CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03016221SRPTUpdated Jun 16, 2026Results posted

Local Changes of Skin Characteristics After an Application of a Topical Product With a Warming or Cooling Effect

An interventional study of Axanova hot gel and Axanova activ gel in Healthy, sponsored by University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland. Completed at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 40 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-16.

Sponsored by University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
21
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 40 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The use of topical over-the-counter (OTC) products with a warming or cooling effect is widespread in the fields of sport, physiotherapy and in private households. Advertisements for such products promise pain relief when suffering from musculoskeletal disorders such as muscle tension, rheumatism or acute injuries, e.g. sprains. In literature, there are only little information about the efficacy and the physiological mechanisms of topical warming or cooling products. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the local skin characteristics during and after an application of a topical product with a warming or cooling effect.

Read the detailed description

The use of topical products for local pain relief in chronic or acute musculoskeletal disorders is widely used. Despite the widespread use of these products, there is missing information on the physiological mechanisms and efficacy of topical warming and cooling ointments. Most of the existing literature is about the efficacy of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-products on chronic pain in osteoarthritis. Furthermore, one study tested the cooling effect of gels with different menthol concentrations. They found that, regardless of the concentration, the skin temperature was reduced up to one hour post application in the area of application.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the change of skin characteristics after a single application of a warming or cooling topical product on healthy subjects. Outcome parameters include skin perfusion, temperature, skin redness and subjective thermal sensation. We only selected products in form of alcohol based ointments, menthol or wintergreen oil. Sprays and patches were excluded.

The application area is the unilateral lumbar back region, whereas the contralateral side serves as control area. After an acclimatization period, baseline measurements are performed, followed by standardized application of the topical product. The local skin responses are measured in 10 mins time increments up to one hour.

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • local skin responses
  • hyperemia
  • thermal sensation
  • topical warming ointments
  • topical cooling ointments
  • skin perfusion
  • subjective thermal sensation
  • muscle tissue oxygenation
  • skin temperature
  • skin redness
  • erythema
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 40 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • no existing musculoskeletal disorders in the region of interest
  • no surgery in the region of interest in the last year
  • healthy skin conditions in the region of interest

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • fear of treatment
  • regular intake of drugs, excluding contraceptives
  • metal implants in the region between C7 and sacrum, including hip joints
  • lack of epicritic and protopathic skin sensitivity
  • renal insufficiency
  • bronchial asthma
  • pregnancy/lactation
  • type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
  • polyneuropathy
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
21 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Axanova hot gel

    Intervention: Axanova hot gel is a topical product with a warming effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Axanova hot gel

  • No intervention
    Axanova hot gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Axanova hot gel control.

  • Experimental
    Axanova activ gel

    Intervention: Axanova activ gel is a topical product with a revulsive effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Axanova activ gel

  • No intervention
    Axanova activ gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Axanova activ gel control.

  • Experimental
    Perskindol Dolo Gel

    Intervention: Perskindol Dolo Gel is a topical product with a warming effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Perskindol Dolo Gel

  • No intervention
    Perskindol Dolo Gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Perskindol Dolo Gel control.

  • Experimental
    Perskindol Classic Gel

    Intervention: Perskindol Classic Gel is a topical product with a revulsive effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Perskindol Classic Gel

  • No intervention
    Perskindol Classic Gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Perskindol Classic Gel control.

  • Experimental
    Perskindol Cool Kühl-Gel

    Intervention: Perskindol Cool Kühl-Gel is a topical product with a cooling effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Perskindol Cool Kühl-Gel

  • No intervention
    Perskindol Cool Kühl-Gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Perskindol Cool Kühl-Gel control.

  • Experimental
    Dolor-X Hot Gel

    Intervention: Dolor-X Hot Gel is a topical product with a warming effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Dolor-X Hot Gel

  • No intervention
    Dolor-X Hot Gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Dolor-X Hot Gel control.

  • Experimental
    Dolor-X Classic Gel

    Intervention: Dolor-X Classic Gel is a topical product with a revulsive effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Dolor-X Classic Gel

  • No intervention
    Dolor-X Classic Gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Dolor-X Classic Gel control.

  • Experimental
    Dolor-X Cool Gel

    Intervention: Dolor-X Cool Gel is a topical product with a cooling effect. In a single application 3g of the product is applied in an area of 10cm x 10cm on the unilateral lumbar back until it has been completely absorbed by the skin.

