AviClear™ is an FDA-cleared laser for mild to severe acne. Instead of working on the surface, it targets the sebaceous glands — the oil glands that sit underneath the problem — across three 30-minute sessions spread over three months. For people who have cycled through creams and prescriptions, the appeal is a course with an end date rather than a daily routine that never finishes.
What It Actually Targets
Acne starts when a follicle becomes clogged. Bakersfield Dermatology's acne page describes the sequence: the gland produces too much sebum, it builds up in the follicle and traps dead skin cells and bacteria, forming a plug that blocks the pore; Propionibacterium acnes then multiplies in the clogged pore and causes inflammation.
Most acne treatment intervenes somewhere along that chain — unclogging the pore, reducing bacteria, calming inflammation. AviClear works further upstream. The practice describes it as using laser energy to precisely pinpoint and inhibit the sebaceous glands, addressing acne at its source rather than only its result.
Why that matters practically: it is a course of in-office treatments rather than a prescription you apply or take every day. The practice frames it as removing the reliance on prescription medications for people who would rather not be on them.
The Schedule
Three sessions, each about 30 minutes, over three months. That spacing is deliberate — the change is in how the glands behave afterwards, so results accumulate across the course and in the weeks following it rather than appearing the day after the first visit.
Who It Suits
The practice describes AviClear as safe and effective for all skin types and usable across all acne severities. That is a meaningful point for deeper skin tones, where some acne treatments carry a higher risk of leaving pigment changes behind.
It is worth raising if you are in any of these situations: your acne has not responded to topical treatment; you cannot tolerate or would rather avoid oral medication; your acne is on the face and persistent into adulthood; or you have tried a course of something before and stopped because of side effects. A consultation is where it gets matched against the alternatives the practice also offers, including blue light therapy and the range of topical and oral options on the acne treatment page.
What to Expect Afterwards — and the Honest Limits
The practice notes that mild symptoms including redness, inflammation and flare-ups are normal following treatment and last only a short period. That temporary flare catches people out if they are not expecting it; it is a recognised part of the course rather than a sign it is not working.
Two limitations worth stating plainly. First, the American Academy of Dermatology's guidance on lasers and light therapies for acne is that rarely can these treatments alone clear acne, and that a dermatologist may recommend using another acne treatment alongside them for the best results. Second, results vary. The AAD notes most people see clearing but that it is not complete, that several studies show multiple treatments deliver significantly better results than a single one, and that there is no way to predict beforehand how any individual will respond. Follow-up treatments may be needed to maintain the result.
Side effects from laser and light treatment are usually mild — the AAD lists redness, swelling, stinging or burning that typically settle within hours to a day — but it also lists rarer possibilities including lingering discomfort, burns, blisters, changes in skin colour and scarring. That is the case for having it done by a dermatology practice rather than wherever it is cheapest.
If Acne Has Left Marks
Treating active acne and treating the marks it left are two different jobs. If scarring is your main concern, that is a separate conversation — the practice's existing posts on acne scars cover the options, and microneedling is among the treatments offered here for scarring specifically.
Ask About AviClear in Bakersfield
Bakersfield Dermatology & Skin Cancer Medical Group offers AviClear at 4100 Empire Drive, Suite 120, Bakersfield, CA 93301, with additional offices in Porter Ranch, Valencia and Palmdale. To find out whether your acne is a fit, call 866.903.3376 or request a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AviClear sessions are needed?
Bakersfield Dermatology's page describes three 30-minute treatment sessions spread over three months. Because the treatment works by changing how the oil glands behave, the result builds over that period rather than appearing after the first visit.
Can it be used on any skin tone?
The practice describes AviClear as suitable for all skin types and tones, and usable across all acne severities. Your dermatologist will still assess your skin and your acne before recommending it.
Will I still need other acne treatment?
Possibly. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that lasers and light treatments rarely clear acne on their own, and that a dermatologist may recommend combining them with another acne treatment for the best result.
What happens right after a session?
The practice notes mild redness, inflammation and flare-ups are normal afterwards and last only a short period. The AAD similarly lists redness, swelling, stinging or burning as common effects that usually settle within hours to a day.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, Lasers and Lights: How Well Do They Treat Acne? — that these treatments rarely clear acne alone, that multiple treatments outperform a single one, that results vary and cannot be predicted, the need for follow-up treatments, and the common and rare side effects; and Bakersfield Dermatology's own AviClear and Acne pages — FDA clearance for mild to severe acne, the sebaceous-gland mechanism, the three 30-minute sessions over three months, suitability across skin types and severities, the expected temporary redness and flare, and how acne forms.