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Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery

NCT03561376 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: EARLY_PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2025-08-14

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.).

Conditions

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

Interventions

DRUG

Topical zinc oxide vs. petrolatum post-surgical scars

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Melissa Pugliano-Mauro

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lauren Crow, MD · Resident Physician, PGY-3

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-09-01
Primary Completion
2026-09-30
Completion
2026-10-30
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03561376 on ClinicalTrials.gov