Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Acute Irritant Dermatitis
Effects of Glycyrrhetinic Acid on Human Skin in an Acute Irritant Contact Dermatitis Model
2 other identifiers
interventional
30
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Irritant dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory skin disorders, caused by exposure to external substances that induce inflammation and immune activation. Standard management includes avoidance of irritants, restoration of the skin barrier using emollients, and the application of anti-inflammatory drugs such as topical corticosteroids. However, due to the risks associated with long-term corticosteroid use, there is an interest in developing emollient formulations enriched with bioactive compounds possessing anti-inflammatory properties. Among those promising compounds is glycyrrhetinic acid. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, a bioactive component of licorice root extract, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Topical application has demonstrated beneficial outcomes in conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne, pruritus, and UVB-induced skin damage. Its proposed mechanisms of action include inhibition of key inflammatory enzymes (COX, 5-LOX, iNOS) and promotion of skin regeneration through stimulation of aquaporin-3 expression and enhancement of epidermal turnover. Topical application of formulations containing 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid will improve skin parameter disturbances caused by irritation induced with sodium lauryl sulfate. This study aims to evaluate the effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on human skin parameters in an acute irritant dermatitis model induced by sodium lauryl sulfate, providing further insight into its potential role as an anti-inflammatory and barrier-restoring agent. Funding: Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Mar 2026
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
December 2, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 16, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 1, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
April 25, 2027
February 13, 2026
November 1, 2025
3 months
December 2, 2025
February 12, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (4)
Transepidermal water loss
Tewameter will be used to assess skin barrier function as a measurement of the water loss (g/m2/h).
Baseline, Irritation Assessment, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 10th day of the treatment
Hydration
Corneometer will be used to estimate skin dryness. It is a relative measurement and uses arbitrary units (AU).
Baseline, Irritation Assessment, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 10th day of the treatment
Erythema
Mexameter will be used to assess erythema. It is a relative measurement and uses arbitrary units (AU).
Baseline, Irritation Assessment, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 10th day of the treatment
Skin elasticity
Cutometer will be used to assess skin elasticity.
Baseline, Irritation Assessment, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 10th day of the treatment
Study Arms (8)
No Treatment and Intact skin
OTHERNo topical product will be applied. Intact skin.
Placebo and Intact skin
PLACEBO COMPARATORTopical placebo formulation identical in appearance and vehicle composition to the active preparation but without glycyrrhetinic acid. Used to control for vehicle effects on skin parameters. Intact skin.
Glycyrrhetinic Acid (lower dose) and Intact skin
EXPERIMENTALTopical formulation containing a lower concentration of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Designed to evaluate the dose-dependent effect of the active compound on intact skin parameters. Intact skin.
Glycyrrhetinic Acid (higher dose) and Intact skin
EXPERIMENTALTopical formulation containing a higher concentration of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Used to assess whether a higher dose enhances anti-inflammatory and barrier-restoring effects compared with the lower dose and placebo.
No Treatment and Irritation
OTHERNo topical product will be applied. SLS induced skin irritation.
Placebo and Irritation
PLACEBO COMPARATORTopical placebo formulation identical in appearance and vehicle composition to the active preparation but without glycyrrhetinic acid. Used to control for vehicle effects on skin parameters. SLS induced skin irritation.
Glycyrrhetinic Acid (lower dose) and Irritation
EXPERIMENTALTopical formulation containing a lower concentration of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Designed to evaluate the dose-dependent effect of the active compound on skin recovery and barrier function after irritation. SLS induced skin irritation.
Glycyrrhetinic Acid (higher dose) and Irritation
EXPERIMENTALTopical formulation containing a higher concentration of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Used to assess whether a higher dose enhances anti-inflammatory and barrier-restoring effects compared with the lower dose and placebo. SLS induced skin irritation
Interventions
Designated test area with no topical application after irritation (on the irritated forearm) and on corresponding intact skin (on the non-irritated forearm). Serves as a baseline reference for spontaneous recovery and physiological skin variability.
Topical formulation identical in composition to the active preparations but without glycyrrhetinic acid. Used to evaluate the effect of the formulation vehicle on skin parameters. Applied daily to designated test sites on both irritated and intact forearm areas for the duration of the study.
Topical formulation containing a lower concentration of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Designed to assess the effects of the active compound at a lower dose on skin barrier recovery and skin parameters following SLS-induced irritation. Applied daily to designated test sites on both irritated and intact forearm areas for the duration of the study.
Topical formulation containing a higher concentration of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid. Designed to assess the effects of the active compound at a lower dose on skin barrier recovery and skin parameters following SLS-induced irritation. Applied daily to designated test sites on both irritated and intact forearm areas for the duration of the study.
Skin irritation will be induced on 4 defined test sites on one forearm (randomly selected forearm) using 60 uL of 1% w/v sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) aqueous solution under occlusion for a defined period to create a controlled model of acute irritant dermatitis. The contralateral forearm will remain untreated and serve as intact skin for comparison. Following the induction phase, all test products (placebo and active formulations) will be applied to both irritated and intact sites according to the treatment allocation.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Healthy adult participants aged 18 years or older, of any sex.
- Intact, healthy skin at the test sites.
- No use of systemic or topical corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or antihistamines within the previous three months.
- No use of topical emollients on the test sites within the previous seven days.
You may not qualify if:
- Pregnant women, women suspected of being pregnant, and breastfeeding women.
- Non-compliance with the study protocol.
- Voluntary withdrawal or personal decision not to continue participation.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- University of Split, School of Medicinelead
- European Unioncollaborator
Study Sites (1)
University of Split School of Medicine
Split, 21000, Croatia
Related Publications (5)
Scheinman PL, Vocanson M, Thyssen JP, Johansen JD, Nixon RL, Dear K, Botto NC, Morot J, Goldminz AM. Contact dermatitis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 May 27;7(1):38. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00271-4.
PMID: 34045488BACKGROUNDJohansen JD, Bonefeld CM, Schwensen JFB, Thyssen JP, Uter W. Novel insights into contact dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022 Apr;149(4):1162-1171. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.02.002. Epub 2022 Feb 18.
PMID: 35183605BACKGROUNDKang SY, Um JY, Chung BY, Lee SY, Park JS, Kim JC, Park CW, Kim HO. Moisturizer in Patients with Inflammatory Skin Diseases. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Jul 1;58(7):888. doi: 10.3390/medicina58070888.
PMID: 35888607BACKGROUNDWeisshaar E. Chronic Hand Eczema. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2024 Nov;25(6):909-926. doi: 10.1007/s40257-024-00890-z. Epub 2024 Sep 19.
PMID: 39300011BACKGROUNDKowalska A, Kalinowska-Lis U. 18beta-Glycyrrhetinic acid: its core biological properties and dermatological applications. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2019 Aug;41(4):325-331. doi: 10.1111/ics.12548. Epub 2019 Jun 28.
PMID: 31166601BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
December 2, 2025
First Posted
December 16, 2025
Study Start
March 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
April 25, 2027
Last Updated
February 13, 2026
Record last verified: 2025-11