Acne Treatment Breakthroughs: AGNES RF, AviClear (aviclear) & Gold PTT for Acne Breakouts

Acne is common, but that doesn’t make it “simple.” If you’ve dealt with acne breakouts that keep returning, especially in the same areas (jawline, cheeks, chin, back). Tou’ve probably noticed a frustrating pattern: you calm the flare, then the next acne breakout shows up again weeks later.

That’s exactly why acne treatment has been evolving beyond “spot-fix” solutions and into more targeted, longer-term strategies, especially device-based treatments designed to address the oil glands (sebaceous glands) that feed acne in the first place.

Why Acne Breakouts Keep Coming Back (Even When You’re “Doing Everything Right”)

Most acne breakouts happen because multiple drivers stack together:

• Excess sebum (oil) production
• Clogged pores (dead skin cells + oil)
• Inflammation (red, tender bumps)
• Microbial imbalance, including Cutibacterium acnes
• Hormonal shifts, stress, friction (“maskne”), comedogenic products, and genetics

Traditional acne treatment often works well especially when it matches the acne type (comedonal vs inflammatory vs cystic) and severity.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) acne guideline highlights strong recommendations for proven staples like benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, and oral doxycycline, with isotretinoin strongly recommended for severe acne or acne that scars or resists standard therapy.

So where do devices like AGNES RF, aviclear, and Gold PTT fit?

They’re most often discussed when:

• breakouts are recurrent or treatment-resistant,
• long-term medication is not ideal or not desired,
• acne is moderate-to-severe, or
• there’s a strong concern about future scarring.

The Big Shift in Acne Treatment: Target the Oil Gland, Not Just the Pimple

Think of a pimple as a symptom. The “engine” behind many persistent acne breakouts is the overactive sebaceous gland.

That’s why newer energy-based acne treatment options focus on sebaceous gland targeting—aiming to reduce oil output and inflammation at the source. This approach is discussed in reviews of emerging light/laser therapies for acne, reflecting growing interest in non-drug and device-based strategies.

Now let’s break down the three treatments we use to treat acne at The Clifford Clinic, AGNES RF, aviclear (AviClear), and Gold PTT.

1) AGNES RF Acne Treatment: Precision RF for Recurrent Acne Breakouts

What is AGNES RF?

AGNES Acne RF is a targeted acne treatment that uses a microneedle radiofrequency (RF) approach—often described in the research as selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis. The concept is straightforward: deliver energy precisely to the oil gland connected to a problematic pore so that the same “hot spot” is less likely to flare again.

Why dermatology clinics use it

AGNES RF is commonly discussed for:

• recurring, localized acne breakouts (the same few pores repeatedly inflame)
• deep, stubborn lesions that don’t respond well to topicals alone
• oily skin patterns where a small number of “problem glands” seem to drive repeated flares

What does the evidence say?

A pilot clinical study (12 patients) reported very large lesion reductions one month after the final treatment session98.14% for inflammatory lesions and 83.09% for non-inflammatory lesions—with transient post-treatment erythema (redness) that faded after a few days. The same study reported relapse in 2 of 12 patients (16.7%) one year after the final session.

A later prospective randomized controlled study reported statistically significant improvement in inflammatory acne at 12 weeks after a series of treatments, and noted no serious adverse events and no observed treatment-related adverse events in the paper’s discussion.

What to expect for AGNES Acne treatment?

AGNES RF acne treatment usually includes:

• consultation + acne mapping
• numbing cream
• targeted treatment on active/recurrent spots

2) AviClear (aviclear): A 1726 nm Laser Designed for Long-Term Acne Treatment

What is AviClear?

Aviclear is a laser system that uses a 1726 nm wavelength designed to selectively heat sebum within sebaceous glands, aiming for controlled thermal injury to reduce gland activity. In official FDA documentation, AviClear Laser System is listed as “the long-term treatment of mild to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris.”

Why “seboselective” matters for acne breakouts

Many lasers rely heavily on pigment targeting, which can limit options in darker skin tones or raise pigment-risk concerns. The seboselective approach is designed around sebum absorption, which is why AviClear is frequently discussed as a device-based acne treatment option across a broad range of skin types in published clinical follow-up data.

What does the clinical data show?

A large prospective multicenter study with 104 patients (Fitzpatrick skin types II–VI) reported the following:

• At 12 weeks, 79.8% of patients showed ≥50% improvement in inflammatory lesion counts
• At 52 weeks, this increased to 91.5%
• “Clear or almost clear” IGA scores increased from 36.0% at 3 months to 66.2% at 52 weeks

The same paper reported that treatment was well tolerated, with mild erythema and edema being common, and it reported no blistering, crusting, or hypo/hyperpigmentation in that cohort.

In that same study design, patients underwent three treatments, spaced 2–5 weeks apart.

Is aviclear right for teens?

If the patient is under 18, a dermatologist typically evaluates acne severity, scarring risk, and whether standard treatments have been optimized first. A dermatologist can help decide whether aviclear is appropriate for a younger patient, especially when the goal is preventing long-term scarring from repeated acne breakouts.

3) Gold PTT (Gold Photothermal Therapy): Acne Treatment Using Light-Activated Gold Particles

What is Gold PTT?

