Almond oil versus 2% hydroquinone for facial pigmentation

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a randomized, open-label comparison enrolling 50 premenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types 3–6, with 25 assigned to nightly almond oil and 25 to nightly 2% hydroquinone for four months. Investigators will collect facial images and measure skin pigment, skin hydration, and sebum excretion rate at baseline and follow-up visits. The study will also analyze changes in the facial skin microbiome associated with each topical treatment. All visits take place at the UC Davis Department of Dermatology Clinical Trials Unit.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Premenopausal women of Fitzpatrick skin types 3 to 6

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those with a nut allergy
* Smoking is an independent risk factor and serves as a confounder for the development of facial aging \[18\]. Therefore current smokers, those that have smoked within the past year, and former smokers with greater than a 20 pack year history of smoking will be excluded.
* Those with an autoimmune photosensitive condition or a known genetic condition with a deficiency in collagen production (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) will be excluded as this can be a confounder for facial photoaging.
* Hormonal medications or therapies will not be allowed unless they have been stable on their medications for at least 2 months. Examples include oral contraceptives, progesterone-based injections, and estrogen based hormonal replacement therapy.
* Those who have undergone any cosmetic procedures to the face in the 4 months prior to enrollment in the opinion of the investigator. People that have undergone deeper chemical peels (TCA based peels) within 1 year prior to enrollment will also not be eligible.
* Individuals who are unwilling to discontinue vitamin E containing supplements and food sources during the washout and intervention.
* Individual who are unwilling to discontinue topical cosmetic products during the duration of the study.
* 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:

  * Retinoids such as tretinoin, adapalene, retinol.
  * Antioxidant ingredients such as vitamin C or vitamin E.
  * Pigment-reducing agents such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid per the discretion of the investigator except for the hydroquinone that is provided in this study.
  * Topicals that contain a nut oil or nut extract as part of their ingredient list.
* Furthermore, subjects will be asked to refrain from use of any other topical products for one week prior to each visit apart from the study agents supplied from this study.

Where it's running

• UC Davis Department of Dermatology, Clinical Trials Unit
  Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Raja Sivamani, MD MS AP — UC Davis Dermatology
• Study coordinator: Iryna Rybak
• Email: irybak@ucdavis.edu
• Phone: 916-551-2636

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.