Chemical peel showdown: which acid fades melasma better?
NCT ID NCT01976286
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether glycolic acid or salicylic acid chemical peels are safer and more effective for treating melasma, a condition that causes dark patches on the face. Adults with melasma patches on both sides of their face receive one type of peel on each side, and a dermatologist judges which side looks better after 16 weeks. The goal is to find a better way to manage this stubborn skin condition.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- glycolic acid and salicylic acid chemical peels
- What this could lead to
- If one peel works better, it could offer a more effective option for reducing melasma patches on the face.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 21 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Melasma often requires ongoing treatment, and peels may cause irritation or temporary skin darkening.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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21 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Jan 2015
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects aged 18 years or older 2. Subjects with at least a 2 x 2 cm patch of melasma on each side of the face (forehead or cheek) 3. Subjects in general good health 4. Subjects must be willing and able to understand and provide informed consent for the use of their tissue and communicate with the investigator 5. Subjects must be willing to not apply other treatment options for melasma during the course of the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects under 18 years of age 2. Subjects who are pregnant and/or lactating 3. Subjects who are unable to understand the protocol or to give informed consent 4. Subjects diagnosed with mental illness 5. Subjects who have concurrent active uncontrolled disease to facial area (i.e uncontrolled acne) 6. Subjects who have had a chemical peel in the past 3 months 7. Subjects who have used a prescribed retinoid in the past 3 months 8. Subjects with a bleeding disorder 9. Subjects with a history of abnormal wound healing 10. Subjects with a history of abnormal scarring
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern University Department of Dermatology
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.