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WithdrawnNCT02812719Updated Jun 26, 2018

Treatment of Melasma With Glycolic Acid-Salicylic Acid Peel Versus Glycolic Acid Peel

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Glycolic acid peel alone and Glycolic and salicylic acid peel in Melasma, sponsored by Boston Medical Center. Withdrawn. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-06-26.

Sponsored by Boston Medical Center · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Study did not receive funding and will not be implemented.
Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

The aim of this pilot study is to conduct a controlled comparison of the efficacy and safety of a combination peel (glycolic acid and salicylic acid) as compared to glycolic acid peel alone in the treatment of melasma. Our primary outcome is objective improvement in pigmentation as evaluated using a colorimeter. Our secondary outcomes are subjective improvement using the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) and Patient and Physician Global assessment, as well as assessment of treatment tolerability and patient satisfaction.

Read the detailed description

Melasma is an acquired form of hyperpigmentation that is seen most commonly on the face, characterized by symmetrically distributed brown patches of variable darkness. The cosmetically unattractive nature of this disorder has been shown to negatively affect a patient's quality of life. Unfortunately, the treatment of melasma is challenging and often disappointing. Treatment includes a combination approach with strict sun protection, cosmetic camouflage, topical lightening agents, laser therapy, and chemical peels.

Today, the investigators define chemical peeling as the application of chemical exfoliating agents to the skin, which results in destruction of one or more parts of the epidermis and/or dermis with subsequent regrowth of these layers. Chemical peels are divided into superficial (light), medium, and deep; with superficial peels being the focus of this study. Superficial peels penetrate into the epidermis only, and are a safe, widely available and well-tolerated treatment modality. These peeling agents include glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid and trichloroacetic acid, each with unique properties. For instance, alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, are known to be hydrophilic, whereas salicylic acid is lipophilic and anti-inflammatory.

As each peeling agent has unique properties, it can be hypothesized that the combined use of these agents may result in better clinical outcomes than the use of an agent alone. Prior studies have demonstrated that the combined use of these peels are safe and effective in improving a variety of skin conditions including acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and infraorbital dark circles. Overall however, studies on the combined use of these chemical peels in the treatment of melasma are lacking.

Therefore, the aim of this pilot study is to conduct a controlled comparison of the efficacy and safety of a combination peel (glycolic acid and salicylic acid) as compared to glycolic acid peel alone in the treatment of melasma.

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Conditions studied

  • Melasma

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03

In context

Melanosis

149 studies on the registry are indexed under Melanosis; 38 are open to participants now.

Browse Melanosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Boston Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 314 studies on the registry; 34 are open to participants now.

Of its 34 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 28 (82%) have results posted.

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

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Female and males aged 18 or older
  • Subjects with melasma on both sides of the face (forehead or cheek).
  • Subjects in general good health
  • Female of childbearing age will be on a reliable form of contraception during the course of treatment other than oral contraceptive pills or hormonal intrauterine device.
  • Subjects must be willing to sign consent, answer questionnaires, comply with all clinical visits, and use sunscreen and sun-protection.
  • Subjects must be willing to not apply other treatment options for melasma during the course of the study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects suffering from other pigmentation disorders.
  • Subjects with known allergy to any components of the peels
  • Subjects who have active uncontrolled disease to facial area (i.e acne).
  • Pregnant women, nursing mothers.
  • Subjects with history of abnormal scaring
  • Subjects who cannot communicate with investigators or who are unlikely to cooperate.
  • Subjects in a situation in which in the opinion of the investigators, may interfere with optimal participation in the study.
  • Subjects who have used chemical peels, microdermabrasion or facial laser treatments in the past 3 months.
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Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Investigator)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Glycolic acid peel alone

    One of two sides of the face will be randomly treated with glycolic acid peel 35% alone. This treatment will be administered at visit 1 (but to entire face) and 3 subsequent visits (to one randomly selected side of the face), for a total of 4 treatments at 2 week intervals

    Drug: Glycolic acid peel alone

  • Experimental
    Glycolic and salicylic acid peel

    The other randomly chosen side of the face will be treated with glycolic acid peel 35% followed by salicylic acid peel 20%, as a combination treatment. This treatment will be administered at visits 2, 3 and 4 (to one randomly selected side of the face), for a total of 3 treatments at 2 week intervals.

