Pain and Itch Reduction in Burn Scars Treated With Fractional CO2 Laser

Description

Hypertrophic Burn Scars (HTBS) are often treated with Fractional CO2 laser therapy to improve cosmetic appearance. It has been noted that this leads to a reduction in the pain and itch associated with this type of scars. While this phenomenon is commonly described in the literature, the mechanism of pain and itch reduction in unclear. The investigators aim to better understand this process by histological evaluation of HTBS at different stages of laser treatment.

Conditions

Hypertrophic Scar, Burn Scar

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Hypertrophic Burn Scars (HTBS) are often treated with Fractional CO2 laser therapy to improve cosmetic appearance. It has been noted that this leads to a reduction in the pain and itch associated with this type of scars. While this phenomenon is commonly described in the literature, the mechanism of pain and itch reduction in unclear. The investigators aim to better understand this process by histological evaluation of HTBS at different stages of laser treatment.

Evaluating the Mechanism of Pain and Itch Reduction in Burn Scars Following Fractional Ablative CO2 Laser Treatment

Pain and Itch Reduction in Burn Scars Treated With Fractional CO2 Laser

Condition
Hypertrophic Scar
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Patient must have a hypertrophic burn scar treated by skin grafts or allowed to heal secondarily
  • * Burn must have occurred within the last 2 years from time of recruitment
  • * Patient must have symptoms of pain and/or itch and/or hypersensitivity in the hypertrophic burn scar area
  • * Patient must already be planning to undergo laser treatment for their burn scar
  • * Patient must be willing to undergo biopsy procedures
  • * Patient must be willing and able to participate in the study with a year of follow-up
  • * Not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the treatment phase of the study
  • * Medical Conditions that preclude laser treatment
  • * Active tanning, including the use of tanning booths, during the course of the study
  • * Inability to complete surveys
  • * Previous laser (PDL, CO2), surgical reconstructive treatment procedures done on the hypertrophic burn scar
  • * Current treatment with other procedures or drugs (experimental or other) in area of interest
  • * Medications that interfere with wound healing (oral steroids, immunosuppressive medications, chemotherapy or other)
  • * Medication for itch (steroids, antihistamines, or other)
  • * Medication for pain (opioids, topical pain treatment, gabapentin, ondasetron, paroxetine or other)
  • * Adverse reactions to topical or local anesthetic agents needed for this study, if no alternative to the said agent exists
  • * The study area should not be part of a contracture or other hypertrophic scar that would be better treated with surgical procedures.
  • * The study scar must not be adjacent to/in continuity with areas of HTBS that are planning to be treated with surgical interventions.
  • * Any other condition or laboratory value that would, in the professional opinion of the investigator, potentially affect the subject's response or the integrity of the data or would pose an unacceptable risk to the subject
  • * Patient suffers from epilepsy or seizure disorder.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Massachusetts General Hospital,

Jonathan Friedstat, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Record Dates

2025-07