I Tried AviClear—A New Laser Treatment For Acne—And It Made a Big Difference
Dealing with stubborn acne can be a pain, so when the opportunity came up for me to try AviClear, it felt like a no-brainer. AviClear is the first FDA-approved laser for acne—it targets your oil glands to get rid of acne long-term. The breakthrough treatment is touted as an alternative to Accutane, and I was told it would clear my hormonal and stress-induced acne in just three 30-minute sessions.
I made an appointment to see celebrity cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank to try the treatment. Upon arriving at his office, which looks like something out of Architectural Digest, I met Jennifer Kennedy, RN, who would be performing the treatment, and Dr. Frank, who explained what I should expect from the three-session treatment. Ahead, discover everything you need to know about AviClear.
What Is AviClear?
“AviClear is the first FDA-cleared laser treatment for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe acne,” says Dr. Frank. “Acne forms when sebum, the oily substance on the skin, combines with dead skin cells and clogs pores. AviClear targets acne at the source. This revolutionary laser treatment uses a 1726 nm wavelength to selectively target the sebaceous glands to damage the sebocytes and suppress sebum production,” he explains.
Dr. Alexiades explains that AviClear is the first laser that is safe and effective across all skin types. “Much like Accutane, this is the only treatment where results continue to improve for months up to a year at least following the last treatment,” she says. Additionally, she notes that not only does it treat active acne and prevent new acne from forming, but clinical studies have also shown improvement with acne scars.
Benefits of AviClear
Reduction in breakout duration
Milder breakouts
Improvement in skin appearance
Can treat face and body acne
“After completing the treatment series, patients can expect a reduction in breakouts, as well as an overall improvement in skin appearance,” Dr. Frank says. “Future breakouts will be less frequent, shorter, and milder overall.” Cutera, the global aesthetics device company that created and supplies AviClear devices to aesthetic practices, recently released data on the treatment’s long-lasting effects. “90% of patients had a visible improvement in their acne at 6 months, and 12-month clinical findings show this improvement increases to 92%, confirming the continual improvement of acne clearance and skin quality over time,” Dr. Frank explains. The benefits of the treatment will continue for months after the third and final treatment; as time goes on, your skin will get clearer.
AviClear also helps to treat pesky monthly hormonal breakouts that many of us experience. Dr. Frank points out that the majority of his patients are in their late 20s and 30s and are tired of dealing with breakouts.
Though not as common, Dr. Frank says the benefits of AviClear can also go beyond the face. “We have had patients get their backs and chests treated, as well,” he notes. “AviClear is truly the acne treatment for almost anyone, but of course, I always recommend consulting with a dermatologist to see if you are a good candidate.”
How to Prepare
Aside from arriving at your AviClear appointment sans makeup, Dr. Kseniya Kobets, director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care, says, “Patients should avoid any procedures or skincare that would irritate or exfoliate the skin, such as peels or other lasers within the last four to six weeks.”
What to Expect
Though I have only had two sessions of AviClear and will return for my third and final treatment in a month, you will see significant results after your second session. After Dr. Frank explained what to expect from the treatment, he and Kennedy left the exam room while I changed into a robe. Before I sat in the procedure chair, Kennedy handed me a clear shower cap and wrapped a towel around my neck. She then proceeded to clean my face with alcohol and acetone. Dr. Kobets explains that alcohol and acetone are used because the skin needs to be degreased of oil for the laser to do its job.
The laser presses into your skin and uses AviCool, which maintains the skin’s temperature throughout the treatment to minimize discomfort but doesn’t prevent what Kennedy calls “spice.” As she pressed the laser into my face while continuously dousing my face with water, the laser would create a snapping sensation (or “spice”). With each pulse of the laser, I could not predict whether or not I would feel the spice. I wouldn’t say it was painful; instead, the unpredictability of the snap is what made me feel uncomfortable. There are certain parts of the face where you are more likely to feel the laser, for example, around your chin, cheek, and nose—the places where you are more likely to experience acne. Also, the laser can feel even spicier depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle.
As she talked me through the experience, the treatment was over before I knew it. After Kennedy was finished, she handed me a mirror so I could get a good look at my face, which after each session was not as red as I thought it would be. Then, she left to allow me to get dressed and returned with a single dose of an antibiotic to prevent inflammation and a single treatment dose of Valtrex. Though used to treat cold sores, it is given after each session as a precaution, even if you don’t suffer from them, as the laser can trigger a breakout.
Before + After
The redness in my face quickly disappeared after the treatment. In the days following my first session, I noticed I looked slightly swollen but was completely unbothered by it. However, by day three post-AviClear, my poor face started to purge around my cheek, chin, and jawline.
“Some patients may experience skin flare-ups a few days following each treatment, but this is nothing to be worried about and does not mean the treatment isn’t working,” Dr. Frank explains. Though unsurprised by the purge, I felt the need to switch out my regular vitamin C serum for Skinceuticals Silymarin CF to speed up my breakout recovery.
As the weeks went on, my breakouts calmed down, and I noticed my skin looked brighter and felt smoother, and any residual dark spots from healed acne had disappeared. I did notice, though, that my skin was just a little on the drier side. After my second AviClear treatment and the days following, I did not experience an acne purge; rather, just one or two small breakouts on my chin. “The purging tends to diminish after each treatment, but each experience can be individual,” Dr. Frank says. I predict I’ll be completely purge-free by my third and final treatment next month.
Potential Side Effects
AviClear is safe for all skin types and has minimal to no side effects except a little post-treatment redness that dissipates within a few hours. Dr. Frank says there is no downtime with the treatment and that you can even apply makeup several hours after treatment if need be.
The Cost
The average cost for three sessions of AviClear is around $3000, with each session costing around $1000. Cutera also offers monthly financing for AviClear, starting at $99 monthly. Three sessions spaced 30 days apart are recommended to see optimal results from the treatment.
Aftercare
Dr. Alexiades recommends stopping topical medications, such as retinoids, for 2-3 days post-treatment, avoiding the sun as much as possible, and wearing sunscreen as you recover from the laser treatment. Dr. Frank also recommends waiting a year after the third treatment before considering additional treatments.
The Final Takeaway
After two treatments, I can confidently say that AviClear delivers on its promise of clearer skin by targeting acne right at its source. After just two 30-minute sessions, I have already noticed the acne around my jawline, chin, and cheeks disappear, and I look forward to seeing my skin after my third and final treatment. With no downtime or side effects, AviClear is a must-try treatment for anyone with acne. I just wish this treatment had been available during my teenage years.
