Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-24 @ 11:39 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-24 @ 11:39 PM
NCT ID:
NCT01315951
Brief Summary:
The goal of this research is to demonstrate the use of petroleum jelly in prevention of nonscalp seborrheic dermatitis exacerbations at the first signs of a flare. In doing so, it will decrease the chronic use of topical steroids. The use of petrolatum should have favorable outcomes for patients, without the side-effects.
Detailed Description:
Nonscalp seborrheic dermatitis (NSSD) is typically a benign inflammatory process of the skin that affects oil rich areas including in and between eyebrows, paranasal area, behind ears, over the sternum, and groin. While these lesions typically come and go without proposing a threat to the patient, they can be socially debilitating, and psychologically distressing.
The mainstay treatment for an exacerbation of NSSD is topical steroids. Topical steroids are very effective and useful to patient's who are desperately seeking treatment. However, most family practitioners are reluctant to prescribe or recommend topical steroids for chronic conditions like NSSD due to the potential side-effects including permanent atrophy of the skin.
NSSD has an unknown etiology. However, one of its biggest risk factors appears to be dry skin due to its increase in incidence during colder seasons, and with use of alcohol-containing topicals. Naturally occurring skin yeast (ie Malassezia) are also thought to play a part.
Petrolatum is considered a skin protectant and has a strong ability to hold moisture in skin. Along with restricting water from leaving skin, it also decreases most air from contacting the skin. This may slow the growth and activity of skin yeast that are typically considered facultative anaerobes.
A patient diagnosed with nonscalp seborrheic dermatitis will be consented into the study and given instructions on the petroleum treatment. This includes wetting the affected area, blotting dry, and then applying petrolatum to the area before bedtime. This regimen is to be followed every other night until symptoms diminish. The patient will come back to the office for follow-up at one week, two weeks, and four weeks after treatment begins to see the outcome. Pictures will be taken at each encounter and used to measure progress through one mm graphs. Patients will not be identifiable in these pictures, and they will be labeled with the patient's given ID number.
Study:
NCT01315951
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT01315951