Laser hair removal to prevent pilonidal disease from coming back in young people with darker skin

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 pilot randomized trial enrolling patients aged 10–21 with pilonidal disease and Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI to test laser hair depilation of the gluteal cleft. Participants receive a series of laser treatments and are followed for recurrence and safety compared with usual care. The single-center trial is conducted at Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware and excludes those with photosensitivity or active inflammation until it resolves. Primary outcomes include disease recurrence and tolerability of laser depilation in darker skin types.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 10-21 years
* Diagnosis of pilonidal disease
* Fitzpatrick skin type IV, V, or VI

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of photosensitivity
* Actively inflamed pilonidal sinus (will be offered enrollment upon resolution).

Where it's running

• Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware
  Wilmington, Delaware, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Peter C Minneci — Nemours Children's Health Delaware Valley
• Study coordinator: Peter Minneci, MD
• Email: peter.minneci@nemours.org
• Phone: 302-333-9549

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Wound cleaning during pilonidal surgery: saline vs. hypochlorous acid

  This study tests whether irrigating the surgical wound with hypochlorous acid during pilonidal disease surgery helps wounds heal faster than saline in Stage 3 cases.

  Recruiting Stanford University · Palo Alto, California · NCT07417202

• Chlorhexidine (Irrisept) versus normal saline rinse for flap closure in pilonidal disease

  This will see if rinsing the surgical wound with Irrisept (0.05% chlorhexidine) instead of normal saline reduces infections and other wound problems in adults having fasciocutaneous flap surgery for pilonidal disease.

  Recruiting Nasseri,Yosef MD · Los Angeles, California · NCT07321704

• Testing a topical treatment for pilonidal disease

  This study is testing a new cream to see if it can help people with pilonidal disease feel better and reduce their symptoms.

  Recruiting Phase 2 University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · NCT06286397

• Comparing surgery and hair removal for pilonidal disease treatment

  This study is testing whether people with pilonidal disease can avoid surgery by just keeping up with regular hair removal after their symptoms go away.

  Recruiting Stanford University · Palo Alto, California · NCT05439291

• Pilonidal sinus care with VAAPS and loose seton drainage after VAAPS

  This study tests whether adding a loose glove-edge seton drainage to VAAPS can allow patients to manage wound care at home without daily flushing.

  Recruiting Peking University People's Hospital · Beijing, Beijing Municipality · NCT07855107

• Laser versus crystallized phenol for pilonidal sinus in adults

  This trial tests whether laser ablation works better than crystallized phenol for adults with a first-time, uncomplicated pilonidal sinus.

  Recruiting Sanliurfa Education and Research Hospital · Sanliurfa, Şanlıurfa · NCT07701772

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.