Acne Lasers and AviClear

Acne lasers are light-based treatments aimed at acne. AviClear is one named treatment, and this page reads what two sources say about the category.

The two statements, restated

practicaldermatology.com reports that the FDA has cleared AviClear as a long-term treatment for mild to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris.

www.aad.org says studies show that lasers and other light treatments can reduce acne.

What each statement asks of you

• Read "cleared" as a regulatory step, and ask your provider what it means for you.
• Read "long-term" as a label on the treatment, and ask what the plan looks like in practice.
• Read "can reduce" as a possibility, not a guarantee.

Terms you will meet

• Inflammatory acne vulgaris: the condition named in the first statement. Ask whether your acne fits it.
• FDA cleared: the status the source gives AviClear.
• Light treatments: the wider group the second source covers, lasers included.

More sources to read

The original news item is Cutera's AviClear Scores FDA Nod as Long-Term Acne Treatment. For the basics on pimples and blackheads, MedlinePlus has a general acne page.

Read the next document

• Eleven Ways to Fade Acne Scars translates a list of scar options.
• Acne Scar Treatment Choices translates how to pick among them.