Bacteria and fungi on hypopigmented seborrheic skin patches

Characterization of Bacterial and Mycosis Skin Flora in Seborrheic Macular Hypopigmentation - Microbiome_SHM

This will test whether the bacteria and fungi on the pale facial patches of adults with seborrheic macular hypopigmentation differ from the nearby normal skin.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (Academic / other)
• Locations: 3 sites (Nice, Alpes-Maritimes and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06908889 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with facial seborrheic macular hypopigmentation will have skin swabs taken from hypopigmented lesions and from adjacent non‑lesional skin, and comparable samples may be collected from healthy volunteers. Laboratory analysis will profile bacterial and fungal communities on those samples to look for differences in types or amounts of microbes. People who recently used systemic or topical antibiotics or antifungals, applied facial products within days, or had recent facial procedures will be excluded to avoid altering the microbiome. The goal is to determine whether specific microbial patterns are associated with the condition and to inform future treatment research.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) with a clinical diagnosis of seborrheic macular hypopigmentation on the face who can give informed consent and meet the medication and procedure exclusion windows are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who recently used systemic or topical antibiotics/antifungals, applied topical facial products within the exclusion window, had recent facial procedures, or who are minors, pregnant, breastfeeding, or under guardianship are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If differences are found, this could point to new, targeted approaches to treat or manage seborrheic macular hypopigmentation.

How similar studies have performed: Microbiome profiling has been informative in other skin conditions, but applying bacterial and fungal community analysis specifically to seborrheic macular hypopigmentation is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female and male patients ≥ 18 years of age
2. Clinical diagnosis of SMH with lesion of the face
3. Written informed consent obtained before any assessment is performed
4. Affiliation with a social security scheme
5. Physical and psychological ability to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of systemic antibiotics or any systemic antifungal treatments within 4 weeks before the inclusion visit
2. Use of topical antibiotics or any topical antifungal treatments on the face within 2 weeks before the inclusion visit
3. Use of any topical cream, gel, serum or ointment within 2 days before the inclusion visit
4. Laser, radiofrequency, peeling or any other procedure on the face in the past 3 months before the inclusion visit
5. Vulnerable patients: minors, patients under guardianship or curatorship, pregnant or breast-feeding women

Where this trial is running

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes and 2 other locations

• CHU de Nice - Hôpital de l'Archet — Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Recruiting)
• Hôpital Louis Pasteur, hôpitaux Civils de Colmar — Colmar, Colmar, France (Recruiting)
• Hôpital Saint-Louis - APHP — Paris, Île-de-France Region, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Thierry Passeron, PhD — CHU de Nice, Service de Dermatologie
• Study coordinator: Thierry Passeron, PhD

Conditions Hypopigmentation