Clinical Observational Study on Changes in Skin Physiological Parameters Following Ablative and Non-Ablative Fractional Laser Treatment at Different Doses

April 24, 2026 updated by: ChinaNorm
This clinical observational study investigates the dose-response relationship between laser energy intensity and skin damage/repair by applying different parameter sets of fractional ablative (CO2) and non-ablative (M22) lasers to the inner forearms of approximately 20 healthy Chinese female volunteers (aged 18-60, Fitzpatrick skin types III-V) in a single-center, self-controlled design. Each participant receives both laser types on contralateral arms, with four distinct energy/density combinations per laser applied to separate test areas, and the dynamic skin responses are evaluated at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days, and 10 days thereafter through clinical assessments (edema, erythema, etc.), standardized photography, high-frequency ultrasound (Dermascan), and objective instrumental measurements of skin color (Chromameter CM26dG), melanin/hemoglobin (Mexameter MX18), and barrier function (TEWL via Vapometer). The collected data will be analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods to characterize the acute injury and recovery profiles, aiming to establish a foundational model for future post-procedure cosmetic intervention research.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shanghai Municipality
      • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200072
        • Recruiting
        • Shanghai China-norm Quality Technical Service Co., Ltd.
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Approximately 20 healthy Chinese female volunteers, aged 18-60 years with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III, IV, or V. This population will serve as participants in a self-controlled, observational study to model laser-induced skin injury. Each participant will receive both ablative (CO2) and non-ablative (M22) fractional laser exposures with varying parameters on their inner forearms to observe the dynamic physiological response and recovery process.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female Chinese study participants aged 18 to 60 years (inclusive).
  • Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III, IV, or V.
  • Willing to receive non-ablative fractional laser (M22) and ablative fractional laser (CO2) irradiation on the test sites during the study.
  • No primary or secondary lesions (such as scars, ulcers, vesicles, tattoos) on the test sites.
  • Has not participated in any other studies involving the test area (forearms) in the past 2 months.
  • Agrees not to use skin-whitening products on the test area during the study period.
  • In good general health at the time of the study.
  • Volunteers to participate and signs the informed consent form and photo release authorization.
  • Willing to comply with all requirements of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Study participants with skin diseases or skin allergies in the test area.
  • Presence of moderate to severe inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., active eczema, acute photosensitive dermatitis, etc.) on the test sites within the past 4 weeks, or those who require treatment with oral or topical corticosteroids or immunosuppressants for skin conditions.
  • On the day of the visit, the investigator judges the presence of significant diffuse erythema, desquamation, or exudation in the test area that may significantly affect skin color measurement.
  • The investigator assesses that the participant is currently suffering from a stable or progressively worsening disease.
  • Participant is planning for pregnancy, is pregnant, or is breastfeeding (applicable to female participants only).
  • Participant with immunodeficiency.
  • Participant has a history of photosensitivity or photoallergy.
  • Participant has a history of skin cancer or malignant melanoma.
  • Presence of significant scars, tattoos, surgical incisions, or pigmented lesions (e.g., prominent birthmarks) in the test area that may affect assessment, and in the investigator's judgment, would impede normal imaging or scoring.
  • Has used high-potency active products containing high concentrations of retinoic acid/retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, etc., on the test area frequently (≥3 times per week) for an extended period (≥4 weeks) within the past 3 months, which, in the investigator's judgment, may significantly affect skin texture or barrier status.
  • History of moderate to severe sun exposure (e.g., prolonged outdoor work, travel to seaside/high altitude) within the past 4 weeks, resulting in significant tanning or sunburn in the test area that, in the investigator's judgment, may interfere with study-related readings.
  • Participation in other clinical or consumer testing projects involving the skin condition of the test area within the past 4 weeks.
  • Presence of significant mental or cognitive impairment affecting compliance, and the investigator considers the participant unable to understand the study procedures or complete the tests as required.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in Composite Clinical Skin Damage Score as Assessed by Clinician
Time Frame: From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.
From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in Skin Color Parameters (L, a, b*, ITA°) measured by Chromameter CM26dG
Time Frame: From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.
From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.
Change in Melanin and Hemoglobin Index measured by Mexameter MX18
Time Frame: From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.
From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.
Change in Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) measured by Vapometer
Time Frame: From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.
From baseline (immediately before laser exposure) to 10 days post-exposure. Assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), immediately post-exposure (Timm), and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, 7 days (T7d), and 10 days (T10d) post-exposure.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
ChinaNorm

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 21, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R26000004

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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