Hair RemovalPhase 4NCT02318654
Ice Versus EMLA for Pain in Laser Hair Removal
A Phase 4 study testing Ice Pack and Topical EMLA cream in people with Hair Removal, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ice pack to topical eutectic mixture of local anesthesia (EMLA) for pain control in diode 810 nm laser axillary hair removal. This study is a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of these procedures. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Hair Removal
- What is being tested?
- Ice Pack and Topical EMLA cream
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 Dec 2014to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Subjects are Caucasian or Asian females.
- Subjects are 18-65 years old.
- Subjects have Fitzpatrick skin type I-III and coarse dark axillary hair.
- Subjects are in good health.
- Subjects can provide informed consent.
- Subjects have the willingness and the ability to understand and communicate with the investigators.
Who cannot join
- Subjects who are allergic to lidocaine or prilocaine.
- History of methemoglobinemia.
- History of recurrent petechial or purpuric lesions.
- Bleeding tendency or coagulopathy.
- History of laser treatment in axilla.
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
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- Pregnant or lactating or intends to become pregnant in the next 3 months.
- Active skin disease or skin infection in the treatment area.
- Subjects with known mental illness or other psychological conditions, such as psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and cognitive disorders.
- History of cold urticaria.
- History of current injury or abnormal skin sensation.
- Unable to understand the protocol or to give informed consent.
- Any other condition that would, in the professional opinion of the investigator, potentially affect response or participation in the clinical clinical study, or would pose as an unacceptable risk to subject.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology
Chicago, Illinois, 60611
About this study
Official title: Comparing the Efficacy of Ice Pack Versus Topical EMLA for Pain Control in Laser Axillary Hair Removal: A Randomized Control Trial
The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ice pack to topical eutectic mixture of local anesthesia (EMLA) for pain control in diode 810 nm laser axillary hair removal.
This study is a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of these procedures.
- Conditions
- Hair Removal
- Being tested
- Ice Pack, Topical EMLA cream
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Ice PackOther
Subjects will have 600 grams of ice in clear plastic bag size 18 x 23 cm applied to the randomized axilla for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the ice pack will be removed and laser hair treatment will be performed.
Topical EMLA creamDrug
Topical EMLA will be applied approximately 2 mm thick to the randomized axilla with a wooden tongue depressor wrapped with impermeable plastic occlusion dressing for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, the drug will be removed with regular gauze and saline and laser hair treatment will be performed.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Pack | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Ice Pack |
| Topical EMLA cream | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Drug: Topical EMLA cream |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain using the SF-MPQ immediately after treatment
Measured: immediately (at 0 min) after laser treatment
Pain using the SF-MPQ 5 minutes after treatment
Measured: 5 mins after laster treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Dec 2014 (estimated)
- Study start30 Dec 2014
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hair RemovalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Northwestern UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Murad Alam, Northwestern University
- Investigators
- Murad Alam, MD, Principal investigator, Northwestern University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02318654
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STU106090
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Dec 2014
- Last updated
- 1 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparing the Efficacy of Ice Pack Versus Topical EMLA for Pain Control in Laser Axillary Hair Removal: A Randomized Control Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02318654
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STU106090
- Conditions
- Hair Removal
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Dec 2014 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Dec 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ice pack to topical eutectic mixture of local anesthesia (EMLA) for pain control in diode 810 nm laser axillary hair removal.
This study is a pilot study designed to determine feasibility of these procedures.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Pack | Active comparator | Other: Ice Pack |
| Topical EMLA cream | Active comparator | Drug: Topical EMLA cream |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Subjects are Caucasian or Asian females.
- Subjects are 18-65 years old.
- Subjects have Fitzpatrick skin type I-III and coarse dark axillary hair.
- Subjects are in good health.
- Subjects can provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Subjects who are allergic to lidocaine or prilocaine.
- History of methemoglobinemia.
- History of recurrent petechial or purpuric lesions.
- Bleeding tendency or coagulopathy.
- History of laser treatment in axilla.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Ice PackSubjects will have 600 grams of ice in clear plastic bag size 18 x 23 cm applied to the randomized axilla for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the ice pack will be removed and laser hair treatment will be performed. | Other | Ice Pack |
| Topical EMLA creamTopical EMLA will be applied approximately 2 mm thick to the randomized axilla with a wooden tongue depressor wrapped with impermeable plastic occlusion dressing for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, the drug will be removed with regular gauze and saline and laser hair treatment will be performed. | Drug | Topical EMLA cream |
Primary outcome
Pain using the SF-MPQ immediately after treatment
Time frame: immediately (at 0 min) after laser treatment
Pain using the SF-MPQ 5 minutes after treatment
Time frame: 5 mins after laster treatment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Murad Alam, MD principal investigator
Northwestern University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Ice Pack and Topical EMLA cream in people with Hair Removal, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain using the SF-MPQ immediately after treatment (time frame: immediately (at 0 min) after laser treatment). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jul 2026.