Acne 101

Understanding Your Skin Is the First Step Toward Clearing It

Acne isn’t caused by poor hygiene or one bad product—it’s a complex, often genetic condition that can be influenced by hormones, diet, stress, and the products you use. At Opal Tree Clinical, we believe that lasting results begin with knowledge. The more you understand your skin, the better equipped you are to take control of it.

This section is your guide to understanding the “why” behind your breakouts—and how to start addressing them effectively.

What you’ll learn

Acne Myths & Facts

Get the truth behind common acne misconceptions. Learn what really triggers breakouts and why certain treatments (and ingredients) can make them worse instead of better.

Explore Myths & Facts

What Kind of Acne Do I Have?

From blackheads to cystic acne, knowing what you’re dealing with helps determine the right treatment path.

Discover Acne Types

Scars & Pigmentation

Understand the difference between acne scars and post-inflammatory marks—and what you can do to fade them safely over time.

Learn About Scars & PIH

Myths & Facts

Acne is primarily a genetic condition.
Acne can be exacerbated or caused by certain medications (prescribed & OTC).
If you are Acne prone, what you eat will affect your breakouts.
Skin care products and makeup with pore clogging ingredients will contribute to more breakouts.
Hormonal shifts can increase breakouts.
You can present with Acne at any age. We see this more so in females. Even if you had no breakouts as a teen.
Bacteria is not the cause of Acne.
Following a low glycemic diet can decrease your inflamed lesions up to 60% within 8 weeks.
Eating Meat, Fruit, Vegetables and Beans is a great way to support clearing your skin.
There is no cure for Acne.
Committing to an Acne Program with an experienced Acne Specialist will help you achieve clear skin.

If you would wash your face more, you would have clear skin.
- Fact - Over-washing your skin can strip the lipid barrier and cause dehydration which actually increases your breakouts.
Prescriptions from your doctor work better than skin care products.
- Fact - Working with an experienced Acne Specialist will clear your skin and keep it clear better than the prescriptions.
Accutane (oral isotretinoin) will cure your Acne.
- Fact - There is no cure for acne. Accutane has SERIOUS side effects that can take as long as 10-15 years to appear.
All of your blackheads means you have dirty skin.
- Fact - Your blackheads are just solidified sebum that has reached the surface and oxidized, thus turning them black.
The black pores all over your nose are blackheads.
- Fact - They are probably sebaceous filaments that are normal. They are more prominent in the T-zone area of your skin. Do not squeeze them as they will be back within a day or two and squeezing them can damage your skin.
Having bangs gives you breakouts on your forehead.
- Fact - Bangs on your forehead gives you greasy bangs especially when you have oily skin.
Quit touching your face - it gives you breakouts.
- Fact - Just not true.
Squeezing pimples will spread bacteria and cause more breakouts.
- Fact - I recommend only extracting pustules (PROPERLY) when necessary. I provide instruction on this.
Coconut oil will fix your Acne.
- Fact - Please don't use coconut oil on your skin. It is a 5/5 pore clogger.
Fast food is bad because it has a lot of grease.
- Fact - Fast food has a lot of salt and sugar which is absolutely a trigger for breakouts.
Panera, Panda, Chipotle and 5 Guys are not fast food like McDonalds.
- Fact - Yes, they are. Any food you consume that is not homemade (made from scratch) is going to be more processed and higher in salt and sugar.
- Fact - Even chain restaurants such as Olive Garden, Old Spaghetti Factory and Outback Steakhouse are serving processed foods. Stick to local restaurants or even better, make your food from fresh ingredients at home.

Women smiling confidently with the results of clearer skin

Clearing your Acne is absolutely achievable!

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What Kind of Acne Do I Have?

Non-Inflamed Acne Lesions

Blackheads

(Open Comedones)

Distended pore with oxidized sebum. You do not have "dirty" skin. You have pores that are not functioning properly.

Whiteheads

(Closed Comedones)

Blackheads that have failed to mature. They never make it to the surface and create a white, blanched-out bump on the skin. Severe cases = Maturation Arrest Acne.

Sebaceous Filament

(Acne Fraud)

Dark pores that will extract solidified oil when squeezed. They are not blackheads. They are oxidized sebum and normal.

Inflamed Acne Lesions

Pustules

(Red w/ Pus)

Severe: Lesions that are tender, red and inflamed.

Mild - Moderate: Lesions that are red and slightly inflamed. May not be tender but do have pus in them.

Papules

(Flat/Red - No Pus)

These lesions may never turn into a pustule but can still be tender and inflamed.

Cysts

(Firm w/ No Pus)

Raised, tender lesions that may never come to a head to be extracted. Some do not have pus and are just hard and painful.

Less Common Acne

Acne Rosacea/Papulopustular Rosacea

Acne Conglobata/Nodulocystic Acne

Acne Fulminans

Acne Frauds

Lesions that can look like Acne

Folliculitis - Fungal or Bacterial

Milia

Rosacea Fulminans (Pyoderma Faciale)

Steatocystoma Multiplex

Perioral Dermatitis

Keratosis Pilaris

Scars

Types of Scars you can get from Acne Lesions

Boxcar - Wide, deep depressions with raised sides.
Rolling - Wide, shallow depressions. Skin looks wavy.
Ice Pick - Small, deep holes that look like a puncture.
Atrophic - Firm, raised scars that have a iridescent appearance.
Keloid - Very firm, raised, itchy scars that are skin colored.

View Photos

Hyperpigmentation

Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Brown pigment that appears after a pimple has healed and is no longer present. These are generally not scars unless the pigment is from a deep burn or sever trauma to the skin. Darker skin types are more prone to PIH. It will fade with time and proper skin care products. Imperative to use a Mineral SPF 30 - 50 and reapply at least every 2 hours if outside.

Post Inflammatory Erythema (PIE) or Angiogenesis

Generally appears after a pimple is no longer visible but leaves a red spot. This redness is a capillary bed (not a scar). These pink/red areas indicate the skin is still healing. Sometimes the redness persists, but most will fade over time.

Free Discovery Call

Considering our Virtual Acne Program but still have questions?

We understand that choosing the right acne support is an important decision. That’s why we offer a free Virtual Acne Discovery Call. This no pressure conversation gives you the opportunity to learn about our acne clearing philosophy and determine if our program aligns with your needs before booking a full consultation.

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