Gold PTT stands for Gold Photothermal Therapy. In acne applications, it generally refers to applying gold-based particles intended to reach follicular structures, followed by light/laser activation that generates localized heat.

The acne treatment goal is similar to AGNES RF and aviclear in concept: reduce overactive sebaceous gland activity and calm inflammatory acne breakouts.

What does the research say about Gold PTT for acne?

A preliminary study on gold photothermal therapy in Asian patients reported:

• statistically significant reductions in acne lesions (papules, pustules, comedones)
• an average improvement of more than 50% in Physician Global Assessment
• histologic findings consistent with decreased inflammation
• no serious adverse effects reported in the study

More recent small evidence (case-series level) continues to explore protocols combining light-absorbing gold particles with laser energy for acne, while also noting limitations like small sample size and lack of controls.

A common reason people feel disappointed by acne treatment is that they try random solutions instead of following a stepwise plan.

Our doctors at The Clifford Clinic follows our Acne Programme protocol

• Step 1: Diagnose the acne type

Mostly clogged pores (comedones)?

Mostly red inflamed pimples (papules/pustules)?

Deep cystic lesions?

Is it actually acne? Or something acne-like (e.g., folliculitis, rosacea)?

• Step 2: Plans out creams and medication for home use

Plans out topical/systemic options depending on severity. Topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide and appropriate systemic therapies for moderate-to-severe cases may be suggested if required.

• Step 3: Add device-based sebaceous gland targeting when it’s logical

1. AGNES RF for recurrent localized acne breakouts
2. AviClear (aviclear) for broader inflammatory acne patterns and long-term oil-gland modulation
3. Gold PTT as another oil-gland targeting approach, typically dependent on local availability and clinician expertise.

Dr Gerard Ee is publicly profiled with training history that includes medical education at St George’s University of London and postgraduate dermatology training.

In a Channel NewsAsia brand feature discussing acne scars and treatment approaches, Dr Ee emphasized practical prevention points, particularly that seeking professional help early can reduce the risk of acne progressing into scars, and he also cautioned against squeezing pimples.

He also mentioned everyday habit factors that can contribute to acne breakouts, like keeping the face clean with a gentle cleanser and being mindful about mask re-use (“maskne” risk).

A Channel NewsAsia feature highlighted Singapore actor and host Mark Lee and discussed his acne-scar journey and in-clinic treatments. In that story, he described the discomfort as minimal with numbing cream and said he noticed his skin felt smoother within days, plus he shared that heavy filming makeup had previously worsened his skin when not fully removed.

Acne breakouts can affect anyone, including people on camera, and early acne treatment matters because scars are harder to treat than pimples.

FAQ

Is AviClear (aviclear) a “permanent” acne treatment?

The most accurate framing is long-term improvement rather than “permanent.” FDA documentation states the device is indicated for long-term treatment of mild to severe inflammatory acne. Clinical follow-up data reports improvement out to one year in a prospective study, but acne is multifactorial and recurrence can still happen in some people.

Does AGNES RF stop recurring acne breakouts?

AGNES-style selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis has published data showing large reductions in lesion counts in a small pilot study, with relapse reported in a minority at one year, and later controlled research showing significant improvement vs controls. That said, outcomes depend on acne severity, technique, and whether the underlying drivers (hormones, comedogenic products, friction, etc.) are also addressed.

Is Gold PTT safe for acne-prone skin?

In a preliminary clinical study in Asian patients, gold photothermal therapy showed significant improvement without serious adverse effects reported.

What’s the best acne treatment if I keep getting an acne breakout every month?

For recurring acne breakouts, a dermatologist typically checks:

• acne type + severity
• hormonal pattern clues
• skincare/makeup products (comedogenic risk)
• lifestyle friction triggers (sports gear, masks)
• whether a guideline-based plan has been fully optimized

Then, sebaceous gland targeting devices like AGNES RF or aviclear may be discussed depending on the pattern and goals.

Can these treatments help prevent acne scars?

Controlling inflammatory acne breakouts earlier is one of the best ways to reduce scarring risk.

References

• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) — Acne clinical guideline highlights.
• Reynolds RV, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (JAAD / PubMed, 2024).
• U.S. FDA — AviClear Laser System 510(k) database entry (K213461).
• U.S. FDA — AviClear Laser System indications for use / 510(k) summary (K230660; includes indication and device description, 1726 nm).
• Goldberg D, et al. One-year prospective multicenter study of 1726 nm sebum-selective laser for acne (open access via ScienceDirect).
• Lee JW, et al. Selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis pilot study (International Journal of Dermatology, 2011; PDF).
• Ahn GR, et al. Prospective randomized controlled study on single microneedle RF selective electrothermolysis for acne (Laser Surgery and Medicine; PDF).
• Suh DH, et al. Gold photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles for acne in Asian patients (preliminary study; PubMed).
• Pamela R, et al. Case series: light-absorbing gold microparticles + long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG for acne (case-series level evidence).
• American Academy of Dermatology — Diet and acne: low glycemic diet and cow’s milk associations (public education page).
• Meixiong J, et al. Diet and acne systematic review (JAAD International, 2022).