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.
Key facts
Treats
Acne and excess oil
Recovery
Redness for a day or two
Treatment plan
Often 3 sessions, 3–4 weeks apart
Typical cost
About $2,500–4,500 per course
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.
What it treats
Acne
Reduces breakouts in early studies.
Oily Skin
Lowers oil production.
Acne Scarring
Doesn't change scars.
Rosacea
Not studied for rosacea.
Treatment areas
1726 nm Laser
Face and back; the acne-affected treatment area is assessed individually.
1726 nm Laser
Face and back; the acne-affected treatment area is assessed individually.
Skin tones
Lighter skin
Low risk
Redness for a day or two.
Medium skin
Low risk
Cleared for all skin tones.
Deeper skin
Some risk
Low overall, but ask about cooling settings and dark-mark risk.
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.
Before your treatment
The week before
Sun: Avoid sunburn.
3 to 5 days before: Retinoids: Stop topical retinoids for 3 to 5 days if asked.
Day of treatment
Before you arrive
Clean skin: Clean skin, no makeup.
Arrival & prep
Photos matter here, because progress is gradual.
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.
Before you leave
Red and slightly swollen, like mild sunburn.
After your treatment
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.
Weeks 2–4
Weeks 1 to 4: New spots are common, especially after the first session.
Time to results
3–6 months after the last session
How long results last
1–2 years in many; some need maintenance
Risks
Used correctly, side effects are mild and short-lived.
A flare still worsening past 6 weeks
Reassess rather than finish the course.
Dark patches
Heat can still cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on deeper skin tones. Treat early.
Small blisters or crusts
The settings were too aggressive. Turn them down next session.
Cost
Typical cost
About $2,500–4,500 per course
Pricing
In the US a three-session course runs about $2,500 to $4,500, sold as a package.
Insurance
Insurance does not cover it — acne is medical, but this counts as elective.
Alternatives
Isotretinoin
The other treatment that shrinks oil glands, far more effective and far cheaper, at the cost of months of tablets, blood tests and strict pregnancy rules. Avoiding all of that is the laser's case.
Photodynamic therapy
Also targets oil glands and works faster per course, with a week of genuine downtime each session and more caution on deeper skin tones.
Spironolactone
A daily tablet that turns down oil production in adult women for a few dollars a month. It has to be kept up; the laser course ends.
Fractional laser
Different target. It resurfaces scars and texture and does nothing to active acne, so it is a later step rather than an alternative.
Blue light masks
These target acne bacteria at the surface, not oil glands. Modest short-term benefit in mild inflammatory acne, and a completely different mechanism.
Topical retinoid plus benzoyl peroxide
Cheap, well studied, and the standard first step. Slower and needs daily use, but the evidence behind it is far stronger.
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.
Related
Acne
Photodynamic Therapy
Rosacea
Acne Scarring
Spironolactone
1726 nm Laser vs Photodynamic Therapy
1726 nm Laser vs Blue Light Therapy
1726 nm Laser vs Chemical Peel
1726 nm Laser vs Comedone Extraction
1726 nm Laser vs Cortisone Injection
1726 nm Laser vs LED Light Therapy
