Photoprotection Efficacy of Different Topical Agents Under Visible Light Exposure

Assessment of the Protective Effect of Different Topical Agents on Visible Light Induced Pigmentation Compared with a Not Treated Control Zone

To evaluate the protective effect of seven sunscreens on the pigmentation induced by visible light in comparison to an untreated control zone in healthy volunteers

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Visible Light Exposure on Healthy Back Skin
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Visible Light Exposure - Untreated zone; Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones

Detailed Description

The sunscreens usually used as photoprotectors are known to protect in the UV domain (UVB and UVA). However, until recently visible light (400-700 nm) was considered as devoid of any photobiological effects on cutaneous tissue. Over the last two decades, with the development of photodynamic therapies and various dermatological treatments using visible laser light, several studies have reconsidered the cutaneous effect of visible light on the skin, in particular the induction of pigmentation.

The study intends to evaluate and to compare with a non-treated control zone and between them, the efficacy of photoprotective effect of different products after visible light exposure, between [400-700nm].

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 33

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Romania
  • Bucharest, Romania, 011607
    • CIDP Biotechnology S.R.L

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy male and female volunteers from 18 to 50 years old with phototype III to IV according to the Fitzpatrick scale and with an ITA° between 18° to 32° at Screening

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy female or male volunteer from 18 to 50 years old
2. Skin type III-IV according to the Fitzpatrick classification
3. Average ITA° (Individual Typologic Angle calculated value) on the back between 18° and 32° at screening and inclusion visits with an allowed difference of ± 2° between screening and inclusion visits
4. Uniform skin color over the eight zones (difference in ITA° between each zone should not be more than 4°)
5. Absence of freckles, naevi, hypo or hyper pigmented regions, hairs and marks of bronzing on the investigational area on the back

6. Female subject of childbearing potential, who is not sexually active, or using an effective contraceptive method* for at least one month before the beginning of the study, and throughout the study or menopausal female (with absence of menstruations for less than one year) or post-menopausal female (with absence of menstruations for more than one year)

   *Effective contraceptive methods: sexually active female of childbearing potential should either be surgically sterile (oophorectomy, hysterectomy or tubal ligation), or should use a medically accepted contraceptive regimen: systemic contraceptive (oral, implant, injection), diaphragm or cervical cap with intravaginal spermicide, intravaginal device, intrauterine device (IUD), condom with spermicide

7. Female of childbearing potential or menopausal female (with absence of menstruations for less than one year) willing to undergo urine pregnancy test
8. Subject willing and able to fulfil the study requirements and schedule
9. Subject informed about the study objectives and procedures, and able to understand them
10. Subject who has given written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject who is pregnant or lactating or who is planning to become pregnant during the study
2. Subject with BMI > 30
3. Having planned UV exposure of the investigational area (sunlight or sunbeds) throughout the study
4. Having used sunbeds or had excessive sun exposure of the investigational area within the 3 months before inclusion
5. Having sunburn (erythema) on the back
6. Having dermatological disorders affecting the investigational area (presence of naevi, freckles, excess hair or uneven skin tones, vitiligo, photo-dermatological problems
7. History of skin cancer
8. History of abnormal response to sun
9. Presence of recent suntan (according to Investigator opinion) or photo-test marks
10. History of allergy, hypersensitivity, or any serious reaction to any cosmetic product
11. Any concomitant medical condition that may interfere with the study conduct in the opinion of the investigator
12. Having used within the month before inclusion any systemic medication for more than 5 consecutive days (e.g. steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticoids, insulin, antihistamines, antihypertensive, antibiotics such as quinolone, tetracycline, thiazides, fluoroquinolones)
13. Having used within the month before inclusion any medication known to cause abnormal responses to UV exposure (e.g. vitamin A derivative, psoralen, aminolevulinic acid derivatives, etc.), or having planned to use these medications during the study
14. Having used within the 3 months before inclusion any depigmenting / whitening or pro-pigmenting topical treatments, or any systemic treatment that would interfere with the study assessments (anti-inflammatory drugs, corticoids, retinoids, hydroquinone, etc.) or having planned to use these treatments during the study
15. Having used, within the past 6 months, any physical treatment including laser or phototherapy (PUVA, IPL, PDT…) on the investigational area, or having planned to use these treatments during the study
16. Having planned to perform intensive sport (> 5 hours per week) or swim during the study
17. Subject who declares to be deprived of freedom by administrative or legal decision
18. Subject who cannot be contacted by telephone in case of emergency
19. Subject having participated within the 30 days before inclusion or currently participating in another clinical study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

8

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Untreated zone; non-treated control zone	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Untreated zone; The untreated zone was exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), as the same time as the treated zones.
Product 1; The test product 1 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.
Product 2; The test product 2 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.
Product 3; The test product 3 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.
Product 4; The test product 4 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.
Product 5; The test product 5 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.
Product 6; The test product 6 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.
Product 7; The test product 7 was applied (2 mg/cm²) on the attributed zone according to the randomization list. The application was done during 4 consecutive days (From Day 1 to Day 4).	Other: Visible Light Exposure - Treated zones; The treated zones were exposed to Visible Light to induce skin pigmentation (144J/cm2), 15 to 30 minutes after application.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Biophysical non-invasive assessment of skin color by using Chromameter® between the exposed zone (ZE) and non-exposed zone (ZNE)	Pigmentation (Delta E - calculated values)	At Day 1 before treatment (baseline), then Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 (24 hours after each Visible Light exposure).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical investigator's assessment by using clinical scale	Visual scoring of pigmentation, using a pigmentation 14-point scale with 0 (Absence), 1 (Barely visible), 2 (Very pale brown -), 3 (Very pale brown), 4 (Very pale brown +), 5 (Pale brown -), 6 (Pale brown), 7 (Pale brown +), 8 (Brown -), 9 (Brown), 10 (Brown +), 11 (Pronouced brown -), 12 (Pronouced brown), 13 (Pronouced brown +) Visual scoring of erythema, using an erythema 14-point scale with 0 ((Absence), 1 (Barely visible), 2 (Very pale pink -), 3 (Very pale pink), 4 (Very pale pink +), 5 (Pale pink -), 6 (Pale pink), 7 (Pale pink +), 8 (Pink -), 9 (Pink), 10 (Pink +), 11 (Pronouced pink -), 12 (Pronouced pink), 13 (Pronouced pink +)	At Day 1 before treatment (baseline), then Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 (24 hours after each Visible Light exposure).
Biophysical non-invasive assessment of skin color by using Chromameter® between the exposed zone (ZE) and non-exposed zone (ZNE)	Pigmentation : Individual Typologic Angle (ITA° - calculated value) based on Delta L* and Delta b* - calculated values)	At Day 1 before treatment (baseline), then Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 (24 hours after each Visible Light exposure).
Safety / Local Tolerance	Safety was assessed by recording Adverse Events, including cutaneous reactions (local intolerance).	From the informed consent signature date until the end of the study (Day 5)
Biophysical non-invasive assessment of skin color by using Chromameter® between the exposed zone (ZE) and non-exposed zone (ZNE)	Erythema (Delta a* - calculated value)	At Day 1 before treatment (baseline), then Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 (24 hours after each Visible Light exposure)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cosmetique Active International

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 23, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 18, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): June 18, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 21, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pigmentation; Photoprotection; Sunscreen; Visible Light (VL)
• Other Study ID Numbers: ACR_VLSP_21-02775

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No