    Other: Dolor-X Cool Gel

  • No intervention
    Dolor-X Cool Gel control

    No product application. The contralateral lumbar back side acts as a Dolor-X Cool Gel control.

Interventions

  • OtherAxanova hot gel

    Axanova hot gel is a topical product with a warming effect. It contains menthol, pine needle oil, wintergreen oil, rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, incense oil.

  • OtherAxanova activ gel

    Axanova activ gel is a topical product with a revulsive effect. It contains menthol, pine needle oil, orange oil, lemon oil, wintergreen oil, glycosaminoglycans.

  • OtherPerskindol Dolo Gel

    Perskindol Dolo Gel is a topical product with a warming effect. It contains wintergreen oil, pine needle oil, aromatics, excipients.

  • OtherPerskindol Classic Gel

    Perskindol Classic Gel is a topical product with a revulsive effect. It contains menthol, wintergreen oil, pine needle oil, lemon oil, orange peel oil, lemon bergamot oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, excipients.

  • OtherPerskindol Cool Kühl-Gel

    Perskindol Cool Kühl-Gel is a topical product with a cooling effect. It contains levomenthol, color E131, aromatics, excipients.

  • OtherDolor-X Hot Gel

    Dolor-X Hot Gel is a topical product with a warming effect. It contains isopropyl alcohol, water, menthol, hyprolose, camphor, trometamol, paprika, wintergreen oil, excipients.

  • OtherDolor-X Classic Gel

    Dolor-X Classic Gel is a revulsive product. It contains water, isopropyl alcohol, menthol, spruce, hyprolose, trometamol, wintergreen oil, excipients.

  • OtherDolor-X Cool Gel

    Dolor-X Cool Gel is a cooling product. It contains water, isopropyl alcohol, menthol, trometamol, color E131, excipients.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Local Skin Perfusion

    Local skin perfusion was measured with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). The LSCI system uses arbitrary units to express the mean flux in the specified regions of interest which is related to the concentration of circulating erythrocytes in the tissue sample volume, scaled from blue (low perfusion) to red (high perfusion).

    Time frame: during 45min post application

  2. Skin Surface Temperature

    skin surface temperature will be measured with thermochrons, infrared thermometer and thermal imaging camera

    Time frame: At baseline and during 45 minutes post application

  3. Local Muscle Tissue Oxygenation

    local muscle tissue oxygenation will be measured with near infrared spectroscopy

    Time frame: At baseline and during 45 min post application

  4. Subjective Temperature Sensation

    Thermal sensation ("How does this feel like?") was assessed in each skin area according to the ISO 10551 standard using the following 9-point Likert scale: 4 = very hot, 3 = hot, 2 = warm, 1 = slightly warm, 0 = neutral,-1 = slightly cool,-2 = cool,-3 = cold,-4 = very cold.

    Time frame: At baseline and during 45 minutes post application

  5. Subjective Thermal Comfort

    Thermal comfort was assessed ("Do you find this. . .?") in each skin area according to the ISO 10551 standard using using a 5-point Likert scale with 0 = comfortable, 1 = slightly uncomfortable, 2 = uncomfortable, 3 = very uncomfortable, 4 = extremely uncomfortable.

    Time frame: At baseline and during 45 minutes post application

06

Results

Posted Jun 16, 2026

Participant flow

A total of 21 healthy women were recruited. On each participant, two skin areas (5 cm × 10 cm) were marked on either side of the thoracic spine. Methyl salicylate gel was applied to one side, while a placebo gel was applied simultaneously to the opposite side. Thus, this was a "split-person" design, with each participant serving as her own control.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneHealthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Started21
Methyl salicylate gel21
Placebo gel21
Completed21
Not completed0

Outcome measures

PrimaryLocal Skin Perfusion

Local skin perfusion was measured with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). The LSCI system uses arbitrary units to express the mean flux in the specified regions of interest which is related to the concentration of circulating erythrocytes in the tissue sample volume, scaled from blue (low perfusion) to red (high perfusion).

