Blue Light Phototherapy for Plaque Psoriasis

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Dermatology CTU

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northwestern University

Must not be taking: Topical steroids, Calcineurin inhibitors

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Prisoners, Vulnerable populations, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 5 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests blue light phototherapy for treating psoriasis vulgaris and Grover's Disease. The goal is to determine if blue light can reduce symptoms on treated areas compared to untreated ones. Individuals diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris or Grover's Disease who haven't used certain skin treatments in the past two weeks might qualify. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore new treatment possibilities for these conditions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking certain medications. If you are using topical or systemic treatments for your skin condition, you must stop them at least 2 weeks before starting the trial. Also, if you are taking specific drugs like topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, methotrexate, retinoids, or biologic agents for other issues, you cannot participate in the trial.

What prior data suggests that Blue Light Phototherapy is safe for treating psoriasis vulgaris and Grover's Disease?

Research has shown that blue light therapy is generally safe for treating skin conditions like Grover's disease and psoriasis. In one study on Grover's disease, participants reported no side effects related to the treatment, and many preferred blue light therapy over other treatments.

For psoriasis, light therapy is effective, though mild side effects, such as slight skin irritation, may occur. Overall, patients have tolerated the treatment well. Blue light therapy uses LED lights, which are considered safe and effective in reducing skin problems. While discussing any concerns with a doctor is important, blue light therapy has a history of being a safe choice for many. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard treatments for psoriasis and Grover's disease, such as topical steroids and systemic medications, Blue Light Phototherapy offers a non-invasive approach by using specific wavelengths of blue light to target affected skin areas. This method is unique because it aims to reduce inflammation and skin lesions without the side effects often associated with traditional medications. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it could offer a safer, more targeted way to manage these skin conditions, potentially improving patient quality of life with fewer risks.

What evidence suggests that Blue Light Phototherapy might be an effective treatment for psoriasis vulgaris and Grover's Disease?

Research has shown that blue light therapy can help treat both psoriasis and Grover's Disease. In this trial, participants will receive blue light phototherapy on one affected area of their body. One study found that this therapy significantly reduced the number of skin spots and improved itching for adults with Grover's Disease, with many patients preferring it. For psoriasis, another study confirmed that blue LED light is a safe and effective option, showing noticeable improvements in the skin condition. Patients reported fewer side effects compared to other treatments. Overall, blue light therapy offers a promising alternative for managing these skin conditions. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Shuai Xu

Principal Investigator

Northwestern University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

You have been diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris or Grover's disease in the past.

Patient's aged 18-89 at time of enrollment

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to schedule phototherapy sessions

You have used any medication or treatment for your skin condition within the past 2 weeks before starting phototherapy.

We will not recruit the following populations: adults unable to consent, individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers), pregnant women, prisoners and other vulnerable populations.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive blue light phototherapy on affected areas for psoriasis or Grover's disease

5 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Long-term follow-up

Elucidate changes in circulatory T-cells based on flow cytometry and serum cytokines with blue light therapy

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Blue Light Phototherapy

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adult treatment arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Adults enrolled in the study will receive treatment (blue light phototherapy) on one area of their body affected by psoriasis or Grover's disease. The treatment area (restricted by size of the device) will be compared to untreated areas affected by disease on the same patient.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northwestern University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,674

Recruited

989,000+

T-Cellerate LLC

Industry Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

10+

T-Cellerate LLC

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

10+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 8 healthy volunteers, exposure to visible blue light over five consecutive days did not cause DNA damage or early signs of skin aging, indicating its safety for dermatological use.

The treatment resulted in transient melanogenesis, evidenced by a significant increase in Melan-A-positive cells, and caused vacuolization of keratinocytes, but did not lead to any inflammatory responses or apoptosis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical and histological effects of blue light on normal skin. Kleinpenning, MM., Smits, T., Frunt, MH., et al.[2010]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9713673/

Assessment of Blue Light Phototherapy for Grover Disease

This nonrandomized clinical trial assesses treatment of patients diagnosed with Grover disease with blue light phytotherapy for several weeks.

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04343586

Researcher View | NCT04343586 | Blue Light Phototherapy

This study will use Blue-light Photo-therapy to treat patients with psoriasis vulgaris and Grover's Disease. Detailed Description. Not provided. Study Type ...

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8330862/

Prospective 3-month study on the efficacy of UV-free blue ...

Our results confirm that phototherapy using blue LED light is both a safe and highly effective way to treat psoriasis. In the current in vitro studies, blue ...

4.

healio.com

healio.com/news/dermatology/20230106/blue-light-therapy-effective-alternative-treatment-for-adults-with-grovers-disease

Blue light therapy effective alternative treatment for adults ...

Preferred by 50% of patients, blue light therapy was associated with decreased lesion count and improved itch without adverse events for the ...

5.

jaad.org

jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(22)01548-1/fulltext

35104 The effectiveness and safety of blue light in ...

Our preliminary results in the largest group of atopic dermatitis patients showed the reduction in EASI (mean EASI 9.14 vs 5.42) and SCORAD ( ...

6.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04343586

Study Details | NCT04343586 | Blue Light Phototherapy

Study Overview. Brief Summary. This study will use Blue-light Photo-therapy to treat patients with psoriasis vulgaris and Grover's Disease.

7.

psoriasis.org

psoriasis.org/phototherapy/

Light Therapy for Psoriasis

While phototherapy has shown high success rates in improving psoriasis symptoms, it is essential to be aware of potential side effects. These ...

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332225006365

The two faces of blue light: From treating inflammation to ...

The results indicate that UV-free blue LED light therapy is a safe and effective method of reducing eczematous lesions [53]. Becker et al. examined the effect ...