    Drug: Glycolic and salicylic acid peel

Interventions

  • DrugGlycolic acid peel alone

    One of two sides of the face will be randomly treated with glycolic acid peel 35% alone. This treatment will be administered at visit 1 (but to entire face) and 3 subsequent visits (to one randomly selected side of the face), for a total of 4 treatments at 2 week intervals

    Also known as: Single acid skin peel

  • DrugGlycolic and salicylic acid peel

    The other randomly chosen side of the face will be treated with glycolic acid peel 35% followed by salicylic acid peel 20%, as a combination treatment. This treatment will be administered at visits 2, 3 and 4 (to one randomly selected side of the face), for a total of 3 treatments at 2 week intervals.

    Also known as: Combination acid skin peel

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in pigmentation

    Change in pigmentation using a colorimeter

    Time frame: Week 0, Week 7-8 (1-2 weeks following 4th peel), and Week 18 (12 weeks following 4th peel)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in pigmentation score

    Change in pigmentation using the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI)

    Time frame: Week 0, Week 7-8 (1-2 weeks following 4th peel), and Week 18 (12 weeks following 4th peel)

  2. Improvement of melasma

    Improvement of melasma based on Patient and Physician Global assessment

    Time frame: Week 0 and Week 7-8 (1-2 weeks following 4th peel), and Week 18 (12 weeks following 4th peel)

  3. Adverse events assessment

    Patient questionnaire to assess for any adverse events encountered

    Time frame: Week 7-8 (1-2 weeks following 4th peel)

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Publications

  • Dominguez AR, Balkrishnan R, Ellzey AR, Pandya AG. Melasma in Latina patients: cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a quality-of-life questionnaire in Spanish language. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Jul;55(1):59-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.01.049. Epub 2006 May 2. PubMed 16781293 ↗
  • Berson DS, Cohen JL, Rendon MI, Roberts WE, Starker I, Wang B. Clinical role and application of superficial chemical peels in today's practice. J Drugs Dermatol. 2009 Sep;8(9):803-11. PubMed 19746672 ↗
  • Kodali S, Guevara IL, Carrigan CR, Daulat S, Blanco G, Boker A, Hynan LS, Pandya AG. A prospective, randomized, split-face, controlled trial of salicylic acid peels in the treatment of melasma in Latin American women. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Dec;63(6):1030-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.12.027. PubMed 20889235 ↗
  • Sarkar R, Kaur C, Bhalla M, Kanwar AJ. The combination of glycolic acid peels with a topical regimen in the treatment of melasma in dark-skinned patients: a comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 2002 Sep;28(9):828-32; discussion 832. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2002.02034.x. PubMed 12269877 ↗
  • Soliman MM, Ramadan SA, Bassiouny DA, Abdelmalek M. Combined trichloroacetic acid peel and topical ascorbic acid versus trichloroacetic acid peel alone in the treatment of melasma: a comparative study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007 Jun;6(2):89-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00302.x. PubMed 17524124 ↗
  • Grimes PE. The safety and efficacy of salicylic acid chemical peels in darker racial-ethnic groups. Dermatol Surg. 1999 Jan;25(1):18-22. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08145.x. PubMed 9935087 ↗
  • Lee HS, Kim IH. Salicylic acid peels for the treatment of acne vulgaris in Asian patients. Dermatol Surg. 2003 Dec;29(12):1196-9; discussion 1199. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2003.29384.x. PubMed 14725662 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 26, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02812719
Lead sponsor
Boston Medical Center
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 24, 2016
Start date
Jul 2018 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 2018 (estimated)
Completion
Feb 2019 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 26, 2018

Oversight

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

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This study is withdrawn, as verified in Jun 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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