A Phase 4 interventional study of Almond Oil and Hydroquinone Topical in Skin Pigmentation, sponsored by University of California, Davis. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-14.
Sponsored by University of California, Davis · Phase 4, Interventional, and Other
The purpose of this study is to analyze facial pigmentation and skin microbiome changes after topical almond oil application, compared to the use of topical hydroquinone.
The purpose of this experiment is to analyze facial pigmentation and skin microbiome changes after topical almond oil application, compared to the use of topical hydroquinone.
There will be a total of 50 subjects:
Study Timelines:
57 studies on the registry are indexed under Pigmentation Disorders; 12 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is above the median of 35 across 44 interventional studies indexed under Pigmentation Disorders.
Browse Pigmentation Disorders studies →University of California, Davis is the lead sponsor of 809 studies on the registry; 142 are open to participants now.
Of its 67 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 43 (64%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals who are not willing to engage in a two-week washout on topical treatments known to affect facial pigmentation and these agents will be restricted during the study period as well. These include topicals that contain:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Washout period
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Almond Oil Pressed Cold
Other: Almond Oil
Hydroquinone 2% cream
Drug: Hydroquinone Topical
Almond oil
Hydroquinone 2% cream
Also known as: Hydroquinone
Intensity of facial pigment
Facial images will be obtained and analyzed with the BTBP image analysis system
Time frame: 16 weeks
Shifts in the microbiome diversity (Shannon index as an example)
The skin microbiome will be analyzed to assess any changes after topical almond oil application, compared to the use of topical hydroquinone.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Quantification for the presence of species within the genus Cutibacteria, Staphyloccoccus, and Ralstonia
The skin microbiome will be analyzed to assess the presence of species within the genus Cutibacteria, Staphyloccoccus, and Ralstonia
Time frame: 16 weeks
Appearance of facial redness
The research team will quantify the presence of facial redness with a SkinColorCatch from Delfin Technologies. This will measure the RGB colors and average them from each participant for each of the visits. Skin pigment, including the presence of redness, will be measured using a SkinColorCatch from Delfin Technologies. This device shows the RGB Colors, CIE L\*a\*b\* and L\*c\*h\* color space coordinates when the device is applied to the skin.Included is the link to the device (http://www.truesystem.co.kr/product/pdf/SkinColorCatch%20Brochure%202016.pdf).
Time frame: 16 weeks
Subjective tolerability assessment
A questionnaire that assesses for stinging, itching, and burning will be utilized.
Time frame: 16 weeks
Intensity of facial pigment
Facial images will be obtained and analyzed with the BTBP image analysis system
Time frame: 8 weeks
Plan to share: No
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions 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.
University of California, Davis →