Tired of battling acne? Try AviClear Acne Treatment to permanently get rid of pesky pimple flareups for long-term clear skin

What is AviClear and how can it help achieve long term acne free skin? AviClear is a laser-based acne management treatment that aims to offers a permanent solution to acne flare ups by suppressing your sebaceous glands (oil glands). As of the date this blog post was published, AviClear remains the only FDA approved laser device designed to treat mild, moderate, and severe acne that is safe for use on all skin types, including skin rich in melanin.

AviClear as a means to suppress sebaceous glands

Sebaceous glands are responsible for sebum (oil) production, and AviClear curbs sebum production through damaging the oil gland’s ability to function. Specifically, the AviClear Laser System utilises an infrared diode laser to cause controlled thermal damage to the oil glands, slowing down their activity and shrinking their size.

Benefits of causing intentional tissue damage, targeted breakdown of problematic sebaceous glands

Causing controlled damage actually is not new in the world of medical aesthetics. Many popular and well-known treatments like Gold Photothermal Therapy (PTT) and Secret RF rely on causing controlled damage in the treatment areas to bring about beneficial effects like reducing sebum gland activity or stimulating collagen and elastin production respectively.

In the case of AviClear, it utilises a 1726 nm wavelength laser to penetrate the skin and selectively target and breakdown oil glands without harming the surrounding skin tissue, reducing sebum (oil) production.

However, we cannot stress enough that the keywords here are “controlled” and “selective” as not all damage is good damage. Always ensure that you are consulting a trained and licensed medical doctor or dermatologist such as our team at The Clifford Clinic, before you undergo or proceed with any treatments that involve inducing selective damage to your skin or body.

If you would like additional reading material about the specifics of the AviClear Laser System, we recommend reading our medical service page on AviClear Acne Treatment.

What sets AviClear Laser System apart from other lasers

The term “laser” is a buzzword when it comes to medical aesthetic treatments. If you search “laser for acne” on the Internet, a myriad of different treatments are likely to show up in the search results. Popular laser treatments that may show up include the Pico Laser, the Q-Switch Laser, and/or the V Beam Laser.

The main difference between AviClear and other popular laser-based treatments is AviClear’s ability to address the root cause of acne and not just its symptoms. We will elaborate more on this in a later section.

Majority of the well know laser treatments, such as the popular Pico Laser, are often used to address the symptoms and aftermath of an acne breakout; Pico Laser, for example, is used to target irregular pigmentation and treat acne scars, and while it is very effective in doing so, it cannot directly correct the root cause of acne: problematic sebaceous glands/over production of sebum (oil).

If you are interested in the different types of laser-based treatments used for reducing acne scars, targeting stubborn pigmentation, improving skin laxity, or even tattoo removal, you may check out our clinic’s overview on the various treatments available.

AviClear Vs other treatments that target oil glands

As mentioned above, Gold PTT is another treatment that targets the sebaceous glands. While the intended outcome of Gold PTT and AviClear may seem similar, the mechanism by which each treatment achieves this goal is very different. AviClear uses a laser to directly and precisely damage and shrink the sebaceous glands while Gold PTT modifies the sebaceous glands via selective photothermolysis; Gold nanoparticles are applied to the skin and allowed to penetrate into the follicles, the gold particles are then heated by a dermatology laser to thermally lyse (breakdown with heat) the sebaceous glands.

It is worth noting that as the success of Gold PTT treatment depends on the penetration of the gold nanoparticles into the follicles/oil glands, it is very important to choose an establishment/clinic that has the appropriate equipment to properly perform the gold nanoparticles application step during the treatment. At the Clifford Clinic and Surgery, we use Bellasonic Ultrasound to pulse the gold particles into the oil glands to ensure proper penetration and coverage.

AGNES Acne Treatment is another treatment that targets sebaceous glands to reduce oil production and treat acne lesions. Our Medical Director, Dr Gerard Ee, has written a very comprehensive summary on the key differences between AviClear and AGNES Acne Treatment on his blog. We would like to direct you to read his article if you are interested in finding out more.

Pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris – excess sebum production as root cause of acne

Common misconceptions and myths surrounding acne breakouts are that using makeup can cause or worsen acne, or that acne occurs if the skin is not washed or exfoliated enough. In the case of the latter, the opposite is actually true: over exfoliating/scrubbing the skin or using harsh cleansers and soaps can irritate the skin and worsen/cause a breakout.

The reality is, the factors mentioned above have little to no impact on acne. Current medical consensus is that the main causes of acne are excess oil production, hormones (sebum production stimulated by androgens), clogging of hair follicles by oil and dead skin cells, bacterial overgrowth, and inflammation.

When looking at main factors listed above, everything circles back to excess sebum production as the underlying and root cause of acne; Excess oil clogs pores, clogged pores create an environment that Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes, a gram-positive bacterium linked to acne. Also formerly known as Proprionibacterium acnes) thrive in, and the flourishing of C. acnes in the pores in turn causes inflammation.

How AviClear fights the root cause of acne

AviClear fights acne at its roots while addressing its visible symptoms. Pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, and cystic lesions are all symptoms of acne. Treating the symptoms using topical medication/creams or antibiotics can help relieve discomfort or improve appearance in the short term and regular facial appointments can help to unclog pores, but unless the root cause of the problem is addressed, outbreaks can always re-occur.

AviClear as a permanent solution for acne

The AviClear Laser System is specifically designed to target and suppress the sebaceous glands, thermally damaging them to impair their activity; Impaired gland activity results in a reduction in excess sebum production, alleviating current breakouts, while also preventing future breakouts. AviClear is thus suitable for patients seeking a long-term solution for achieving clear skin.

Summary of the benefits of AviClear

• Effective for all acne types – mild, moderate, to severe.
• Effective for all skin types – oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin.
• Safe for use on all skin complexion – AviClear can be used to treat all Fitzpatrick skin types, including skin rich in melanin.
• Long lasting results – directly targets the root cause of acne, permanently altering sebum gland activity.
• A long-term solution to acne – treats current breakouts and prevents future breakouts.

In conclusion

If you would like to find out even more about AviClear Laser Treatment or if you would like a professional medical opinion on whether AviClear Acne Treatment is suitable for you, don’t hesitate to stop by our clinic for a consultation session with one of our doctors.