Placebo effects on histamine and cowhage-induced itch
Official title: Pain and Itch Neuromodulation: Effects of Offset Analgesia, Placebo, and Nocebo and Topographical Distribution of Itch and Pain Receptors
Run by Aalborg University · NCT07247695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This one-time, 1½-hour session will test whether applying a harmless cream reduces histamine- and cowhage-induced itch in healthy adults aged 18–60.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Aalborg University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Gistrup) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 3, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | December 4, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07247695 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Healthy English-speaking adults aged 18–60 with intact forearm skin, no chronic itch or pain, not pregnant or lactating, and not taking antihistamines or painkillers are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with chronic or active skin disease, current use of antihistamines or pain medications, pregnancy or lactation, neurological or psychiatric disorders, recent drug use, or forearm wounds/tattoos are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants first complete questionnaires about how they perceive itch, pain, and mood and about personality traits. Four sites (two on each forearm) are treated with the same inert vehicle cream for 20 minutes to create a placebo context; afterward two sites are randomly challenged with histamine and two with cowhage. Itch and pain are continuously recorded on a visual analog scale during the 10-minute pruritogen application. The within-subject design in healthy volunteers compares placebo responsiveness between histaminergic and non-histaminergic itch over a single 90-minute session.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help develop non-drug approaches to reduce acute itch and guide use of placebo mechanisms in symptom management.
How similar studies have gone: Placebo effects on itch—especially histamine-induced itch—have been reported, but direct comparison of placebo responses between histaminergic and cowhage (non-histaminergic) itch is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy men and women * 18-60 years * Speak and understand English Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or lactation * Drug addiction defined as any use of cannabis, opioids, or other drugs * Previous or current history of neurological, immunological, musculoskeletal, cardiac disorder or psychiatric diagnoses that may affect the results (e.g., neuropathy, muscular pain in the upper extremities, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, etc.) * Moles, wounds, scars, or tattoos in the area to be treated or tested * Current use of medications that may affect the trial such as antihistamines and pain killers * Skin diseases * Consumption of alcohol or painkillers 24 hours before the study days and between these * Acute or chronic pain and itch * Participation in other trials within 1 week of study entry (4 weeks in the case of pharmaceutical studies) * Contraindications to capsaicin, including intolerance to chili or burns or wounds at the application site * The subject is assessed as unable to engage in the necessary cooperation required by the study
Where it's running
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Aalborg University
Gistrup, Denmark Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Silvia Lo Vecchio — Aalborg Universitet
- Study coordinator: Silvia Lo Vecchio
- Email: slv@hst.aau.dk
- Phone: +4521397785
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Topical Roflumilast Cream for Itch in Atopic Dermatitis: See If It Helps Over 4 Weeks
This trial tests whether a 0.15% topical roflumilast cream can reduce itching in people 12 years and older with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis over 4 weeks.
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Exploring How Contagious Itch Works on the Skin
This study tests how itch spreads when histamine, cowhage, or a placebo are applied to the forearms to see how people feel itch and pain.
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Mapping itch and pain receptor locations on the face
We will test how itch and pain are felt at different spots on the face in healthy adults by applying mild provocations (histamine, cowhage, capsaicin) and measuring responses over three days.
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Using Virtual Reality and Hypnosis to Reduce Chronic Itch
This study is testing whether using virtual reality combined with hypnosis can help people with chronic itch feel better.
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Effects of motor imagery on pain and itch perception
This study tests if imagining movements can help reduce pain and itch sensations in people experiencing these feelings.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.