Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Photobiomodulation for the Treatment of Pruritus

Starting soon · Early Phase 1 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Pruritus

In brief

This study is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a low-level near-infrared LED light device for relieving itch. The device is non-invasive, does not break the skin, and does not produce heat. Near-infrared light has been used in other medical settings and is known to interact with skin and nerve pathways. In this study, researchers are examining whether this light can be safely applied to the skin and whether it may help reduce itch by affecting signals involved in itch sensation.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07450716

Run by

Massachusetts General Hospital

People needed

20

Starts

2026-04-01

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-13

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participant is an adult at least 18 years-of-age.
• Participant meets the criteria for acute or chronic itch as defined below:
• Acute itch lasting less than 6 weeks.
• Chronic itch lasting more than 6 weeks.
• Participant is able and willing to comply with all the study visit, treatment, and evaluation schedules and requirements.
• Participant can understand and provide written informed consent.
• Participant does not have any concurrent injury or wound in their target treatment area.
• Participant is either untreated for their pruritus, or if on therapy, must have been maintained on a stable regimen of antipruritic treatments for the past 14 days prior to enrollment.
• Participant has mild, moderate, or severe pruritus as defined below:
• Mild: average score <4 on the PP-NRS during the week before baseline.
• Moderate: average score 4-7 on the PP-NRS during the week before baseline.
• Severe: average score of > 7 on the PP-NRS during the week before baseline.
• Participants must have comparable pruritus affecting symmetrical or corresponding areas on both sides of their body to allow for the split-body study design.

You may not qualify if…

• Participant has any active internal or cutaneous malignancy located within the proposed treatment area.
• Participant cannot provide informed consent or adhere to study schedule.
• Participant is actively tanning during the study course.
• Participant has melasma or another condition exacerbated by heat.
• Participant is on a photosensitizing medication, such as doxycycline or has a photosensitizing condition.
• Patient is currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Participant has psychogenic pruritus, a diagnosed skin-picking (excoriation) disorder, or any other current psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's judgment, could interfere with informed consent, adherence to the study protocol, or safe participation.
• Participant has any condition which, in the Investigator's opinion, would make it unsafe (for the participant or study personnel) to treat the participant as part of this study.

Where it is running

• Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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