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Novel Strategies for Reducing Burn Scar Itch

Novel Strategies for Reducing Burn Scar Itch

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06801626
Enrollment
44
Registered
2025-01-30
Start date
2025-03-01
Completion date
2027-11-01
Last updated
2025-09-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Burn Scar, Itch Scarring, Wound

Keywords

Itch, Burn, Diphenhydramine, Famotidine

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to see whether using diphenhydramine (Benadryl), famotidine (Pepcid), and cromolyn sodium will decrease burn scar itch.

Detailed description

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a new approach to treating burn scar itch. In other patient populations experiencing itch, H2 antihistamines and/or topically applied cromolyn sodium have decreased itch. We believe that these medications will reduce itch from burn scars. To test this idea, the investigators will compare two methods of treating itch: 1) recommended oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl) with placebo capsule and placebo lotion and 2) recommended oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl) with administration of oral famotidine (Pepcid) and topically applied cromolyn sodium.

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCTFamotidine and 4% topical cromolyn sodium

Patients will be instructed to take a 20mg famotidine capsule twice daily, and to use the lotion (4% cromolyn sodium) twice daily.

OTHERPlacebo

Treatment with active H1 antihistamine plus administration of placebo famotidine and placebo cromolyn sodium.

Sponsors

University of Texas
CollaboratorOTHER
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Participants must meet all the inclusion criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the study. * Participant has provided informed consent in a manner approved by the IRB and is willing and able to comply with the trial procedures. * Adults: ≥18 to \<80 years of age. * Has an itchy burn scar.

Exclusion criteria

Participants meeting any of the

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Itch Scale: Visual Analogue Scale Itch (VAS Itch)baseline, weekly for 3 months, at 3 and 6 months (+/-15 days each timepoint) after start datePatients will score the severity of itch on the scale provided at study start, once weekly for 3 months, at the 3-month visit, and again at study end (6 months). Patients will rate their itch from 0 to 10. to measure the intensity of itchiness, where a patient marks a point on a line to indicate how severe their itch is, with zero representing no itch and 10 representing worst imaginable itch. A higher score means a worse outcome.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Panel (BBSIP)baseline, and at clinic visit approximately 3 months (±15 days) after study startBBSIP is a patient-reported outcome measure developed in consultation with burn survivors that takes approximately 10 minutes to complete; the specificity of this comprehensive questionnaire allows detection of changes in quality of life related to burn hypertrophic scar. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome.
PROMIS-29baseline, and at clinic visit approximately 3 months after study start (±15 days)This questionnaire will be administered to determine whether the effects of treatment impact quality of life as reported by the patient.
The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale 3.0baseline, and at clinic visit approximately 3 months (±15 days) after study startThe Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) is an established scale for assessing scars by both the patient and the observer. The overall opinion of the scar is reported on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being normal skin and 10 being the worst scar. (POSAS 3.0) will be filled out by the participant and a clinical observer to evaluate scar severity/quality.
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)baseline, and at clinic visit approximately 3 months after study start (±15 days)A global index that consists of 3 questions to which participants will rate the severity of 1) their PAH symptoms, 2) shortness of breath (SOB), and 3) fatigue. The minimum and maximum range of scores for each of the 3 individual questions was 1-5, with severity scale choices of 1=not present, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=severe, and 5=very severe. A higher score indicates a worse outcome.
Participants Activity with FitbitMonth 1, 2, 3 (+15 days, each timepoint)Overall activity: To be captured via Fitbit on a daily basis to gauge overall activity. These data will be correlated with the itch and pain scales, as reduced activity is associated with pain and/or itch.
Pain scale: Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain)baseline, and at clinic visit approximately 3 months and 6 months after study start (±15 days)The VAS pain score is a simple and effective method used to measure patients' pain levels. This method is typically represented by a line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the most severe pain. Patients are asked to mark a point on the line that corresponds to their level of pain.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactLindsey Allen, RN
listurm@utmb.edu409-266-2678

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026