AviClear: The First Laser That Treats Acne at the Root, Not Just the Breakout
“We believe people deserve honest conversations, even when it means saying, ‘You’ve tried everything on the shelf — but nothing on the shelf was ever going to fix this.’ So this week, we want to talk about AviClear, the first FDA-cleared laser that treats acne where it actually starts: the oil gland itself.”
- Bare Ur Beauty Medical Spa & Wellness
Can I tell you about one of the most common conversations we have at BUB?
Someone sits down across from me and lists it all off — the cleansers, the spot treatments, a round of antibiotics, maybe even Accutane years ago. They’ve genuinely done the work. And yet, every few weeks, the same breakouts show up in the same spots.
That’s usually the moment I bring up AviClear.
It’s the first FDA-cleared laser treatment built specifically for acne, and it doesn’t work like anything else we offer. Instead of managing symptoms, it goes after the actual source of most persistent acne: the oil gland producing too much sebum in the first place.
Let’s talk through what it actually is, how it works, and why it’s become one of the most exciting tools we have for clients who feel like they’ve tried everything.
What AviClear Actually Is
AviClear is a laser device that earned FDA clearance in 2022 for the long-term treatment of mild to severe inflammatory acne — the first energy-based device ever cleared specifically for that purpose.
Here’s what makes it different: most acne treatments work on bacteria, inflammation, or clogged pores. AviClear works on the oil gland itself. It uses a 1726 nm wavelength to selectively heat and reduce the activity of the sebaceous gland, the structure responsible for producing the excess oil that feeds acne in the first place. Less oil production tends to mean fewer clogged pores, less bacterial overgrowth, and fewer breakouts, over time.
In plain terms: instead of treating acne after it shows up, AviClear turns down the source that keeps producing it.
What We See at BUB
The clients who bring up AviClear tend to have one thing in common: they’re tired. Tired of cycling through products, tired of breakouts that come back the moment they stop a medication, tired of being told to “just be patient” with a routine that isn’t actually working.
A lot of them are adults dealing with hormonal acne along the jawline and chin — the kind that doesn’t respond well to the acne products made for a teenager’s T-zone. Others have been on oral medication for years and are simply ready for something that doesn’t require a daily pill to keep working. That’s the pattern that tells us it’s worth having the AviClear conversation.
We Don’t Guess — We Assess
AviClear isn’t the right fit for every kind of acne, and it isn’t the right fit for every person — which is exactly why we don’t recommend it on a first glance.
Before we ever suggest it, we sit down and talk through your history: what you’ve tried, what triggers your breakouts, whether they’re hormonal, cystic, or surface-level. We use our Skin Analyzer to get a clearer picture of what’s happening beneath the surface. And we screen for the handful of situations where AviClear isn’t appropriate, like pregnancy or active skin cancer treatment.
Only once we’ve actually confirmed what we’re dealing with do we talk about whether AviClear belongs in your plan.
What to Expect
AviClear is done in a series of three sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. Each appointment runs about 30 to 60 minutes, and the device has built-in cooling technology to keep the skin comfortable throughout — most people describe the sensation as a warm, quick snapping feeling rather than pain.
There’s no real downtime. You can go straight back to work, school, or the rest of your day immediately after.
Results build gradually, which is normal and expected. In the first one to three months, some people notice a temporary uptick in breakouts as the skin works through existing congestion — that’s not a sign it isn’t working. Between three and six months, breakouts typically become less frequent and less severe. Most people see their fullest results between nine and twelve months after the final session, and for many, that improvement holds long-term without ongoing maintenance.
Amy’s Take
What I love about AviClear is that it changes the conversation. For years, the only real options for stubborn acne were topical routines you had to maintain forever, or oral medications with real side effects and monitoring requirements. AviClear is the first tool I’ve used in 26 years that goes after the root cause and can keep working long after the appointments are over.
I’ll also tell you honestly: it’s not instant, and it’s not magic. It takes months to see the full picture, and it takes an accurate assessment up front to know if it’s the right call. But for the right client, it’s given people their confidence back in a way I don’t take lightly.
A Note on Emotional Impact
Chronic acne wears on people in a way that’s easy to underestimate if you haven’t lived it. It’s not just the breakouts — it’s the years of trying product after product, the money spent, the disappointment of a routine that stops working, the frustration of being told it’s “just hormones” with no real plan attached.
If that’s where you are, we want you to know that feeling exhausted by your skin is valid, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It usually just means nobody’s taken the time to look closely enough at what’s actually driving your breakouts.
The Bottom Line
AviClear isn’t a quick fix, and it isn’t for everyone — but for clients dealing with persistent, inflammatory acne that keeps returning no matter what they try, it’s one of the most promising options we have. It treats the oil gland itself, not just what shows up on the surface, and for many people, that’s the difference between managing acne forever and actually moving past it.
A Few Questions We Get All the Time 🤍
-
Honestly... most people are surprised by how tolerable it is.
The device has built-in cooling technology that keeps the skin comfortable throughout the session. Most clients describe a warm, quick snapping sensation rather than real pain, and there’s no downtime afterward — you can go right back to your day.
-
Great question, because this one takes patience.
AviClear is typically done in three sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. Results build gradually from there — some people notice a temporary increase in breakouts in the first month or two as the skin clears out existing congestion, followed by steady improvement over the next several months. Most people see their fullest results around nine to twelve months after the final session.
-
Not automatically, and that’s exactly why we assess before we recommend.
AviClear is FDA-cleared for mild to severe inflammatory acne and works across all skin tones, but it isn’t appropriate during pregnancy or active skin cancer treatment. Whether it’s the right fit for you depends on the type of acne you have and what’s actually driving it, which is why we always start with a real conversation and a proper skin assessment, not a guess.
-
Honestly... you don’t need to know if AviClear is right for you before you walk through our doors. That’s what the assessment is for.
If you’ve been cycling through products, prescriptions, or routines that just aren’t holding, we’d love to sit down, take a real look at what’s driving your breakouts, and talk through whether AviClear — or something else entirely — makes sense for your skin.
🤍 No guessing. No pressure. Just honest answers.
Let’s Talk About Your Skin
If you’re tired of routines that don’t hold, you’re not alone. Start with The BUB Skin Blueprint, our complimentary guide designed to help you better understand your skin and what it truly needs.
When you’re ready, we’d love to sit down with you for a Skin Health Review with our Skin Health Specialists and Skin Analyzer. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a real conversation about your skin, and a plan built around what we actually find.
