Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Pigmentary Diseases and Rosacea

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT07667972

Xiangya Hospital of Central South University200 enrolled

Overview

This clinical study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of microfocused ultrasound treatment in patients with facial pigmentary diseases and rosacea. The study includes two independent disease cohorts: a facial pigmentary disease cohort and a rosacea cohort. Participants in each cohort will be randomly assigned to receive either active microfocused ultrasound treatment or sham stimulation. Sham stimulation will follow the same treatment procedure as active treatment but will not deliver effective therapeutic ultrasound energy. Participants will receive one treatment session per month for 6 months and will be followed for up to 12 months. The study will assess changes in clinical severity scores, digital skin imaging parameters, patient-reported symptoms, quality of life, and safety outcomes, including adverse events.

This is a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, assessor-blinded, parallel-group clinical study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microfocused ultrasound in patients with facial pigmentary diseases and rosacea. The study consists of two independent disease cohorts. The facial pigmentary disease cohort will include participants with eligible facial pigmentary disorders, such as melasma, periorbital hyperpigmentation, melanosis, and lichen planus pigmentosus. The rosacea cohort will include participants who meet the diagnostic criteria for rosacea. Each cohort will be randomized separately in a 1:1 ratio to either the active microfocused ultrasound group or the sham stimulation control group. Participants assigned to the active treatment group will receive microfocused ultrasound treatment once monthly for 6 months. The planned treatment parameters include a power range of 3.76 to 5.12 W and a frequency of 8 Hz, with each session stopped after the preset treatment endpoint is reached. Participants assigned to the sham stimulation group will undergo the same procedure, including use of ultrasound coupling gel, probe contact, treatment environment, and treatment duration, but without delivery of effective therapeutic energy. Efficacy assessments will include investigator-assessed clinical severity scores, patient-reported outcome measures, VISIA digital skin analysis, dermatology-related quality of life assessment, and psychological symptom assessment. Safety will be evaluated through physical examination, vital signs, and monitoring of adverse events and serious adverse events throughout the study. An exploratory tissue sample substudy may be conducted in participants who voluntarily provide additional informed consent. This substudy is exploratory and will not affect participation in the main study or the primary efficacy analysis.

Study Type

Interventions

Microfocused Ultrasound TreatmentDEVICE

Active microfocused ultrasound treatment will be administered using an ultrasound therapy device. Treatment parameters are planned as power 3.76 to 5.12 W and frequency 8 Hz. Each treatment session will stop when the preset treatment endpoint. Treatment will be performed once monthly for 6 months.

Sham Microfocused Ultrasound StimulationDEVICE

Sham stimulation will use the same procedure as active microfocused ultrasound treatment, including ultrasound coupling gel, probe contact, treatment environment, and treatment duration, but will not deliver effective therapeutic ultrasound energy.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female participants aged 20 to 60 years. 2. Diagnosed by the investigator as having facial pigmentary disease or rosacea eligible for this study. 3. Participants with rosacea must meet the diagnostic criteria of the Chinese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rosacea (2021 edition). 4. Participants with facial pigmentary diseases must be diagnosed by two dermatologists with associate senior professional title or above, based on clinical manifestations and, when necessary, auxiliary examinations such as Wood's lamp examination, dermoscopy, or skin histopathology. Eligible pigmentary diseases may include melasma, periorbital hyperpigmentation, melanosis, lichen planus pigmentosus, or other facial pigmentary diseases considered suitable for this study. 5. The skin lesions are suitable for microfocused ultrasound treatment and follow-up assessment. 6. Able to comply with study treatment, follow-up visits, photography, and related assessments during the study. 7. Able to understand the study procedures, voluntarily participate in the study, and sign written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or lactating women, or women planning to become pregnant during the study period. 2. Known allergy to ultrasound coupling gel or any of its excipients. 3. Presence of other obvious active inflammatory skin diseases, infectious skin diseases, or other facial skin conditions that may affect efficacy evaluation, apart from the target disease of this study. 4. Use within 1 month before screening of topical medications or procedures that may affect study evaluation, including but not limited to corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, depigmenting agents, or energy-based treatments. 5. Severe cardiac, hepatic, renal, or other important organ dysfunction, or other severe systemic diseases that, in the investigator's judgment, may affect the safety or efficacy evaluation of this study. 6. Participation in another clinical trial within 30 days before screening. 7. History of prolonged intense sun exposure within 1 month before screening, or expected inability to avoid significant sun exposure or outdoor exposure during the study period, which may affect study evaluation. 8. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the participant unsuitable for this study.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change From Baseline in Melasma Area and Severity Index-Based Pigment Area and Severity Score at Month 6

Change from baseline to Month 6 in the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI)-based pigment area and severity score in the pigmentary disease cohort. The score assesses lesion area, darkness, and homogeneity across facial regions. Total scores range from 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating more severe pigmentation.

Time frame: Baseline to Month 6

Change From Baseline in Clinician's Erythema Assessment Score at Month 6

Change from baseline to Month 6 in the Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA) score in the rosacea cohort. The CEA score ranges from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates clear or no erythema and 4 indicates severe erythema. Higher scores indicate more severe erythema.

Time frame: Baseline to Month 6

Secondary Outcomes

Change From Baseline in Melasma Area and Severity Index-Based Pigment Area and Severity Score at Months 2, 4, and 12

Change from baseline to Months 2, 4, and 12 in the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI)-based pigment area and severity score in the pigmentary disease cohort. The score assesses lesion area, darkness, and homogeneity across facial regions. Total scores range from 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating more severe pigmentation.

Time frame: Baseline to Months 2, 4, and 12

Change From Baseline in Melasma Quality of Life Scale Score

Change from baseline in the Melasma Quality of Life Scale score in the pigmentary disease cohort. The scale contains 10 items scored from 1 to 7. Total scores range from 10 to 70, with higher scores indicating worse health-related quality of life and greater disease impact.