AviClear & Gold PTT Acne Treatment in Singapore: Why The Clifford Clinic Targets Your Oil Glands, Not Just Your Pimples
If you have been searching for “acne treatment Singapore” and feel like you’ve tried everything – facials, antibiotics, “acne lasers”, even multiple clinics – you are not alone. Many of the patients we see at The Clifford Clinic arrive exhausted and skeptical, worried that nothing will ever truly clear their skin.
Our philosophy is different: instead of only treating what you see on the surface, we focus on treating the sebaceous (oil) glands themselves, using advanced, protocol‑driven technologies like AviClear and Gold Photothermal Therapy (Gold PTT), supported by AGNES RF and a full scar‑repair ecosystem.
Over the years, this approach has attracted not just everyday patients, but also well‑known local personalities – such as actor and host Mark Lee – as well as other public figures who have openly shared their acne and scar journeys under the care of Dr Gerard Ee and the team at The Clifford Clinic.
Why modern acne treatment in Singapore must target the sebaceous gland
Most people start acne treatment with:
- Over‑the‑counter washes and spot creams
- Prescription topicals like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide or antibiotics
- Short courses of oral antibiotics, hormonal pills or isotretinoin
These can all help. But in moderate, severe or relapsing acne, long‑term control usually requires going beyond the surface and addressing the overactive sebaceous glands that drive excess oil, clogged pores and inflammation.
This is exactly where AviClear and Gold PTT come in:
- Both are device‑based, drug‑sparing treatments designed to reduce sebaceous gland activity.
- Both can be combined with AGNES RF, medical skincare and scar‑repair techniques within a structured plan.
- Both are used at The Clifford Clinic in a way that reflects years of focused experience in acne treatment in Singapore, rather than as isolated “menu items”.
What is AviClear?
AviClear (often searched as “Aviclear”) is the first and only FDA‑cleared energy device specifically approved for the treatment of mild, moderate and severe inflammatory acne.
How AviClear works
- AviClear uses a 1726 nm infrared laser wavelength that is strongly absorbed in and around sebaceous glands.
- That energy gently heats and down‑regulates the oil glands, reducing sebum production over time.
- The handpiece includes integrated cooling to keep the surface skin comfortable while delivering energy to the deeper target.
What patients can expect
- A standard course consists of two to three in‑clinic sessions, typically spaced about 4–6 weeks apart.
- Each session takes around 30 minutes, and most patients resume normal activities shortly afterwards.
- Improvement often continues for months after the third session as the glands slowly reset and oil production decreases.
Because AviClear is a drug‑free treatment that directly targets sebaceous glands, it is especially attractive for patients who:
- Want to avoid or come off long‑term oral medications
- Have relapsing inflammatory acne despite standard therapy
- Prefer a clear, time‑bound protocol rather than indefinite pills
At The Clifford Clinic, AviClear is most commonly recommended for older teenagers, young adults and adults with mild to severe inflammatory acne who are suitable for laser‑based treatment and not pregnant.
What is Gold Photothermal Therapy (Gold PTT)?
Gold Photothermal Therapy (Gold PTT) is another advanced sebaceous‑targeting treatment offered at The Clifford Clinic as part of our acne treatment Singapore programme.
How Gold PTT works
Gold PTT is a two‑step process:
- Gold nanoparticle delivery
- A special solution containing microscopic gold nanoparticles is applied to the skin.
- Low‑frequency ultrasound (such as 40 kHz sonophoresis) is used to push these particles deep into the pores and sebaceous glands, not just onto the surface.
- Laser activation
- After wiping away excess surface gold, a near‑infrared laser (commonly in the 810–1064 nm range) is used to heat the nanoparticles.
- Gold converts light into heat very efficiently, so the sebaceous glands surrounding the particles are gently heated and remodelled, reducing their oil‑producing activity.
Who Gold PTT is ideal for
Gold PTT is particularly useful when:
- The skin is very oily with multiple inflamed spots
- There is a desire to avoid or minimise oral medications
- Patients are younger (for example, primary school or early secondary school students) and not yet suitable candidates for certain systemic drugs
- Local, device‑based treatments are preferred for lifestyle or health reasons
Because Gold PTT delivers energy locally and avoids systemic drug exposure, it is also an important option The Clifford Clinic may consider in carefully selected pregnant patients, always in close collaboration with their obstetrician and within current medical safety guidelines.
How The Clifford Clinic combines AviClear, Gold PTT and AGNES
One of the reasons The Clifford Clinic is widely recognised for acne treatment in Singapore is that we do not rely on a single “signature” machine.
Instead, we offer a full sebaceous‑gland toolkit:
- AviClear – three‑session 1726 nm laser protocol for mild to severe inflammatory acne
- Gold PTT – ultrasound‑assisted gold nanoparticle plus laser protocol for oily, inflamed skin
- AGNES RF – insulated microneedle radiofrequency that can precisely destroy individual problem glands and deep recurrent cysts
These are then integrated with:
- High‑quality topical regimens (the foundation of clear skin)
- Lifestyle and hormonal assessment where needed
- Structured acne scar treatment programmes once active acne is under control
Expert Insight – Choosing between AviClear, Gold PTT and AGNES
From Dr Gerard Ee
“We never start by asking, ‘Which machine shall we use?’
We start by asking, ‘What kind of acne is this, and what is the safest way to target its root cause for this particular patient?’”
In his day‑to‑day practice:
- Gold PTT for younger patients and pregnancy
- Dr Ee typically favours Gold PTT for younger patients, such as adolescents in primary school or the early secondary school years, who already have significant acne and oiliness but for whom strong systemic drugs may not be appropriate.
