1726 nm Laser vs Blue Light Therapy

1726 nm Laser: A laser tuned to heat and shrink oil glands. It is the first laser class cleared to treat acne itself, and it works on all skin tones. Three sessions, and results arrive slowly.

Blue Light Therapy: Visible blue light, around 415 nm, shone on the skin for mild inflammatory acne. No drug, no ultraviolet, and no downtime. It is not photodynamic therapy, which applies a drug first and is a far stronger treatment.

Reviewed by Dr. Schwarz, Board-Certified Dermatologist
Last updated: 10/22/2026

Editorial illustration for 1726 nm Laser, based on the entry’s treatment or equipment reference.

Editorial illustration for Blue Light Therapy, based on the entry’s treatment or equipment reference.

Choose if Key differences What is it?What it treats Treatment areas Skin tones How it works Before your treatment Day of treatment After your treatment Risks Cost Questions Related

Choose 1726 nm Laser if…

Choose for ongoing acne when you want a drug-free option that treats the oil gland itself, and can wait months for results.

Persistent acne despite creams
You want to avoid or reduce pills
You can budget for a 3-session package

Choose Blue Light Therapy if…

Choose for mild inflammatory acne when you want a painless, drug-free add-on with no downtime — expect modest results.

Mild red spots, not blackheads
You want to avoid medicines
You can attend twice a week

Alternatives, not combined

Can you have both?

Both are in-office options for acne. The 1726 nm laser targets oil glands for longer-lasting control; blue light is milder and needs frequent sessions. Most people choose one.

Key differences

● 1726 nm Laser

● Blue Light Therapy

DowntimeNone → 2+ weeks

1–2 days

None

PainMinimal → Needs anesthesia or sedation

Moderate

Minimal

Results showImmediately → 3+ months

3+ months

1–3 months

How long it lastsWeeks → Years or permanent

1–2 years

Weeks

Visits neededOne → Every few months

A short series (2–3)

A longer series (4–6+)

Cost per visit$ → $$$$$

$$$$

ReversibleYes, can be undone → No, permanent

No, fades slowly

No, wears off

What is it?

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

What is it?

It targets oil glands.

The 1726-nm wavelength heats sebaceous structures.

It is a newer acne treatment.

Studies report improvement in some patients.

It is not a guaranteed cure.

Device, cooling and patient selection matter.

It should not delay treatment.

Severe acne and scarring need effective care.

It means two different treatments.

It can be light alone for acne or part of photodynamic therapy.

The evidence differs.

Discomfort, results and aftercare vary between them.

Ask about medicines.

A photosensitizing medicine changes the treatment.

Aftercare differs.

Light avoidance is needed after photodynamic therapy.

What it treats

Evidence level

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

Strong evidenceMost established uses

—

Actinic Keratosis

Activates PDT medicine for sun damage.

Moderate evidenceSome supportive research

Acne

Reduces breakouts in early studies.

Visible sebum shine and natural pores on the nose and cheek.

Oily Skin

Lowers oil production.

—

Limited evidenceEarly or small studies

—

Acne

Modest reduction in inflamed spots.

Little evidence

Redness and fine superficial vessels across a light-skinned cheek and nose.

Rosacea

Not studied for rosacea.

—

Not effective

Acne Scarring

Doesn't change scars.

Acne Scarring

Doesn't change scars.

dark keratin plugs in dilated pores on the nose and adjacent left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on light skin.

Blackheads

Doesn't clear clogged pores.

Treatment areas

Face and back; the acne-affected treatment area is assessed individually.

Face; the selected area depends on the concern and treatment plan.

Skin tones

Skin tone

● 1726 nm Laser

● Blue Light Therapy

Lighter skin

Low risk

Redness for a day or two.

Low risk

No ultraviolet.

Medium skin

Low risk

Cleared for all skin tones.

Low risk

No pigment change expected.

Deeper skin

Some risk

Low overall, but ask about cooling settings and dark-mark risk.

Low risk

No pigment change expected.

How it works

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

How it works

1726 nm Laser mechanism diagram. Laser energy reaches sebaceous tissue: A selected device delivers 1726 nm light with skin cooling. Sebaceous structures absorb light: The treatment creates a targeted thermal response. Acne activity may decrease: Improvement develops over time and varies among patients.

Blue Light Therapy mechanism diagram. Blue light reaches the skin: A selected light regimen exposes the treatment area. Bacterial porphyrins absorb light: Reactive molecules can damage susceptible acne bacteria. Inflammatory acne may improve: Response varies; blue light alone is different from drug-assisted PDT.

Diagram explanation

Laser energy reaches sebaceous tissue: A selected device delivers 1726 nm light with skin cooling. Sebaceous structures absorb light: The treatment creates a targeted thermal response. Acne activity may decrease: Improvement develops over time and varies among patients.

