Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery

Part of paid clinical trials in Pittsburgh, PA, Pennsylvania.

Sponsor
Melissa Pugliano-Mauro
Study ID
NCT03561376
Phase
EARLY_PHASE1
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Hypertrophic Scar
  • Scar
  • Surgery--Complications
  • Surgical Incision
  • Surgical Site Infection
  • Surgical Wound

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Topical zinc oxide vs. petrolatum post-surgical scars — DRUG
    Following linear closure on non-scalp skin with scar length \> 4.5 cm, incision site will be "split" and petrolatum applied to one half and zinc oxide ointment to the other half daily for one month following surgery.

Study Details

Patients undergoing routine surgery in the Department of Dermatology for any indication on non-scalp skin and closed in linear fashion with scar greater than or equal to 4.5cm in length will be invited to participate in this split scar, head to head study comparing zinc oxide and petrolatum. Patients will apply respective ointments to each half of scar daily for one month and maintain a log of these activities. They will be seen at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively for photographic scar assessment and to complete the patient portion of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), a quantitative objective assessment of scar appearance. Trained observers (board-certified dermatologists) will score the observer portion of the scale. POSAS outcomes, post-operative infections, linear density of epidermal seal will be assessed at the 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operative periods and compared between the two groups. Participants will have parking validated for all visits and upon completion of all portions of the study will receive a standardized skin care gift bag containing samples for hypoallergenic skin care products (washes, moisturizers, etc.).

Key Dates

Start date
Sep 1, 2021
Status verified
Aug 2025
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2026
Completion
Oct 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Other: Single arm - split scar study
    Surgical closures, at least 4.5cm in length, will be split and zinc oxide ointment applied to half and petrolatum ointment to the other half

Primary Outcome Measure

POSAS (patient and observer scar assessment score) [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
UPMC Dermatology St. MargaretPittsburgh, PAPennsylvania15213
Lina Husienzad, MD
Lauren Crow, MD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
Melissa Pugliano-Mauro, MD (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

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By research site
UPMC Dermatology St. Margaret· Pittsburgh, PA, PA

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