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Active, not recruitingNCT02318654Updated Jul 1, 2026

Ice Versus EMLA for Pain in Laser Hair Removal

A Phase 4 interventional study of Ice Pack and Topical EMLA cream in Hair Removal, sponsored by Northwestern University. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-01.

Sponsored by Northwestern University · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ice pack to topical eutectic mixture of local anesthesia (EMLA) for pain control in diode 810 nm laser axillary hair removal.

This study is a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of these procedures.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hair Removal
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University is the lead sponsor of 1,396 studies on the registry; 199 are open to participants now.

Of its 102 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 73 (72%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  1. Subjects are Caucasian or Asian females.
  2. Subjects are 18-65 years old.
  3. Subjects have Fitzpatrick skin type I-III and coarse dark axillary hair.
  4. Subjects are in good health.
  5. Subjects can provide informed consent.
  6. Subjects have the willingness and the ability to understand and communicate with the investigators.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Subjects who are allergic to lidocaine or prilocaine.
  2. History of methemoglobinemia.
  3. History of recurrent petechial or purpuric lesions.
  4. Bleeding tendency or coagulopathy.
  5. History of laser treatment in axilla.
  6. History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
  7. Pregnant or lactating or intends to become pregnant in the next 3 months.
  8. Active skin disease or skin infection in the treatment area.
  9. Subjects with known mental illness or other psychological conditions, such as psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and cognitive disorders.
  10. History of cold urticaria.
  11. History of current injury or abnormal skin sensation.
  12. Unable to understand the protocol or to give informed consent.
  13. 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 subject.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Ice Pack

    Other: Ice Pack

  • Active comparator
    Topical EMLA cream

    Drug: Topical EMLA cream

Interventions

  • OtherIce Pack

    Subjects will have 600 grams of ice in clear plastic bag size 18 x 23 cm applied to the randomized axilla for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the ice pack will be removed and laser hair treatment will be performed.

  • DrugTopical EMLA cream

    Topical EMLA will be applied approximately 2 mm thick to the randomized axilla with a wooden tongue depressor wrapped with impermeable plastic occlusion dressing for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, the drug will be removed with regular gauze and saline and laser hair treatment will be performed.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain using the SF-MPQ immediately after treatment

    Time frame: immediately (at 0 min) after laser treatment

  2. Pain using the SF-MPQ 5 minutes after treatment

    Time frame: 5 mins after laster treatment

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology
    Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 1, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02318654
Lead sponsor
Northwestern University
Responsible party
Murad Alam (Professor in Dermatology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Surgery, Northwestern University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 17, 2014
Start date
Dec 30, 2014
Primary completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jul 1, 2026

Study contacts

Murad Alam, MD
principal investigator · Northwestern University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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