Schematic illustration. Technique and response vary. This explains a mechanism and does not specify treatment settings.

Blue light reaches the skin: A selected light regimen exposes the treatment area. Bacterial porphyrins absorb light: Reactive molecules can damage susceptible acne bacteria. Inflammatory acne may improve: Response varies; blue light alone is different from drug-assisted PDT.

Schematic illustration. Technique and response vary. This explains a mechanism and does not specify treatment settings.

Before your treatment

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

2–4 weeks before

Not specified

Before you book: What is included: Ask whether a drug goes on the skin first.

The week before

Sun: Avoid sunburn.

3 to 5 days before: Retinoids: Stop topical retinoids for 3 to 5 days if asked.

Not specified

Day of treatment

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

Before you arrive

Clean skin: Clean skin, no makeup.

Clean face: Makeup, sunscreen and thick moisturizer block the light.

Clean face: Come with a clean, bare face.

Arrival & prep

Photos matter here, because progress is gradual.

Skin is cleansed.

Treatment

Eye shields on, the handpiece pressed on section by section.

Each pulse is a deep, hot snap against a cold plate. A full face takes about 30 minutes, often with a faint burnt smell from surface hairs. It hurts more than most laser facials, and numbing cream only takes the edge off.

Opaque goggles go on, the panel sits a few inches from your face, and the light runs 10 to 20 minutes.

Very bright even through closed eyelids, and mildly warm. It does not hurt. A mild headache or eye strain afterward happens occasionally, usually from loose goggles.

Before you leave

Red and slightly swollen, like mild sunburn.

Skin may look slightly flushed for an hour.

After your treatment

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

First 24 hours

Redness, warmth and mild swelling for a few hours to a day.

Days 1 to 3: Redness settles; skin may feel rough or dry.

Days 1 to 2: Slight dryness or tightness.

After photodynamic therapy: A drug on the skin first changes everything — several days of redness, swelling and peeling, and no daylight for about 48 hours.

Weeks 2–4

Weeks 1 to 4: New spots are common, especially after the first session.

Weeks 1 to 2: Inflamed spots settle faster.

Time to results

3–6 months after the last session

4–8 weeks

How long results last

1–2 years in many; some need maintenance

Weeks to months

Risks

A flare still worsening past 6 weeks
Dark patches
Small blisters or crusts

Darkening
Persistent redness or stinging
Headaches or eye strain after sessions
A rash after sessions
Long term

Cost

Per session

In the US a three-session course runs about $2,500 to $4,500, sold as a package.

In the US, blue light alone is one of the cheapest in-office treatments, often an add-on to a facial or sold in packages, commonly well under $100 a session.

Insurance

Insurance does not cover it — acne is medical, but this counts as elective.

Insurance almost never covers blue light for acne, which counts as cosmetic.

Questions

1726 nm Laser

Blue Light Therapy

Individual Questions

Is AviClear or Accure better?

No head-to-head trial exists. Both use the same wavelength with similar results. Accure adds real-time temperature monitoring; AviClear has been in use longer. Operator experience matters more than the device.

Does it replace Accutane?

Not for everyone. Isotretinoin is more reliable and durable for severe acne, and far cheaper. The laser suits people who cannot or will not take it, or whose moderate acne failed topicals.

Why did my acne get worse?

A flare in the first few weeks is expected — damaged glands empty out and inflammation rises before it falls. It usually settles by week 4 to 6.

How long do results last?

Improvement holds out to one and two years in many patients, but the data is limited and mostly industry-funded. Some need maintenance. Nobody can promise permanence yet.

Can it be done on deeper skin tones?

Yes. It targets oil, not pigment, so it is one of the few acne lasers cleared for all skin types including the deepest. Heat can still leave dark patches, so settings and aftercare matter.

Is blue light therapy the same as photodynamic therapy?

No, and this is the most common mix-up. Photodynamic therapy puts a photosensitizing drug on the skin and waits an hour or more before the light. That drug causes several days of redness, swelling and peeling. Blue light alone has no drug and no downtime.

Does it work for acne?

For small inflamed spots, modestly. Trials show fewer inflamed lesions over several weeks. It does little for blackheads and whiteheads, does not reach cysts, and is weaker than benzoyl peroxide.

How long does it take to see anything?

Studies measure change at four to twelve weeks with two sessions a week. Eight weeks is a fair test.

Is it safe for eyes?

The devices are bright, which is why goggles are used. Keep them on the whole session, and ask about eye protection if you have a retinal condition or past eye surgery.

Can I use it with a home LED mask?

Yes, though doing both at once adds little. A home device used consistently is often more practical than a course of appointments, and the LED light therapy page covers that evidence.

Will it help my melasma?

No, and it may make it worse. Visible light drives pigment in skin prone to melasma, which needs pigment treatment and daily tinted mineral sunscreen.

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