Compare · Procedures

1726 nm Laser vs Photodynamic 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.

Photodynamic Therapy: A light-activated drug applied in the office, then switched on with a lamp or laser. It is the strongest non-drug option for inflammatory acne, and the downtime is a real week.

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 Photodynamic Therapy, based on the entry’s treatment or equipment reference.
Choose ifKey differencesWhat is it?What it treatsTreatment areasSkin tonesHow it worksBefore your treatmentDay of treatmentAfter your treatmentRisksCostQuestionsRelated

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 Photodynamic Therapy if…

Choose to treat a whole area of sun damage at once — or as a strong non-drug option for stubborn acne — with a real week of downtime.

  • Many precancerous patches on the face or scalp
  • You can stay out of light for 48 hours
  • You can take a week of redness
Alternatives, not combined

Can you have both?

Both are in-office treatments for stubborn acne. Most people choose one; photodynamic therapy has more downtime and sun sensitivity.

Key differences

● 1726 nm Laser
● Photodynamic Therapy
DowntimeNone → 2+ weeks
1–2 days
3–7 days
PainMinimal → Needs anesthesia or sedation
Moderate
Moderate
Results showImmediately → 3+ months
3+ months
1–4 weeks
How long it lastsWeeks → Years or permanent
1–2 years
1–2 years
Visits neededOne → Every few months
A short series (2–3)
A short series (2–3)
Cost per visit$ → $$$$$
$$$$
$$
ReversibleYes, can be undone → No, permanent
No, fades slowly
No, permanent

What is it?

1726 nm Laser

Photodynamic 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 pairs medicine with light.

A photosensitizing medicine is activated by a set light exposure.

It treats precancers.

It is used for actinic keratoses and some superficial lesions.

It differs from LED therapy.

It is not ordinary LED or UV treatment.

Light avoidance is needed after.

Sunscreen alone may not prevent activation.

What it treats

Evidence level
1726 nm Laser
Photodynamic Therapy
Strong evidenceMost established uses
—
Existing educational image of Actinic Keratosis

Actinic Keratosis

Clears 75–90% of spots.

Moderate evidenceSome supportive research
Inflamed acne on light skin. The spots sit in a patch of pink, and the ring of redness around each one is easy to see. A few have a yellow-white head, and the skin between them is dry and flaking.

Acne

Reduces breakouts in early studies.

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

Oily Skin

Lowers oil production.

Existing educational image of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Treats superficial types.

Limited evidenceEarly or small studies
—
Inflamed acne on light skin. The spots sit in a patch of pink, and the ring of redness around each one is easy to see. A few have a yellow-white head, and the skin between them is dry and flaking.

Acne

Used for stubborn acne.

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

Rosacea

Not studied for rosacea.

—
Not effective
Acne scarring on light skin. Small sharply cut pits and broad shallow dips across a cheek, several sitting inside faint flat pink marks, with no active spots.

Acne Scarring

Doesn't change scars.

AI-generated educational illustration of Melanoma: 1. Melanoma Header — Light Skin; Lighter skin. Not a clinical photograph.

Melanoma

Needs excision.

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

Melasma

Light can darken patches.

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
● Photodynamic Therapy
Lighter skin
Low risk
Redness for a day or two.
Low risk
Redness and peeling.
Medium skin
Low risk
Cleared for all skin tones.
Some risk
Temporary darkening possible.
Deeper skin
Some risk
Low overall, but ask about cooling settings and dark-mark risk.
Some risk
Dark marks are more likely; strict light avoidance helps.

How it works

1726 nm Laser

Photodynamic 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.
Photodynamic Therapy mechanism diagram. A photosensitizer is applied: The selected medicine accumulates in the prepared treatment area. Light activates the medicine: A matched light regimen produces reactive molecules. Selected cells are damaged: Inflammation and healing follow; treatment response varies.
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.

A photosensitizer is applied: The selected medicine accumulates in the prepared treatment area. Light activates the medicine: A matched light regimen produces reactive molecules. Selected cells are damaged: Inflammation and healing follow; treatment response varies.

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

Before your treatment

1726 nm Laser
Photodynamic Therapy
2–4 weeks before
Not specified

2 weeks before: Sun and tanning: Avoid sun and tanning for 2 weeks.

Before you book: Time off: Clear several days, especially the 48 hours after, when you must stay out of sunlight and bright indoor light.

The week before

Sun: Avoid sunburn.

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

5 to 7 days before: Actives: Stop retinoids and exfoliating acids.

Day of treatment

1726 nm Laser
Photodynamic Therapy
Before you arrive

Clean skin: Clean skin, no makeup.

Not specified
Arrival & prep

Photos matter here, because progress is gradual.

Photos, consent covering the off-label use and the downtime, and a medication review.

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, sometimes with microdermabrasion or an acetone wipe, so the drug soaks in evenly.

The solution goes on and you wait 20 minutes to 3 hours in a dim room. Then eye shields go on and you sit under a blue or red light for 8 to 20 minutes, or a laser or IPL is passed over. Stinging builds and peaks at the end; cold air helps.

Before you leave

Red and slightly swollen, like mild sunburn.

The least comfortable procedure on this list.

After your treatment

1726 nm Laser
Photodynamic 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.

First 48 hours: Stay strictly out of sunlight and bright indoor light; daylight through a window can trigger a severe reaction.

Days 2–7
Not specified

Days 4 to 10: Peeling and flaking, sometimes in sheets.

Weeks 2–4

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

Weeks 1 to 2: An acne flare is common in the first week or two, before improvement starts.

Time to results

3–6 months after the last session

2–4 weeks

How long results last

1–2 years in many; some need maintenance

Treated spots clear; new ones may form

Risks

Risks
  • A flare still worsening past 6 weeks
  • Dark patches
  • Small blisters or crusts
  • Dark patches
  • Prolonged redness
  • A cold sore outbreak

Cost

Per session

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

In the US, PDT for acne generally costs about $400 to $1,500 per session, so a course commonly lands between $800 and $4,000.

Insurance

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

Insurance does not cover PDT for acne, because the approved indication is precancerous sun damage.

Questions

1726 nm Laser

Photodynamic 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 photodynamic therapy approved for acne?

Not in the US. It is FDA-approved for precancerous sun spots; using it for acne is off-label. That is legal and common, but it means no standard protocol and results that vary between clinics.

How bad is the downtime really?

Plan for 5 to 7 days of a visibly red, then swollen, then peeling face, with the worst in the first 48 hours. It is closer to a medium-depth peel than a laser facial.

Why do I have to stay out of the sun for 48 hours?

The drug is still in your skin, and sunlight — including through a car or office window — activates it and can cause a severe burn. This is the most important instruction of the treatment.

Does it cure acne?

No. Improvement typically lasts 6 to 12 months and repeat courses are often needed. It does not treat scars or existing brown marks.

Is it safe on deeper skin tones?

It can be done, but the risk of lasting dark patches is meaningfully higher, because the treatment works by causing strong inflammation. A shorter incubation, a lower light dose and an experienced provider make a large difference.

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