It targets oil glands.
The 1726-nm wavelength heats sebaceous structures.
1726 nm Laser vs Comedone Extraction
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.
Comedone Extraction: A provider clears blackheads and whiteheads with a small tool. The result is immediate and temporary — pores refill within weeks unless a daily treatment changes them.
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 Comedone Extraction if…
Choose for an instant clear-out of blackheads, whiteheads or milia — temporary unless a daily treatment keeps pores clear.
- Stubborn blackheads or milia
- An event coming up
- You're also using a retinoid at home
Often combined
Can you have both?
Extractions are often done alongside a 1726 nm laser series to clear existing blackheads while the laser shrinks oil glands.
Key differences
● 1726 nm Laser
● Comedone Extraction
DowntimeNone → 2+ weeks
1–2 days
1–2 days
PainMinimal → Needs anesthesia or sedation
Moderate
Mild
Results showImmediately → 3+ months
3+ months
Immediately
How long it lastsWeeks → Years or permanent
1–2 years
Weeks
Visits neededOne → Every few months
A short series (2–3)
Every few months
Cost per visit$ → $$$$$
$$$$
$
ReversibleYes, can be undone → No, permanent
No, fades slowly
No, wears off
What is it?
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
What is it?
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 clears clogged pores.
Blackheads and whiteheads are removed by a clinician.
It helps selected plugs.
It does not address every cause of acne.
It is not for inflamed spots.
Nodules and cysts need a different plan.
Pressure can scar.
Excessive force can cause scarring or pigment change.
What it treats
Evidence level
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
Moderate evidenceSome supportive research
Acne
Reduces breakouts in early studies.
Oily Skin
Lowers oil production.
Blackheads
Clears them the same day.
Milia
Removes stubborn milia.
Limited evidenceEarly or small studies
—
Acne
Helps clogged pores alongside treatment.
Little evidence
Rosacea
Not studied for rosacea.
—
Not effective
Acne Scarring
Doesn't change scars.
Fungal Acne
These bumps aren't clogged pores.
Can make it worse
—
Rosacea
Squeezing worsens redness.
Treatment areas
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
● Comedone Extraction
Lighter skin
Low risk
Redness for a day or two.
Low risk
Brief redness.
Medium skin
Low risk
Cleared for all skin tones.
Low risk
Gentle technique matters.
Deeper skin
Some risk
Low overall, but ask about cooling settings and dark-mark risk.
Some risk
Squeezing can leave dark marks; choose an experienced provider.
How it works
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
How it works
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.
An accessible plug is selected: A clinician identifies a suitable comedone. The plug is carefully removed: Controlled extraction lifts out trapped keratin and sebum. The pore opening is cleared: Ongoing acne care helps reduce new blockages.
Schematic illustration. Technique and response vary. This explains a mechanism and does not specify treatment settings.
Before your treatment
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
2–4 weeks before
Not specified
Prep products: Some providers ask for a retinoid or salicylic acid first, which loosens plugs and makes extraction easier.
The week before
Sun: Avoid sunburn.
3 to 5 days before: Retinoids: Stop topical retinoids for 3 to 5 days if asked.
A few days before: Do not pick: No picking or squeezing at home.
Day of treatment
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
Before you arrive
Clean skin: Clean skin, no makeup.
Clean face: Come without makeup if you can.
Arrival & prep
Photos matter here, because progress is gradual.
Skin is cleaned and the provider decides which spots can be extracted.
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.
The provider presses around the pore with a metal loop or two swabs, opening whiteheads first with a tiny sterile needle.
You feel firm pinching at each spot. A full face takes 10 to 30 minutes. Blackheads are pressure more than pain; whiteheads and deeper plugs sting when opened, and a long run is tiring rather than sharp. A painful spot is not forced.
Before you leave
Red and slightly swollen, like mild sunburn.
Red, blotchy skin with pink rings where spots were, sometimes pinpoint scabs.
After your treatment
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
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.
Hours 2 to 6: Redness and small raised rings, sometimes into the next day, with occasional pinpoint scabs where a whitehead was opened.
Days 1 to 2: Redness mostly gone.
Days 2–7
Not specified
Days 3 to 7: Skin looks normal.
Weeks 2–4
Weeks 1 to 4: New spots are common, especially after the first session.
Not specified
Time to results
3–6 months after the last session
Immediately
How long results last
1–2 years in many; some need maintenance
Weeks; pores refill without daily treatment
Risks
Risks
- A flare still worsening past 6 weeks
- Dark patches
- Small blisters or crusts
- A brown mark that persists
- Inflamed spots after every session
Cost
Per session
In the US a three-session course runs about $2,500 to $4,500, sold as a package.
With a dermatologist it is often bundled into an acne visit at no extra charge.
Insurance
Insurance does not cover it — acne is medical, but this counts as elective.
Insurance sometimes covers it when billed as acne surgery at a medical dermatology visit.
Questions
1726 nm Laser
Comedone Extraction
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.
Does extraction get rid of blackheads for good?
No. It empties the pore that day. It refills over 4 to 8 weeks unless a daily retinoid changes how the pore behaves.
Is it better than doing it myself?
Mostly yes — technique and restraint. A provider uses sterile tools, opens closed spots properly, and stops when a spot resists. Home squeezing causes most brown marks and small scars.
Can they extract a cyst?
No. Deep, red, painful lumps have no opening to press through, and forcing one makes it worse. A cortisone injection is the answer.
Does it make pores smaller?
Only in appearance, and briefly. An empty pore looks smaller; pore size does not change.
Does it hurt?
Blackheads feel like firm pinching. Whiteheads sting for a second when opened. Uncomfortable rather than painful.
Keep exploring.
Procedure
Comedone Extraction
Procedure
1726 nm Laser
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