An interventional study of Radiofrequency-Based treatment in Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Healthy Volunteers, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 22 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-09.
Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
This research is being done to assess the effect of radiofrequency (RF)-based treatment on skin and skin conditions.
Radiofrequency (RF)-based selective electrothermolysis is an increasingly utilized minimally invasive technology for several dermatologic conditions, such as epilation, acne vulgaris, and skin rejuvenation, with minimal side effects. This procedure targets and destroys selective cutaneous and subcutaneous structures; therefore, allowing greater control and specificity of treatment area and minimizing destruction to surrounding tissue. Here, the investigators propose to utilize this technology on human axillary skin to establish safety and biologic effects of selective electrothermolysis in this particular area of the skin.
The investigators will assess the tolerability, safety, and histometric changes in skin-radiofrequency interactions in the axillary skin of participants. The investigators will collect skin samples from prospective volunteers and assess for biologic effects in human axillary skin after selective electrothermolysis treatment.
During the four months of study period, Participants in the study will receive clinical assessments, photography, questionnaires, up to 3 treatments of RF-based selective electrothermolysis to pre-selected areas of the axillary skin, up to 2 4-mm skin biopsies for up to 5 study visits.
277 studies on the registry are indexed under Hidradenitis Suppurativa; 88 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 23 is below the median of 45 across 195 interventional studies indexed under Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Browse Hidradenitis Suppurativa studies →Johns Hopkins University is the lead sponsor of 1,783 studies on the registry; 313 are open to participants now.
Of its 203 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 140 (69%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Electrothermolysis treatment using varying levels of RF energies
Device: Radiofrequency-Based treatment
RF-based treatments use electrothermolysis to deliver heat energy to targeted structures in the skin, such as hair follicles or glands by the use of insulated needles. The investigators will use radio frequency based treatment on a pre-selected skin area (about 3cm x 3cm or 1 ¼ x 1 ¼ inches in size) on either your left or right underarm that is eligible for assessment, study treatment, and biopsy. Participants will receive clinical assessments, photography, questionnaires, up to 3 treatments of RF-based selective electrothermolysis to pre-selected areas of the axillary skin, up to 2 4-mm skin biopsies for up to 5 study visits.
Tolerability of skin-RF interactions in axillary skin
Tolerability will be assessed by number of patients experiencing adverse events grade 2 or higher as defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.
Time frame: 4 months
Safety of skin-RF interactions in axillary skin
Safety will be assessed by number of patients experiencing adverse events grade 2 or higher as defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.
Time frame: 4 months
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is terminated, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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