Shorter wait for light therapy? study tests faster treatment for Sun-Damaged skin

NCT ID NCT03066843

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Northwestern University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compares two different incubation times for a light-activated cream used to treat actinic keratosis, a common precancerous skin condition caused by sun exposure. Participants receive either no wait or a one-hour wait after applying the cream before blue light therapy. The goal is to see if a shorter incubation time works just as well, making treatment more convenient.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) plus blue light therapy
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help doctors choose the most effective and convenient treatment schedule for actinic keratosis, reducing the risk of skin cancer.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study with only 28 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment may cause skin reactions, and the optimal incubation time remains uncertain.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

actinic keratosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACTINIC KERATOSES

Contacts and locations

Locations

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.