- Gold PTT is also a key option for pregnant mothers, because it is a local, energy‑based treatment that does not rely on oral medication. Each case is carefully discussed with the patient’s obstetrician before proceeding.
- AviClear for most older teens and adults
- For older teenagers, young adults and adults, Dr Ee often leans towards AviClear as a core platform for mild to severe inflammatory acne, especially when the goal is to achieve long‑term control while reducing or avoiding oral medications.
- AGNES RF for nodular/cystic acne
- For deep nodular or cystic acne, he usually does not choose AviClear or Gold PTT as the first step.
- Instead, he recommends AGNES RF, where insulated microneedles allow him to accurately target and coagulate specific sebaceous glands responsible for recurrent deep cysts and “same‑spot” breakouts.
This flexible approach means each patient receives a combination that fits their age, acne pattern, oiliness and medical situation, rather than being squeezed into a one‑size‑fits‑all package.
Expert Insight – Real results and expectations
“When a patient is a good candidate for AviClear or Gold PTT and follows the plan, I usually expect excellent clearance in about three months,” Dr Ee explains.
In practical terms:
- AviClear and Gold PTT
- After a full course of either AviClear or Gold PTT, many patients see a dramatic drop in active breakouts and oiliness over roughly three months, particularly when combined with an appropriate skincare routine.
- Improvement often continues beyond this point as sebaceous activity stabilises and inflammation settles.
On medication expectations, Dr Ee is clear but realistic:
“In many cases, these treatments allow us to avoid starting long‑term oral medications, or to stop them earlier than we otherwise could.
But I always remind patients that neither AviClear nor Gold PTT replaces good topical skincare – creams and gels are the foundation of maintaining acne‑free skin.”
In other words:
- Device‑based treatments can significantly reset the baseline and reduce the need for pills.
- Long‑term topical maintenance and sensible lifestyle habits remain essential to keep skin clear.
Expert Insight – Safety and long‑term planning
Dr Ee also looks carefully at life stage, future plans and skin type.
Teenagers
For teenagers, particularly those still in school:
- Gold PTT is often the first device‑based option, because it is local, repeatable and does not involve systemic drugs.
- It can be used to manage moderate to severe acne during key school years, while parents and teens jointly decide about any future medication.
Young adults and older patients
For young adults and older patients with more established inflammatory acne:
- AviClear is frequently recommended as a three‑session cornerstone treatment to reduce oil production and breakouts.
- AGNES RF is added when deep nodules and cysts are the main problem.
Women considering pregnancy or pregnant
- For women planning pregnancy, Dr Ee individualises the plan. Both AviClear and Gold PTT may be discussed if they are not yet pregnant, with full counselling about what should be avoided once pregnancy is confirmed.
- For women who are already pregnant, the clinic avoids systemic acne drugs and energy devices that are not recommended in pregnancy. In these cases, the focus shifts to local, non‑systemic treatments such as carefully selected Gold PTT protocols, topical care and lifestyle adjustments, always in coordination with the patient’s obstetrician.
Darker skin types
In patients with darker skin (higher Fitzpatrick types):
- Both AviClear and Gold PTT can be used when parameters are chosen carefully.
- AviClear’s wavelength does not primarily target melanin, and Gold PTT concentrates heat in the follicles rather than the surface, which helps reduce the risk of post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation when performed correctly.
- Dr Ee tailors energy levels and intervals to minimise downtime and pigment risk.
Expert Insight – Leadership in acne treatment Singapore
Looking back over years of managing complex acne and scars, including those of celebrities and public figures, Dr Ee summarises his core philosophy:
“My ethos is to reduce the need to start drugs that harm the body – drugs that can stress the liver, affect the bones or carry teratogenic risks for a developing fetus. If we can treat the sebaceous glands effectively with devices and good skincare, we should do that first.”
He also wants to correct one common misconception about acne treatment in Singapore:
“Many adults think their acne will eventually just go away. In reality, adult acne rarely disappears completely on its own. It may smoulder for years, constantly breaking out and leaving scars. Early treatment is almost always kinder to your skin than waiting and hoping it will stop.”
This long‑term, whole‑body perspective is why the clinic’s acne work attracts not only teens and young adults, but also professionals in their 30s, 40s and beyond who are finally ready to solve the problem properly.
Real‑world journeys: from celebrities to everyday patients
Over time, a number of public figures – including Mark Lee and other local personalities – have openly shared their experiences of tackling acne and scars with Dr Gerard Ee and The Clifford Clinic.
Alongside these well‑known faces, countless everyday patients have come forward with stories of:
- Years of stubborn acne that resisted multiple products and clinics
- Deep scarring and low self‑confidence
- Finally seeing a structured plan that combined AviClear, Gold PTT, AGNES and scar repair in a logical, stepwise way
These stories all reflect the same core approach:
- Diagnose accurately – what type of acne is this, and what is driving it?
- Target the glands – using AviClear, Gold PTT and/or AGNES in the right sequence.
- Repair the damage – with tailored scar treatments once breakouts are controlled.
- Protect the result – with long‑term topical maintenance and realistic lifestyle adjustments.
The bottom line
If you are searching for AviClear acne treatment in Singapore or want to understand whether Gold PTT acne treatment in Singapore is right for you, the real question is not, “Which machine is best?” but:
“Who can design the safest, most effective plan to treat my oil glands, protect my overall health and minimise scarring in the long run?”
At The Clifford Clinic, AviClear and Gold PTT are:
- Integrated into a comprehensive acne treatment Singapore ecosystem.
- Selected based on age, acne pattern, skin type and life stage, not marketing trends.
- Guided by Dr Gerard Ee’s clear ethos:
- minimise unnecessary systemic drugs,
- treat acne early,
- and prevent scars wherever possible.