Time frame:
during 45min post application
Reported as:
Mean · % of baseline MCskin
Local Skin Perfusion
% of baseline MCskinHealthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Methyl salicylate: T0107.73 ± 24.26
Methyl salicylate: T5188.7 ± 47.82
Methyl salicylate: T10187.6 ± 41.83
Methyl salicylate: T15158.05 ± 31.72
Methyl salicylate: T20138.26 ± 28.29
Methyl salicylate: T25123.37 ± 27.19
Methyl salicylate: T30112.91 ± 22.26
Methyl salicylate: T35104.23 ± 18.14
Methyl salicylate: T40101.68 ± 16.27
Methyl salicylate: T4596.96 ± 16.66
Placebo gel: T094.2 ± 16.52
Placebo gel: T582.49 ± 8.62
Placebo gel: T1082.44 ± 14.3
Placebo gel: T1581.03 ± 12.44
Placebo gel: T2078.83 ± 11.1
Placebo gel: T2579.76 ± 12.75
Placebo gel: T3078.28 ± 11.05
Placebo gel: T3584.56 ± 16.12
Placebo gel: T4083.37 ± 12.47
Placebo gel: T4585.32 ± 11.54
PrimarySkin Surface Temperature

skin surface temperature will be measured with thermochrons, infrared thermometer and thermal imaging camera

Time frame:
At baseline and during 45 minutes post application
Reported as:
Mean · degrees Celsius
Skin Surface Temperature
degrees CelsiusHealthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Methyl salicylate: BL33.7 ± 0.93
Methyl salicylate: T030.44 ± 0.71
Methyl salicylate: T530.34 ± 0.98
Methyl salicylate: T1030.84 ± 1.32
Methyl salicylate: T1531.53 ± 1.05
Methyl salicylate: T2031.91 ± 0.91
Methyl salicylate: T2532.17 ± 0.83
Methyl salicylate: T3032.35 ± 0.71
Methyl salicylate: T3532.48 ± 0.76
Methyl salicylate: T4032.54 ± 0.8
Methyl salicylate: T4532.57 ± 0.82
Placebo gel:BL33.71 ± 0.8
Placebo gel: T030.54 ± 0.68
Placebo gel: T529.81 ± 0.85
Placebo gel: T1029.95 ± 1.14
Placebo gel: T1530.5 ± 1.42
Placebo gel: T2031.06 ± 1.48
Placebo gel: T2531.47 ± 1.34
Placebo gel: T3031.78 ± 1.15
Placebo gel: T3532.1 ± 1.04
Placebo gel: T4032.27 ± 0.91
Placebo gel: T4532.4 ± 0.91
PrimaryLocal Muscle Tissue Oxygenation

local muscle tissue oxygenation will be measured with near infrared spectroscopy

Time frame:
At baseline and during 45 min post application
Reported as:
Mean · % SmO2
Local Muscle Tissue Oxygenation
% SmO2Healthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Methyl salicylate: BL73.3 ± 2.6
Methyl salicylate: T074.0 ± 3.3
Methyl salicylate: T575.1 ± 2.3
Methyl salicylate: T1074.9 ± 2.1
Methyl salicylate: T1573.6 ± 3.2
Methyl salicylate: T2073.6 ± 3.6
Methyl salicylate: T2573.5 ± 2.9
Methyl salicylate: T3073.2 ± 2.3
Methyl salicylate: T3572.8 ± 2.8
Methyl salicylate: T4073.0 ± 3.3
Methyl salicylate: T4573.2 ± 2.6
Placebo gel:BL73.4 ± 3.0
Placebo gel: T073.7 ± 2.6
Placebo gel: T574.1 ± 2.8
Placebo gel: T1073.9 ± 3.2
Placebo gel: T1573.9 ± 3.0
Placebo gel: T2073.1 ± 2.6
Placebo gel: T2572.9 ± 2.8
Placebo gel: T3072.8 ± 3.1
Placebo gel: T3572.2 ± 3.0
Placebo gel: T4072.3 ± 3.1
Placebo gel: T4572.9 ± 2.8
PrimarySubjective Temperature Sensation

Thermal sensation ("How does this feel like?") was assessed in each skin area according to the ISO 10551 standard using the following 9-point Likert scale: 4 = very hot, 3 = hot, 2 = warm, 1 = slightly warm, 0 = neutral,-1 = slightly cool,-2 = cool,-3 = cold,-4 = very cold.

