If you’re researching AviClear for acne, there’s a good chance you’ve come across some scary reviews online. Maybe you’ve seen someone say, “AviClear made my acne worse.” Or maybe you’re already partway through your own treatment series and suddenly have more breakouts than you did a week ago.
So does AviClear actually make acne worse?
The short answer: your acne may temporarily get worse during your AviClear treatment series. At Collab Medspa, we want our clients to know this going in. We’d much rather prepare you for the ups and downs than have you panic when a breakout hits.
In our experience, AviClear isn’t an overnight fix — it’s a process, and for a lot of clients, that process feels a little like a roller coaster.
Does AviClear Cause a Purge?
Most of our AviClear clients go through what we call a “purge,” typically showing up one to two weeks after a session. We talk about this with clients before treatment starts, because we don’t want that breakout to catch anyone off guard. In fact, we prepare people to expect this cycle after each of their three AviClear treatments.
That preparation matters. When you’ve invested time, money, and hope into clearing your skin, new breakouts can be genuinely discouraging. But a purge doesn’t automatically mean the treatment has failed.
The AviClear Roller Coaster
I often describe the process as a roller coaster, and it tends to play out something like this: you have your first treatment, your skin feels good for a bit, and then around two weeks later a purge shows up. Things calm down and start to improve. Then comes the second treatment — skin looks and feels better for a while, and then another purge follows about two weeks out.
This is usually the point where I remind clients: don’t get discouraged, give your skin time. It improves again, and then it’s time for the third treatment. After that, we wait — and that waiting period might be the hardest part of the whole process.
How Long Does It Take for AviClear to Work?
One of the biggest mistakes people make is expecting their acne to vanish right after that third treatment. That’s usually not what happens. Instead, we tend to see slow, gradual progress through the series, and even after the final session it can take another three to six months — sometimes longer — before a client sees the results they were hoping for.
Every person’s skin and acne are different, so your timeline won’t necessarily match anyone else’s. This is why I think of AviClear as a long game. You have to give your skin time.
A Real AviClear Client Experience at Collab Medspa
One of our clients came to us with severe acne and very sensitive skin. She completed her AviClear series and her skin did improve, but the progress was slow — slow enough that even I started to get a little nervous. She was moving in the right direction, but still had a long way to go.
She stayed patient. She joined our Collab Medspa membership and kept up with her skin, rotating regular facials and IPL Photofacials alongside a consistent clinical skincare routine. Nothing about it happened overnight.
Then, around the 10-month mark, she came in for a facial, and I looked at her skin and thought, “Oh my goodness, your skin looks great.” I was over the moon — and so was she.
Her experience is a big part of why I’m so passionate about setting realistic expectations for AviClear. It’s also worth noting that her results came alongside continued professional treatments and a consistent skincare routine, so we can’t say the improvement was caused by AviClear alone. But her story is exactly why I don’t like judging an AviClear outcome too early.
What Should I Do If I Break Out After AviClear?
My first piece of advice is simple: get a facial. Actually, I’ll say it twice — get a facial. Regular facials are a key part of how we support clients through their AviClear series. Results vary by skin type, but we’ve had especially good luck pairing AviClear with HydraFacial treatments, which help cleanse the skin and clear out oil and debris. It also gives us a chance to check in on your skin and plan for your next session.
Most importantly: don’t pick or squeeze your breakouts. Picking at inflamed acne can make a frustrating situation worse and raises the risk of marks or scarring.
Beyond that, we may suggest simple at-home steps depending on what your skin needs — warm compresses for areas of congestion, cool compresses to soothe inflammation. Everyone’s skin responds differently, so sometimes it takes some careful trial and error to find what actually helps.
AviClear Should Not Be Your Only Acne Strategy
This might be the most important thing I can tell you: don’t expect the laser to do all the work. Think about it — you invest in a treatment for your acne, but you’re still using products that don’t suit your skin, not washing your face consistently, sleeping on a pillowcase that needs changing, using makeup brushes that haven’t been cleaned in weeks, and picking at your breakouts. Then you wonder why your skin is struggling.
Acne is complex, so we believe in a fuller approach. At Collab Medspa, we talk with clients about professional skincare, regular facials, home care, hygiene habits, and any other treatments that might make sense for their skin. Your routine doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to make sense for your skin and your goals.
“AviClear Made My Acne Worse.” What Would I Ask You?
When I see someone online say AviClear ruined their skin or made their acne much worse, I don’t want to dismiss that. But I do have questions.
First, I’d want to see their before photos next to their skin today. Then I’d want to know: How long has it been since your last treatment? Where are you in the treatment cycle? What products are you using? Are you picking at your skin? Washing your face consistently? How often are you changing your pillowcase, or cleaning your makeup brushes? Are you getting regular professional skincare?
Most of all — have you given the process enough time?
Those details matter. Someone two weeks out from an AviClear session and dealing with a breakout is in a very different situation than someone who finished treatment months ago and is still seeing things get worse. That’s why, before deciding whether AviClear “worked” or “didn’t work,” I want the whole picture first.
Is It Normal to Feel Discouraged During AviClear?
Absolutely. Acne is emotional. When you’ve dealt with breakouts for months or years and finally decide to invest in treatment, it’s natural to hope every week will be better than the last. Unfortunately, skin doesn’t always cooperate — there are good weeks and frustrating ones.
That’s why education is such a big part of how we approach AviClear. We want you to know what might happen before it happens, and if your skin does start breaking out mid-process, we want you to talk to us — not panic, pick at your skin, stop caring for it, or decide on your own that the treatment has failed.
So, Will My Acne Get Worse After AviClear?
It might, temporarily. Based on what we see with our clients, a breakout or “purge” one to two weeks after treatment is something we prepare people for. Skin often improves before the next session, then goes through another round of breakouts — the AviClear roller coaster.
That said, your experience is your own, and a temporary breakout is different from acne that keeps worsening or genuinely concerns you. If something doesn’t feel right, talk to your provider rather than assuming it’s normal.
Above all, give your skin the support it needs: stay consistent with your skincare, keep your pillowcases and makeup brushes clean, don’t pick your breakouts, consider regular facials, follow your treatment plan, and remember that real change can take months, not days. AviClear isn’t about waking up the morning after your third treatment with perfect skin — for many of our clients, it’s the long game.
At Collab Medspa, our goal is to prepare you for that journey, support you through the frustrating parts, and help you build a complete plan for healthier, clearer-looking skin.
If you’re considering AviClear in Scottsdale, or you’re dealing with acne and aren’t sure what treatment fits your skin, schedule a consultation with Collab Medspa. We’ll look at your skin, talk through your history and goals, and help you understand what a realistic treatment plan could look like.
Individual experiences and results vary. Acne can have many causes, and a treatment plan should be based on your individual skin and health history. This article shares our experience at Collab Medspa and is not a substitute for medical advice.
