ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07614698Updated Jun 17, 2026

Evaluation of a Peptide Cream on the Forearm Skin Recovery of Healthy Volunteers

An interventional study of Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 and Placebo in Skin Barrier Disruption and Recovery, sponsored by University of Split, School of Medicine. Recruiting at 1 site in Croatia. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-17.

Sponsored by University of Split, School of Medicine · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Jun 2026; still recruiting 5 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a topical peptide-based formulation containing Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 in promoting skin barrier recovery after controlled disruption in healthy adult participants.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does the peptide cream speed up the recovery of the skin barrier after it has been slightly damaged with tape-stripping method?
  • How does the peptide cream compare to a placebo (a cream with no active ingredient) in improving skin hydration and reducing redness?

Researchers will compare the peptide cream to a placebo to assess its effects on skin barrier recovery

Participants will:

  • Undergo controlled disruption of the skin barrier on the volar forearm using the tape-stripping method.
  • One forearm will receive the peptide-based cream containing Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, while the other (contralateral) forearm will receive a placebo formulation.
  • Attend scheduled visits for non-invasive assessments of skin barrier function, including transepidermal water loss, skin hydration, and erythema
02

Conditions studied

  • Skin Barrier Disruption and Recovery
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Split, School of Medicine is the lead sponsor of 51 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

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

  • healthy volunteers who gave written

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • skin disease
  • skin damage on measurement sites
  • use of , antihistamines and immunomodulators a month prior the inclusion and during the trial
  • use of emollients three days prior the inclusion in the trial
  • non-adherence to the trial protocol
  • exposure to artificial and excessive natural ultraviolet (UV) radiation
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • allergic or irritant reactions to the constituents of the cream
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

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.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

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
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Active treatment

    One forearm will be treated with the peptide-based cream containing Acetyl Hexapeptide-37. The treated forearm (left or right) will be assigned according to the randomization protocol.

    Other: Acetyl Hexapeptide-37

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo treatment

    The other forearm will be treated with a placebo ointment. The allocation of the treatment (left or right forearm) will be determined according to the randomization protocol.

    Other: Placebo

  • No intervention
    Untreated Control Site

    A designated skin site on either forearm will undergo tape-stripping to induce skin barrier disruption but will not receive any topical treatment. This site will serve as a control for natural skin barrier recovery.

Interventions

  • OtherAcetyl Hexapeptide-37

    The emollient cream contains Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 as the active ingredient and is applied topically to designated skin areas on the forearm. Skin barrier disruption is induced prior to application using the tape-stripping method. Procedure will be performed on healthy, intact skin according to randomization protocol

  • OtherPlacebo

    The emollient cream without the peptide is applied topically to designated skin areas on the forearm. Skin barrier disruption is induced prior to application using the tape-stripping method. Procedure will be performed on healthy, intact skin according to randomization protocol

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

    Skin barrier function will be assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss using a Tewameter TM 300 probe. Values will be expressed in g/m²/h

    Time frame: Assessments will be performed on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th day of the trial (baseline measurements and change from baseline assessment).

  2. Change in Skin Hydration

    Hydration of the stratum corneum will be assessed using a Corneometer CM 825 probe.

    Time frame: Assessments will be performed on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th day of the trial (baseline measurements and change from baseline assessment).

  3. Change in Skin Erythema

    Skin erythema will be assessed using a Mexameter MX 18 probe.

    Time frame: Assessments will be performed on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th day of the trial (baseline measurements and change from baseline assessment).

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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 Jun 17, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07614698
Lead sponsor
University of Split, School of Medicine
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 29, 2026
Start date
Jun 1, 2026
Primary completion
Jan 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 17, 2026

Study contacts

Josipa Bukić
Contact
jbukic@mefst.hr
+385917933753

Oversight

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

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