Which numbing cream eases laser pain best? new study puts two top contenders to the test
NCT ID NCT02427724
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests two different numbing creams—one with lidocaine/prilocaine and another with lidocaine/tetracaine—against a placebo to see which works best for pain during Q-switched 532nm laser treatment for age spots (lentigines) and skin rejuvenation. Women aged 25 to 65 with mild to moderate sun damage will have each cream applied to different areas of their face or body before laser treatment. They will rate their pain on a 0-to-10 scale after each area is treated, helping researchers find the most effective option for comfort.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- lidocaine 2.5%/prilocaine 2.5% cream and lidocaine 7%/tetracaine 7% cream
- What this could lead to
- If one cream works better, it could make laser skin treatments less painful for people with age spots or sun damage.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early study with only 48 women, so results may not apply to everyone. Pain relief varies by person, and both creams can cause skin reactions.
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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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 48 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Start date
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Apr 2015
- Finished
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May 2024
- 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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25 to 65 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have moderate lentigines and/or photodamage and desire laser toning. 2. Females 25-65 years of age. 3. In good health. 4. Have Fitzpatrick phototype I-III. 5. Willingness and the ability to understand and provide informed consent and communicate with the investigator/study staff. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Younger than 25 or older than 65 years of age. 2. Pregnant or lactating. 3. Is a male. 4. Has received the following treatments on the face: * ablative or non-ablative laser procedure in the past 3 months * radiofrequency device treatment in the past 3 months * ultrasound device treatment in the past 3 months * medium to deep chemical peel in the past 3 months 5. Has an active infection on the face or upper inner arms (excluding mild acne). 6. Is allergic to lidocaine, tetracaine, or prilocaine. 7. Has kidney disease and/or liver disease. 8. Has G-6-PD and/or pseudocholinesterase deficiency. 9. Is taking a class I anti-arrhythmic medication. 10. Is tanned. 11. Has a history of hyperpigmentation with laser treatment. 12. Has a mental illness. 13. Has a history of a chronic pain condition such as fibromyalgia or vulvodynia. 14. Unable to understand the protocol or to give informed consent. 15. Multiply recurrent episodes of cold sores. 16. Any significant skin disease beyond mild acne. 17. Any other condition that would, in the professional opinion of the investigator, potentially affect response or participation in the clinical clinical study, or would pose as an unacceptable risk to the subject.
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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 Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States