Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery
This study is comparing how well zinc oxide ointment works against petrolatum (like Vaseline) in healing surgical scars. If you're having skin surgery on a non-scalp area, with a scar at least 4.5 cm long, and your incision is closed in a straight line, you might be able to join. The study will look at how scars appear using a special score called POSAS (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale) at 8 weeks and 6 months after surgery, and how well the skin seals at 1 week. The current recruitment status is unclear.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study planning to enroll 30 participants. It compares two treatments (zinc oxide vs. petrolatum) on different halves of the same scar.
- What's involved
- You would apply zinc oxide to one half of your scar and petrolatum to the other half daily for one month. You would also attend follow-up visits at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months for scar assessment and photography.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Participants will be followed for 6 months after their surgery to assess scar appearance.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Lauren Crow, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Resident Physician, PGY-3
Who to contact
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What this trial measures
- POSAS (patient and observer scar assessment score)8 weeks
Patient and observer scar assessment score. Range from 6-60. Higher score indicates greater patient satisfaction and better overall cosmesis of scar. Please note there is an observer and patient POSAS score. Both range from 6-60. The observer scale grades the apparent vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, and surface area of the scar. The patient scale evaluate the patient's perception of pain, itching, color, stiffness, thickness, irregularity associated with the scar. Each item is graded from 1-10 for a combined minimum to maximum of 6-60.
- Percentage of epidermal linear seal1 week
% of linear scar that has fully sealed across surgical defect based on visual inspection. 0-100%. Higher percentage reflects greater proportion of visually sealed epidermis upon surgical closure.
- POSAS (patient and observer scar assessment score) change between 8 weeks and six monthsTo be assessed at 8 weeks and six months post-operative follow-up
Will assess for change in POSAS between weeks 8 and six months follow-up. The score will range from 0-54
- Change in % epidermal linear seal between weeks 1 and 4 post-operativeweeks 1 and 4 weeks post-operative
Will assess change in % linear epidermal seal between weeks 1 and 4. The score will range from 0-100%.
- POSAS (patient and observer scar assessment score)Six months post-operative follow-up
Range from 6-60. Higher score indicates greater patient satisfaction and better overall cosmesis of scar
- Percentage of epidermal linear seal4 weeks
% of linear scar that has fully sealed across surgical defect based on visual inspection. 0-100%. Higher percentage reflects greater proportion of visually sealed epidermis upon surgical closure.