Written and medically reviewed by Dr Gerard Ee (MBBS Singapore), Medical Director and Founder at The Clifford Clinic. The Clifford Clinic has spent more than 16 years treating acne and was among the early adopters in Singapore of treatments such as AGNES and AviClear. This article is for general education and does not replace a personal consultation. Last reviewed June 2026.
AGNES, AviClear and Gold Photothermal Therapy are three of the most effective acne treatments available, and all three target the oil gland rather than just the surface pimple. Because they sound similar, patients often ask which is best. The choice is about matching the tool to the acne type, the oiliness, the age and the skin tone.
My quick answer
AGNES is best for acne that keeps returning in the same spot, because it shrinks individual problem oil glands. AviClear is best for milder, more diffuse oily congestion and for maintenance, because it reduces oil production across a wider area. Gold and Platinum Photothermal Therapy are best for younger teenagers and for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, used mainly for gentle oil control and maintenance. For moderate to severe acne, I often combine AGNES and AviClear.
What I look for during your consultation
Choosing between these three starts with how the acne behaves. Does the same lesion keep coming back in one place, or is the skin generally oily with congestion scattered across it? Oiliness, lesion depth and inflammation, age, skin tone and prior treatment decide which treatment I recommend.
How I classify the three treatments
AGNES uses a fine, insulated radiofrequency microneedle to shrink an individual overactive gland, so it is the most targeted. AviClear is a 1726 nm laser that reduces oil production across a broader area. Gold and Platinum Photothermal Therapy use metal nanoparticles, delivered with Bellasonic ultrasound and heated with a long pulse laser, gentler and better suited to younger and pregnant patients. The two photothermal versions differ in the element used.
When I would consider each treatment
AGNES is the choice especially for stubborn cysts and nodules along the jaw or T-zone. AviClear suits diffuse congestion, or a patient who wants a drug-free option. Gold or Platinum Photothermal Therapy suits younger teenagers and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
When I would not recommend each
AviClear is not relied on for nodular cystic acne and the nose is avoided with it. I would not choose AGNES for very sporadic, scattered acne, since its strength is precise, localised treatment. I would not push AGNES or AviClear on a young patient who cannot tolerate them, which is where Gold or Platinum PTT fits. And I would not promise any of these as a one-off cure. The skin keeps producing oil, so maintenance matters.
Common mistakes I see
The biggest mistake is a clinic selling a single acne laser as the answer for everyone, since no one device suits every acne type. Patients are also misled by social media, where many dramatic before and after results are paid advertorials and some are simply fake. Judge a clinic by how carefully it assesses your skin, not by its marketing.
What you can realistically expect
AGNES often achieves a great deal in one or two sessions for a targeted area, using a local anaesthetic, with temporary redness, tiny entry points and mild swelling unless the acne is nodular and cystic. AviClear is typically a course of three sessions, with results visible after the second and building over three to four months. A built-in cooling system keeps it comfortable, each session takes around thirty minutes, and most patients return to normal activities straight away. Gold and Platinum PTT are usually done as a maintenance series, gentle and generally well tolerated. Across all three, downtime is short, and medical skincare continues alongside. Marks and scars are treated separately, once the active acne settles.
Prescribed skincare is resumed as directed, with swimming avoided for a short period after AviClear, and protecting the skin from strong sun. Recovery can be supported with measures such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy in selected cases.
When to see a doctor
If you are weighing up these treatments, get assessed rather than choosing from an article. See a doctor if your acne is recurring, oily, inflamed or already leaving marks, so the treatment can be matched properly and, where useful, combined.
Frequently asked questions
Is AGNES better than AviClear?
Neither is universally better. AGNES is better for recurring same-spot acne, while AviClear is better for diffuse oily skin and maintenance. For moderate to severe acne, combining them often works best.
Can I combine AGNES and AviClear?
Yes. In moderate to severe acne I often combine them, with AGNES targeting stubborn recurrent glands and AviClear reducing overall oil production.
Which treatment is best for teenagers?
Younger teenagers often do better with Gold or Platinum Photothermal Therapy, which are gentler, since some teens cannot comfortably tolerate AGNES or AviClear.
Are these treatments safe for darker skin?
AGNES and AviClear are both suitable for darker skin tones, with settings and aftercare adjusted to reduce the risk of pigmentation.
Why combination treatment often works best
For moderate to severe acne, a single treatment rarely does everything. AGNES settles the stubborn recurrent glands while AviClear reduces the overall oiliness that feeds new breakouts. Medical skincare supports both, and where there is heavy congestion a deep-cleansing facial can help clear it. A clinic with only one device can only offer part of the answer, which is why the full range, and the experience to combine it well, matters.
What the evidence shows
All three of these treatments are supported by clinical research. AviClear, the 1726 nm laser, became the first laser cleared by the United States FDA to treat acne on its own in 2022. In its key trial of 104 patients, most with moderate to severe acne, around 87 percent achieved at least a 50 percent reduction in inflammatory lesions by six months, rising to roughly 92 percent at one year, and a 2025 multicentre study found it safe and effective across all skin types. Gold Photothermal Therapy is supported by a randomised controlled trial of 168 patients, in which gold microparticles plus a 1064 nm laser reduced inflammatory lesions by a median of 53 percent, compared with 45 percent for laser alone. AGNES, which delivers radiofrequency through an insulated microneedle, was studied in a prospective randomised controlled trial of selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis that reported significant lesion reduction with good tolerability. The point is not that one is best, but that each has evidence behind it for a particular role.
| Let me match the right acne technology to your skin.
The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore Land Tower. Call (65) 6532 2400 or WhatsApp (65) 8318 6332 to arrange a consultation. |
Related reading
- Acne Treatment Singapore, How I Choose
- AGNES Acne Treatment
- AviClear
- Gold PTT for Acne
- Platinum PTT for Acne
- Acne Treatment Singapore
References
- HealthHub Singapore. Acne. https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/acne
- American Academy of Dermatology. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. https://www.aad.org/member/clinical-quality/guidelines/acne
- Acne vulgaris. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/acne
- A novel 1726-nm laser system for safe and effective treatment of acne vulgaris. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36197599/
- 1726 nm sebum-selective laser for acne across skin types, one-year multicentre data. J Am Acad Dermatol (2025). https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(25)02900-7/fulltext
- Selective Sebaceous Gland Electrothermolysis Using a Single Microneedle RF Device for Acne, Prospective RCT. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31502662/
- Paithankar DY et al. Selective Photothermolysis of Sebaceous Follicles with Gold Microparticles. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25748556/
- AviClear https://drgerardee.com/aviclear/
- AGNES Acne Treatment https://drgerardee.com/agnes-acne-treatment/
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general education and does not replace an in-person consultation. Treatment suitability, results and risks vary between individuals. Please speak with a qualified doctor before starting any acne treatment.
