Association of Trichloroacetic Acid Peel With Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Cutaneous Hand Photoaging.
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04485091 |
Recruitment Status :
Not yet recruiting
First Posted : July 24, 2020
Last Update Posted : November 12, 2020
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Skin Aging | Combination Product: 20% TCM and PBM Other: 20% TCM and PBM placebo | Phase 2 |
Participants will be divided into two groups for the treatment of photoaging of hands:
(A) Group 20% TCM + PBM: Application of chemical peel of 20% trichloroacetic acid solution in association with photobiomodulation with red spectrum LED (660nm) on the back of the hands.
(B) Group 20% TCM + PBM placebo: Application of chemical peel of 20% trichloroacetic acid solution in association with simulated photobiomodulation on the back of the hands.
It is observed that all participants included in the study will receive treatment recommended for photoaging on the back of the hands. The chemical peel (20% TCM solution) will be performed monthly, totaling 04 sessions with an average time of 40 minutes (guidelines, photos, skin exfoliation) with intervals of 04 weeks between applications. Biweekly assessments (guidelines and photos) will be carried out with an average time of 20 minutes during the study period. In addition, a group will also be subjected to photobiomodulation with 660nm LED during the sessions for the analysis of the association of therapies and comparison with exfoliation monotherapy.
It is noteworthy that both hands will be treated and control will be maintained in another randomized and uniform group, with no possibility of ethical compromise of different therapies with asymmetric results in the participants. Another important benefit provided by the separation of the control group will be the impossibility of light to influence the non-irradiated tissue. This case would occur if the hand subjected to photobiomodulation plus exfoliation was in the same individual as the hand subjected to exfoliation monotherapy. This influence is defended by countless scientists who research on the systemic effects of phototherapy.
In addition, both groups will prepare the skin properly before the treatments in order to enhance the effects of the exfoliation, allow the uniform penetration of the chemical solution in the back of the hands, decrease the healing time after the procedure and significantly reduce the risks of major complications such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Throughout the period, the participants will also be instructed on the importance of photoprotection with the daily use of factor 30 sunscreen. If there is a patient with severe hypersensitivity or major complications, the intervention will be discontinued immediately and properly treated according to its severity.
It should be noted that regardless of the results obtained at the end of the research, even if photobiomodulation improves or accelerates the benefits of chemical peeling, participants will not be submitted to new treatment sessions, as both groups will already receive treatment recommended for photoaging of hands. Furthermore, the application of photobiomodulation without the association of previous skin exfoliation is unlikely to bring better results, because early application after tissue injury is the most important factor for this purpose.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 42 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Association of Trichloroacetic Acid Peel With Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Cutaneous Hand Photoaging: a Controlled, Randomized and Double-blind Clinical Trial. |
Estimated Study Start Date : | December 1, 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 31, 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 31, 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Group A: 20% TCM and PBM
21 participants will be included in this group. Application of chemical peel of 20% trichloroacetic acid solution (TCM) in association with photobiomodulation (PBM) with red spectrum LED (660nm) on the back of the hands.
|
Combination Product: 20% TCM and PBM
The chemical peel (20% TCM) will be carried out monthly, totaling 04 sessions. The application of photobiomodulation (PBM) will start shortly after the observation of frosting level I, which characterizes an exfoliation of superficial depth. Although the application sessions take place monthly, medical evaluations will be carried out fortnightly for the other orientations, filling in scales and photographs. For the PBM, a 100 milliwatt (mW) LED device with a 660nm wavelength will be used. It will provide energy density of 5 J/cm² in 150 seconds of irradiation. Irradiance of 33.3 mW/cm² in continuous operation mode. |
Placebo Comparator: Group B: 20% TCM and PBM placebo
21 participants will be included in this group. Application of chemical peel of 20% trichloroacetic acid solution (TCM) in association with simulated photobiomodulation on the back of the hands.
|
Other: 20% TCM and PBM placebo
The chemical peel (20% TCM) will be carried out monthly, totaling 04 sessions. The application of photobiomodulation (PBM) will be simulated soon after the observation of frosting level I. The patient will not be aware of the simulation of the procedure. Although the application sessions take place monthly, medical evaluations will be carried out fortnightly for the other orientations, filling in scales and photographs. |
- Fine wrinkles [ Time Frame: 6 months ]The back of both hands of the participants will be photographed before starting the skin preparation for the experiments (day 0). Standardized photo sessions according to the Clinical Photography Committee of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation will also take place in each biweekly medical evaluation to monitor the evolution of photorejuvenation. All photographs will be evaluated after 30 days of the last treatment session by 02 independent experts in 04 distinct clinical signs about photoaging: fine wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, abnormal pigmentation and global evaluation. The global evaluation is used to have a general impression of the photodamage, as shown by Mckenzie, 2011. The 04 clinical signs will be characterized separately by a scale from 0 to 9, with 0 representing the absence of changes and 9 representing the maximum of changes. The Kappa coefficient will be used to measure agreement between the examiners.
