1726 nm Laser vs Glycolic Acid Peel

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.

Glycolic Acid Peel: A chemical peel that uses glycolic acid, the smallest of the fruit acids. It brightens dull skin, softens rough texture and fades flat brown marks. It works on the surface only, and it has to be neutralized on time.

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 Glycolic Acid Peel, 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 Glycolic Acid Peel if…

Choose to brighten dull skin and fade flat brown marks with little or no downtime.

Dull skin or rough texture
Flat brown marks or clogged pores
You want little downtime

Fine together

Can you have both?

A glycolic peel can be added for blackheads and marks during a 1726 nm laser series. Space them at least 2 weeks apart.

Key differences

● 1726 nm Laser

● Glycolic Acid Peel

DowntimeNone → 2+ weeks

1–2 days

PainMinimal → Needs anesthesia or sedation

Moderate

Mild

Results showImmediately → 3+ months

3+ months

Within days

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

What is it?

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

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 is a supervised peel.

A glycolic acid peel is an alpha-hydroxy acid exfoliation.

The percentage is not the whole story.

Acidity, contact time and technique matter.

High-strength home use is unsafe.

The FDA warns against unsupervised strong peels.

History matters.

Irritation, recent procedures, herpes and pigment risk are reviewed.

What it treats

Evidence level

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

Strong evidenceMost established uses

—

Dull Skin

Brightens quickly.

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.

Flat tan patches with soft irregular edges across the forehead and upper cheek of an adult with light skin, the surface completely smooth.

Melasma

Helps alongside lightening creams.

Acne

Clears clogged pores.

Sun Spots

Fades spots with a series.

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.

Ice Pick Scars

Too superficial.

Can make it worse

—

Rosacea

Stings and triggers flushing.

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

● Glycolic Acid Peel

Lighter skin

Low risk

Redness for a day or two.

Low risk

Light flaking.

Medium skin

Low risk

Cleared for all skin tones.

Low risk

Start at lower strengths.

Deeper skin

Some risk

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

Some risk

Over-strong or over-long peels can leave dark marks; start low.

How it works

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

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.

Glycolic Acid Peel mechanism diagram. The peel is applied: A clinician selects the formulation for the skin and goal. Outer cells loosen: Glycolic acid reduces cohesion in the superficial skin layers. The surface renews: Controlled exfoliation can improve selected superficial concerns.

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.

The peel is applied: A clinician selects the formulation for the skin and goal. Outer cells loosen: Glycolic acid reduces cohesion in the superficial skin layers. The surface renews: Controlled exfoliation can improve selected superficial concerns.

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

Before your treatment

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

2–4 weeks before

Not specified

2 weeks before: Sun and tanning: No tanning or sunburn for 2 weeks beforehand, and sunscreen daily.

Pigment cream: On deeper skin tones, and in anyone who marks easily, many providers pre-treat for 2 to 4 weeks with a pigment-blocking cream to lower the chance of dark patches.

Before you book: Events: Do not book a first peel in the days before an event.

The week before

Sun: Avoid sunburn.

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

Actives and hair removal: Stop retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene, retinol), benzoyl peroxide and exfoliating acids 3 to 5 days before.

Actives and hair removal: Stop waxing, threading and hair removal creams on the area for a week.

Day of treatment

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

Before you arrive

Clean skin: Clean skin, no makeup.

Not specified

Arrival & prep

Photos matter here, because progress is gradual.

Skin is checked and usually photographed, and you confirm what you stopped using.

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.

Skin is cleaned and degreased, eyes and lips protected, and the acid brushed on in a set order.

The provider watches for even pinkness, then neutralizes or floods the skin with water. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The sting is hot and prickly, climbs over 2 to 5 minutes, then stops seconds after neutralizing. Say so if it turns to burning, which is the signal to stop early.

Before you leave

Red and slightly swollen, like mild sunburn.

Pink, tight skin, a bit like mild windburn.

After your treatment

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

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.

Day 1 to 3: Skin feels dry and rough and can look slightly darker before it sheds.

Days 2–7

Not specified

Day 3 to 5: Flaking finishes and skin looks brighter underneath.

Weeks 2–4

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

Week 1 to 2: A few spots in the first week or two as clogged pores clear are common, and settle on their own.

Time to results

3–6 months after the last session

Within days

How long results last

1–2 years in many; some need maintenance

Weeks to months with skincare

Risks

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

Most side effects of a superficial glycolic peel are mild and expected
Dark patches
Prolonged redness
A cold sore outbreak
Persistent itching or rash

Cost

Per session

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

In the US a superficial glycolic peel usually runs about $100 to $250 a session, depending on the city, a medical office versus a spa, and whether it is bundled with a facial.

Insurance

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

Insurance does not cover peels done for brightness, texture or post-acne marks.

Questions

1726 nm Laser

Glycolic Acid Peel

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.

How is a glycolic peel different from a salicylic peel?

Glycolic is water-soluble and works on the surface, so it suits dullness, rough texture and brown marks. Salicylic is oil-soluble and gets inside the pore, so it suits blackheads and whiteheads. Some providers blend the two.

What does neutralizing mean, and why does it matter?

Glycolic keeps working until it is stopped, either with a basic solution or by flooding the skin with water. The provider watches a timer and the skin at the same time. Peels left on too long are how burns happen.

Is a higher percentage better?

Not on its own. The pH and the contact time matter as much as the number. A well-judged 30% peel can do more than a careless 70% one.

Will I actually peel?

Often only lightly, and sometimes not at all. Fine flaking for a day or two is usual, and no flaking does not mean it failed.

How many will I need?

4 to 6 peels, 2 to 4 weeks apart, then maintenance every couple of months. One peel gives roughly a week of brightness.

Can I have one if I use tretinoin?

Yes, and skin on a retinoid usually peels more evenly. Stop it about 3 to 5 days before and restart once flaking has finished.

Dermapedia on YouTube