niacinamide serum to reduce inflammation, and azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help shorten the life of breakouts. Once the skin starts to clear, slowly reintroduce gua sha back into your routine, always using a clean tool and non-comedogenic oils. “Very gentle gua sha strokes may help shorten the life cycle of pimples by removing stagnation and congestion and improving blood flow,” Lanshin says.
The bottom line:
Gua sha may be your go-to for sculpting the face, but if it’s leaving it full of breakouts rather than contoured, reconsider your technique, the cleanliness of your tool, and the serum or oil you're using during a treatment. Sure, gua sha-related pimples may be annoying, but nine times out of ten, they can easily be mitigated with the right practice, allowing you to reap the benefits of the technique.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and expert with 20 years of experience. A prolific content creator and trendspotter, Elise always knows what’s new, what works, and who’s the best to go to for treatments and procedures—especially when it comes to acne.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and expert with 20 years of experience. She started her career in public relations before shifting to editorial. Elise rose the ranks at NewBeauty magazine from an editorial assistant to Executive Beauty Editor, overseeing and reporting on all things beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health, and wellness. A prolific content creator and trendspotter, Elise always knows what’s new, what works, and who’s the best to go to for treatments and procedures. She contributes to media outlets including InStyle, NewBeauty, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Beauty Independent, The Aesthetic Guide, Bazaar, and more.
