Blue dye and red light: a new hope for itchy skin?

NCT ID NCT03068208

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Chulalongkorn University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This pilot study tested whether applying methylene blue (a dye) to skin lesions and then shining red light on them could improve skin roughness in people with lichen amyloidosis, a condition causing itchy, bumpy patches. Fifteen Asian adults with the condition received the treatment. The main goal was to see if skin texture got better.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: methylene blue
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new, non-invasive way to improve skin texture for people with lichen amyloidosis.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study with only 15 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment is experimental and may not provide lasting improvement.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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