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RecruitingNCT07245238cannabidiolUpdated Nov 24, 2025

Topical Cannabidiol Lotion for Pruritus Relief in Scleroderma

A Phase 3 interventional study of 10% urea lotion plus 1% cannabidiol and Control in Mediciine, Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and Intervention Study, sponsored by Khon Kaen University. Recruiting at 1 site in Thailand. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-24.

Sponsored by Khon Kaen University · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Nov 2025; still recruiting 1 year later.
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
36
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Itching is one of the common symptoms found in patients with scleroderma, with a prevalence of about 42-62%, and it often occurs in the early stages of the disease. The mechanisms of itching are still unclear, and current treatments have not yet shown any clear efficacy in alleviating itching caused by scleroderma. Hemp extract has previously been used to treat itching in chronic skin diseases. Besides its antipruritic (anti-itch) effect, hemp extract also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, increases skin moisture, and helps repair the skin, all without psychoactive effects.

Studies have investigated the benefits of hemp extract in the form of a topical cream with concentrations ranging from 1-5% for the treatment of various skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, and the management of fingertip ulcers in scleroderma patients. The results showed that a 1% hemp extract cream relieved itching in eczema and at the same concentration also helped heal fingertip ulcers in scleroderma patients. However, to date, there has been no clear study on the effectiveness of hemp extract in cream or lotion form for treating itching in scleroderma patients. Additionally, there is currently no standard guideline for the management of itching in scleroderma. Generally, 10% urea cream is commonly used to increase skin moisture and alleviate itching, but there has been no prior study on its efficacy specifically for itch relief.

Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a 1% hemp extract combined with 10% urea in lotion form compared to a lotion containing only 10% urea (without hemp extract) in relieving itching, increasing skin moisture, and reducing sleep disturbances caused by itching in scleroderma patients, as well as assessing any potential side effects.

Read the detailed description

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is a connective tissue disease primarily characterized by skin hardening. It can be classified into two main subgroups: limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), based on the extent of skin involvement.

Currently, there are no definitive studies on the efficacy of topical Cannabidiol (CBD) for treating pruritus in SSc patients. Furthermore, there is no standardized guideline for the management of pruritus in SSc in general. A 10% urea cream is commonly used to improve skin hydration and reduce itching.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a lotion containing 10% urea combined with 1% CBD, formulated for ease of administration and a comfortable, non-greasy feel. This formulation will be compared against a lotion containing only 10% urea. The study will assess its effectiveness in relieving pruritus, improving skin hydration, and reducing sleep disturbances caused by itching in patients with systemic sclerosis. It will also evaluate any potential side effects.

Primary Objective

To compare the efficacy of a 10% urea lotion with 1% topical CBD (investigational group) versus a 10% urea lotion alone (control group) in alleviating pruritus in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Secondary Objectives

To compare the effects of the investigational and control groups on skin hydration.

To compare the effects of the investigational and control groups on skin melanin levels and erythema (redness).

To compare the effects of the investigational and control groups on sleep quality.

To compare the effects of the investigational and control groups on quality of life.

To assess the change in pruritus from baseline after two weeks of treatment. To evaluate adverse events associated with the use of the investigational and control products.

02

Conditions studied

  • Mediciine
  • Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)
  • Intervention Study

Keywords

  • systemic sclerosis
  • Cannabinoid
  • Emollients
  • Crossover study design
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Sleep quality
  • Pruritus
  • \Cannabidiol
  • Cannabidiol
03

In context

Scleroderma, Systemic

610 studies on the registry are indexed under Scleroderma, Systemic; 218 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 36 is close to the median of 37 across 446 interventional studies indexed under Scleroderma, Systemic.

Browse Scleroderma, Systemic studies →

Lead sponsor

Khon Kaen University is the lead sponsor of 161 studies on the registry; 24 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

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.

Inclusion criteria

  1. SSc patients aged between 18 and 70 years
  2. Diagnosed according to ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria
  3. Having chronic pruritus
  4. Must not receive equivalent to prednisolone dose more than 10 mg/d
  5. Must receive a stable dose of steroid, and/or vitamin or its supplement within 2 weeks before enrollment
  6. Must stop moisturizer treatment at least 1 week prior to randomization
  7. Must stop anxiolytics, hypnotics or sleeping pills at least 2 weeks before enrollment
  8. Understand and able to read and write Thai language

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Overlap with other connective tissue diseases
  2. Pregnancy or lactation
  3. Bedridden and confined to no self-care
  4. Evidence of active malignant disease
  5. Present of uncontrolled or severe medical problems including diabetes mellitus, asthma, angina, cardiovascular, thyroid, hepatobiliary included cholestasis, or renal diseases (Cr>1.4 mg/dl)
  6. Present of active infection that needs systemic antibiotic
  7. Previous allergy to urea cream, cannabinoid or its derivatives
  8. Concomitant illegal drug used (amphetamine or its derivative, cocaine)
  9. On-going anxiolytics, hypnotics or sleeping pills used
  10. In a period that needs dose adjustment
  11. Having history of schizophrenia, concurrent active mood disorder, or anxiety disorders
  12. Having dermatologic diseases causing pruritus such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, folliculitis, urticaria, lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, dermatophytosis, pediculosis, scabies, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, sunburn, drug allergy or skin eruption
  13. Having systemic diseases causing of pruritus other than SSc such as neurologic disease, polycythemia vera
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

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.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
36 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Control

    10% urea lotion

    Drug: Control

  • Experimental
    Treatment

    10% urea lotion plus 1% cannabidiol

    Drug: 10% urea lotion plus 1% cannabidiol

Interventions

  • Drug10% urea lotion plus 1% cannabidiol

    10% urea lotion plus 1% cannabidiol

  • DrugControl

    10% urea lotion

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. The changing of intensity of pruritus evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) compared to baseline and a comparison between treatment and control group

    The changing of intensity of pruritus evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) compared to baseline and a comparison between treatment and control group

    Time frame: 2 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. The changing of course of pruritus evaluated by Dynamic Pruritus Score compared to baseline in each group

    The changing of course of pruritus evaluated by Dynamic Pruritus Score compared to baseline in each group

    Time frame: 2 weeks

  2. The changing of skin hydration evaluated by using the Corneometer CM 825 compared to baseline and a comparison between treatment and control at the same skin area

    The changing of skin hydration evaluated by using the Corneometer CM 825 compared to baseline and a comparison between treatment and control at the same skin area

    Time frame: 2 weeks

  3. The changing of skin melanin content and erythema level evaluated by using the Mexameter MX 18 compared to baseline and a comparison between treatment and control at the same skin area

    The changing of skin melanin content and erythema level evaluated by using the Mexameter MX 18 compared to baseline and a comparison between treatment and control at the same skin area

    Time frame: 2 weeks

  4. The changing of course of pruritus evaluated by Patient Benefit Index compared to baseline in each group

    The changing of course of pruritus evaluated by Patient Benefit Index compared to baseline in each group

    Time frame: 2 weeks

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 24, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07245238
Responsible party
Chingching Foocharoen (Principle investigator, Khon Kaen University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 24, 2025
Start date
Nov 5, 2025
Primary completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 24, 2025

Study contacts

Chingching Foocharoen, MD
Contact
fching@kku.ac.th
6643363746

Oversight

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

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