Time frame:
At baseline and during 45 minutes post application
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Subjective Temperature Sensation
ParticipantsHealthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Methyl salicylate: BL — hot0
Methyl salicylate: BL — warm0
Methyl salicylate: BL — slightly warm1
Methyl salicylate: BL — neutral16
Methyl salicylate: BL — slightly cool4
Methyl salicylate: BL — cool0
Methyl salicylate: T0 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T0 — warm3
Methyl salicylate: T0 — slightly warm4
Methyl salicylate: T0 — neutral0
Methyl salicylate: T0 — slightly cool11
Methyl salicylate: T0 — cool3
Methyl salicylate: T5 — hot1
Methyl salicylate: T5 — warm5
Methyl salicylate: T5 — slightly warm4
Methyl salicylate: T5 — neutral1
Methyl salicylate: T5 — slightly cool4
Methyl salicylate: T5 — cool6
Methyl salicylate: T10 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T10 — warm2
Methyl salicylate: T10 — slightly warm6
Methyl salicylate: T10 — neutral4
Methyl salicylate: T10 — slightly cool6
Methyl salicylate: T10 — cool3
Methyl salicylate: T15 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T15 — warm0
Methyl salicylate: T15 — slightly warm8
Methyl salicylate: T15 — neutral5
Methyl salicylate: T15 — slightly cool6
Methyl salicylate: T15 — cool2
Methyl salicylate: T20 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T20 — warm0
Methyl salicylate: T20 — slightly warm7
Methyl salicylate: T20 — neutral6
Methyl salicylate: T20 — slightly cool7
Methyl salicylate: T20 — cool1
Methyl salicylate: T25 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T25 — warm1
Methyl salicylate: T25 — slightly warm8
Methyl salicylate: T25 — neutral6
Methyl salicylate: T25 — slightly cool6
Methyl salicylate: T25 — cool0
Methyl salicylate: T30 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T30 — warm0
Methyl salicylate: T30 — slightly warm8
Methyl salicylate: T30 — neutral10
Methyl salicylate: T30 — slightly cool2
Methyl salicylate: T30 — cool1
Methyl salicylate: T35 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T35 — warm0
Methyl salicylate: T35 — slightly warm7
Methyl salicylate: T35 — neutral9
Methyl salicylate: T35 — slightly cool5
Methyl salicylate: T35 — cool0
Methyl salicylate: T40 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T40 — warm0
Methyl salicylate: T40 — slightly warm5
Methyl salicylate: T40 — neutral13
Methyl salicylate: T40 — slightly cool3
Methyl salicylate: T40 — cool0
Methyl salicylate: T45 — hot0
Methyl salicylate: T45 — warm1
Methyl salicylate: T45 — slightly warm4
Methyl salicylate: T45 — neutral14
Methyl salicylate: T45 — slightly cool2
Methyl salicylate: T45 — cool0
Placebo gel:BL — hot0
Placebo gel:BL — warm0
Placebo gel:BL — slightly warm1
Placebo gel:BL — neutral18
Placebo gel:BL — slightly cool2
Placebo gel:BL — cool0
Placebo gel: T0 — hot0
Placebo gel: T0 — warm0
Placebo gel: T0 — slightly warm3
Placebo gel: T0 — neutral7
Placebo gel: T0 — slightly cool11
Placebo gel: T0 — cool0
Placebo gel: T5 — hot0
Placebo gel: T5 — warm0
Placebo gel: T5 — slightly warm4
Placebo gel: T5 — neutral12
Placebo gel: T5 — slightly cool5
Placebo gel: T5 — cool0
Placebo gel: T10 — hot0
Placebo gel: T10 — warm0
Placebo gel: T10 — slightly warm4
Placebo gel: T10 — neutral12
Placebo gel: T10 — slightly cool5
Placebo gel: T10 — cool0
Placebo gel: T15 — hot0
Placebo gel: T15 — warm1
Placebo gel: T15 — slightly warm3
Placebo gel: T15 — neutral13
Placebo gel: T15 — slightly cool4
Placebo gel: T15 — cool0
Placebo gel: T20 — hot0
Placebo gel: T20 — warm0
Placebo gel: T20 — slightly warm3
Placebo gel: T20 — neutral13
Placebo gel: T20 — slightly cool4
Placebo gel: T20 — cool1
Placebo gel: T25 — hot0
Placebo gel: T25 — warm0
Placebo gel: T25 — slightly warm2
Placebo gel: T25 — neutral17
Placebo gel: T25 — slightly cool2
Placebo gel: T25 — cool0
Placebo gel: T30 — hot0
Placebo gel: T30 — warm0
Placebo gel: T30 — slightly warm2
Placebo gel: T30 — neutral15
Placebo gel: T30 — slightly cool4
Placebo gel: T30 — cool0
Placebo gel: T35 — hot0
Placebo gel: T35 — warm0
Placebo gel: T35 — slightly warm2
Placebo gel: T35 — neutral18
Placebo gel: T35 — slightly cool1
Placebo gel: T35 — cool0
Placebo gel: T40 — hot0
Placebo gel: T40 — warm0
Placebo gel: T40 — slightly warm1
Placebo gel: T40 — neutral18
Placebo gel: T40 — slightly cool2
Placebo gel: T40 — cool0
Placebo gel: T45 — hot0
Placebo gel: T45 — warm0
Placebo gel: T45 — slightly warm1
Placebo gel: T45 — neutral18
Placebo gel: T45 — slightly cool2
Placebo gel: T45 — cool0
PrimarySubjective Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort was assessed ("Do you find this. . .?") in each skin area according to the ISO 10551 standard using using a 5-point Likert scale with 0 = comfortable, 1 = slightly uncomfortable, 2 = uncomfortable, 3 = very uncomfortable, 4 = extremely uncomfortable.