- Coarse wrinkles [ Time Frame: 6 months ]The back of both hands of the participants will be photographed before starting the skin preparation for the experiments (day 0). Standardized photo sessions according to the Clinical Photography Committee of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation will also take place in each biweekly medical evaluation to monitor the evolution of photorejuvenation. All photographs will be evaluated after 30 days of the last treatment session by 02 independent experts in 04 distinct clinical signs about photoaging: fine wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, abnormal pigmentation and global evaluation. The global evaluation is used to have a general impression of the photodamage, as shown by Mckenzie, 2011. The 04 clinical signs will be characterized separately by a scale from 0 to 9, with 0 representing the absence of changes and 9 representing the maximum of changes. The Kappa coefficient will be used to measure agreement between the examiners.
- Abnormal pigmentation [ Time Frame: 6 months ]The back of both hands of the participants will be photographed before starting the skin preparation for the experiments (day 0). Standardized photo sessions according to the Clinical Photography Committee of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation will also take place in each biweekly medical evaluation to monitor the evolution of photorejuvenation. All photographs will be evaluated after 30 days of the last treatment session by 02 independent experts in 04 distinct clinical signs about photoaging: fine wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, abnormal pigmentation and global evaluation. The global evaluation is used to have a general impression of the photodamage, as shown by Mckenzie, 2011. The 04 clinical signs will be characterized separately by a scale from 0 to 9, with 0 representing the absence of changes and 9 representing the maximum of changes. The Kappa coefficient will be used to measure agreement between the examiners.
- Global evaluation [ Time Frame: 6 months ]The back of both hands of the participants will be photographed before starting the skin preparation for the experiments (day 0). Standardized photo sessions according to the Clinical Photography Committee of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation will also take place in each biweekly medical evaluation to monitor the evolution of photorejuvenation. All photographs will be evaluated after 30 days of the last treatment session by 02 independent experts in 04 distinct clinical signs about photoaging: fine wrinkles, coarse wrinkles, abnormal pigmentation and global evaluation. The global evaluation is used to have a general impression of the photodamage, as shown by Mckenzie, 2011. The 04 clinical signs will be characterized separately by a scale from 0 to 9, with 0 representing the absence of changes and 9 representing the maximum of changes. The Kappa coefficient will be used to measure agreement between the examiners.
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain [ Time Frame: 6 months ]The visual analog scale has been used to measure intangible quantities such as pain, quality of life and anxiety, since the 1920s. Measuring the subjective experience of pain is a continuous challenge in medicine, and VAS, despite its limitations, is a primary outcome measure validated for pain intensity. Participants will use the scale to measure pain intensity during the study during biweekly medical evaluations. The number 0 means the total absence of pain complaints, while the number 10 is equivalent to the greatest pain ever experienced by the participant.
- Scale of Satisfaction [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Monthly, participants will be evaluated at the specialty clinic to analyze the results provided by the study. The individuals will answer a questionnaire composed by a 5-point Likert scale modified by the author about the satisfaction of the obtained results

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 40 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Individuals without comorbidities or with controlled comorbidities (ASA I and ASA II physical status classification).
- Participants must also have skin phototype I, II or III according to the Fitzpatrick classification.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Smoking, alcoholic, oncological, malnourished, anemic, pregnant, immunosuppressed participants.
- Patients with blood dyscrasias, psychiatric illnesses, collagen diseases (even with proper control), photosensitivity, individuals undergoing chemotherapy or hormone therapy and with scar changes (keloids and hypertrophic scar).
- Also excluded from the study are individuals who performed previous aesthetic procedures on their hands and use of medications that influence skin color, such as amiodarone, tetracyclines, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines and others.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04485091
Contact: Marcos Momolli | +5511994383855 | marcosmomolli10@gmail.com |
Brazil | |
University of Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) | |
São Paulo, Brazil, 01504-001 |
Principal Investigator: | Marcos Momolli | University of Nove de Julho |
Other Publications:
Responsible Party: | Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini Horliana, Co-supervisor, University of Nove de Julho |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04485091 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
PHOTOACID |
First Posted: | July 24, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | November 12, 2020 |
Last Verified: | July 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Photoaging Photodamage Chemical peel Photobiomodulation Phototherapy |
Skin rejuvenation Rejuvenation of hands low-level laser therapy (LLLT) light emitting diode (LED) |