This study is being done to answer the question: Do STAR particles (tiny pieces of ceramic with small spikes) help numbing gel (a gel that helps you feel less pain) work more quickly to provide local anesthesia or numbing in a specific area? Research participants will provide feedback on how quickly the STAR particles with the numbing gel can provide anesthesia. Participants will report their sensation at either 10 or 20 minutes after application of the numbing gel.
This study aims to find out if the combination of STAR particles with numbing gel can deliver anesthesia faster than applying the gel by itself. STAR particles are very small particles with microneedles on the surface that can increase and create small punctures in the skin. The small punctures should allow for the numbing gel to work more quickly and allow the area to become numb more quickly. After pretreatment with STAR particles (applied to the right or left arm) and aloe gel (used as a control condition in the contralateral arm) a numbing gel will be applied. A Pin-Prick test will be performed to evaluate local anesthesia from the numbing gel; half the participants will be evaluated 10 minutes after application of the numbing gel and the other half will be assessed 20 minutes after the numbing gel is applied. The study team will also assess pain after needle insertion and measure how much water is being lost from the skin using a device called a Vapometer before and after the STAR particle and aloe gel applications. Participants will have follow-up calls 24 hours and 1 week after the visit to ask about any changes to the skin where the STAR particles were applied.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
22
STAR particles are made of titanium dioxide, a widely used and safe ceramic material found in sunscreens, cosmetics, and paint. The particles vary in concentration and length in order to find the optimal concentration and length. Topical lidocaine (0.5 gm of Lidocaine in LET gel) will be applied immediately after applying a STAR particle preparation to the volar surface of the antecubital fossa.
Topical lidocaine (0.5 gm of Lidocaine in LET gel) will be applied immediately after applying aloe gel (control condition) to the volar surface of the antecubital fossa of the contralateral arm to the one receiving the STAR particle preparation.
Emory Children's Center
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Percent of Sharp (as Opposed to Dull) Sensation Over Application Area
The time to achieve anesthesia is assessed as the percent of sharp (as opposed to dull) sensation reported at 10 or 20 minutes after the application of LET gel.
Time frame: Day 1 at 10 minutes or 20 minutes after application of LET gel
Application Site Pain Assessment
The application site pain assessment was measured by using the visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10 centimeter (cm) line with opposite endpoints representing "no pain" (coded as 0) and "pain as bad as it could possibly be" (coded as 10).
Time frame: Day 1 at 10 minutes or 20 minutes after application of LET gel
Change in Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)
The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured before and after application of the STAR particles and compared to the TEWL measurement before and after application of the aloe gel.
Time frame: Day 1 at baseline and immediately after application of LET gel
Number of Participants With Acute Skin Reactions (ASRs)
Participants were observed for acute skin reactions at each application site on both arms.
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days after application.
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events
All adverse events were documented starting immediately after lidocaine application up to 1 week after application.
Time frame: Immediately after application, 1 hour after application and up to 1 week after application
Number of Participants Experiencing Serious Adverse Events
All serious adverse events were documented starting immediately after lidocaine application up to one week after application.
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Time frame: Immediately after application, 1 hour after application and up to 1 week after application