Time frame:
At baseline and during 45 minutes post application
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Subjective Thermal Comfort
ParticipantsHealthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Methyl salicylate: BL — comfortable21
Methyl salicylate: BL — slightly uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: BL — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T0 — comfortable18
Methyl salicylate: T0 — slightly uncomfortable2
Methyl salicylate: T0 — uncomfortable1
Methyl salicylate: T5 — comfortable11
Methyl salicylate: T5 — slightly uncomfortable9
Methyl salicylate: T5 — uncomfortable1
Methyl salicylate: T10 — comfortable15
Methyl salicylate: T10 — slightly uncomfortable6
Methyl salicylate: T10 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T15 — comfortable18
Methyl salicylate: T15 — slightly uncomfortable3
Methyl salicylate: T15 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T20 — comfortable20
Methyl salicylate: T20 — slightly uncomfortable1
Methyl salicylate: T20 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T25 — comfortable19
Methyl salicylate: T25 — slightly uncomfortable2
Methyl salicylate: T25 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T30 — comfortable19
Methyl salicylate: T30 — slightly uncomfortable2
Methyl salicylate: T30 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T35 — comfortable19
Methyl salicylate: T35 — slightly uncomfortable2
Methyl salicylate: T35 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T40 — comfortable20
Methyl salicylate: T40 — slightly uncomfortable1
Methyl salicylate: T40 — uncomfortable0
Methyl salicylate: T45 — comfortable19
Methyl salicylate: T45 — slightly uncomfortable2
Methyl salicylate: T45 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel:BL — comfortable21
Placebo gel:BL — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel:BL — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T0 — comfortable19
Placebo gel: T0 — slightly uncomfortable2
Placebo gel: T0 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T5 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T5 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T5 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T10 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T10 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T10 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T15 — comfortable20
Placebo gel: T15 — slightly uncomfortable1
Placebo gel: T15 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T20 — comfortable20
Placebo gel: T20 — slightly uncomfortable1
Placebo gel: T20 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T25 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T25 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T25 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T30 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T30 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T30 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T35 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T35 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T35 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T40 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T40 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T40 — uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T45 — comfortable21
Placebo gel: T45 — slightly uncomfortable0
Placebo gel: T45 — uncomfortable0

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse events were assessed throughout the laboratory visit, lasting approximately 1 hour (45min post application).. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Methyl Salicylate0/21 (0%)0/21 (0%)0/21 (0%)
Control0/21 (0%)0/21 (0%)0/21 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Healthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Mean22.2 ± 2.9
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Healthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
Female21
Male0
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Healthy Women Receiving Topical Application of Methyl Salicylate and Placebo Gels
07

Study locations

1 site
  • SUPSI
    Landquart, Kanton Graubünden CH-7302, Switzerland
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Versteeg N, Wellauer V, Wittenwiler S, Aerenhouts D, Clarys P, Clijsen R. Short-term cutaneous vasodilatory and thermosensory effects of topical methyl salicylate. Front Physiol. 2024 Apr 19;15:1347196. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1347196. eCollection 2024. PubMed 38706945 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jun 24, 2019

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03016221
Lead sponsor
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 10, 2017
Start date
May 1, 2017
Primary completion
Dec 6, 2019
Completion
Dec 6, 2019
Results posted
Jun 16, 2026
Last update
Jun 16, 2026

Study contacts

Ron Clijsen, PhD
principal investigator · University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion