Light therapy vs chemical peels: which zaps precancerous spots better?
NCT ID NCT04429308
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compares two treatments for actinic keratoses—rough, scaly spots that can turn into skin cancer—on the arms. One treatment uses a light-sensitizing gel followed by blue light (photodynamic therapy), while the other uses a two-step chemical peel. About 60 adults with spots on both arms will get one treatment on each arm, and doctors will count how many spots clear up after 2 to 8 weeks. The goal is to see which approach works better and is practical for larger studies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Photodynamic therapy (aminolevulinic acid plus blue light) and chemical peels (Jessner's solution plus trichloroacetic acid)
- What this could lead to
- If one treatment proves more effective, it could become a preferred option for clearing precancerous skin spots on the arms.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study, so results may not be definitive. Both treatments can cause skin reactions, and the best approach may vary by person.
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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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Aug 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
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 years and older
- 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.
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. \>18 years of age 2. Interested in receiving treatment for actinic keratoses on the bilateral upper arms 3. In good general health as assessed by the investigator 4. Participants must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent prior to registration on study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patient pregnant or nursing 2. Patient with extensive concurrent skin conditions (such as eczema, psoriasis, etc) on upper extremities that would interfere with treatment as determined by the treating physician 3. Subject unwilling to sign an IRB approved consent form 4. Participants who are unable to communicate or cooperate with the investigator due to language problems, poor mental development, or impaired cerebral function are not eligible
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern University Department of Dermatology
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Shorter wait for light therapy? study tests faster treatment for Sun-Damaged skin
- AI boosts skin diagnosis accuracy for GPs in small trial