Pilot Study to Test the Safety and Effectiveness of 20% Cassia Alata Cream for Treating Tinea Versicolor

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the clinical effectiveness and safety of a 20% Cassia alata extract cream for treating tinea versicolor, a common superficial fungal skin infection also known as pityriasis versicolor. The study aims to determine whether applying this traditional remedy helps clear the infection better than leaving the skin untreated and to assess any side effects from its use. This is a Phase 1 pilot trial conducted by The University of The West Indies. Participants will apply a thin layer of the Cassia alata cream twice daily to a designated treatment area on the skin, using 1-2 fingertip units to cover the affected site, leaving other areas untreated for comparison. The cream application is spaced at least 8 hours apart. The study involves a single-arm, no-treatment self-controlled design where treated areas are compared against untreated areas. Follow-up visits are scheduled every 4 weeks for a total of 12 weeks. During the study, participants will undergo clinical examinations, fungal scrapings, and Woods lamp evaluations at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks to assess lesion clearance and fungal load. Researchers will monitor local skin reactions and document side effects and ease of use. Demographic data and clinical findings will be analyzed to evaluate the treatments effect and safety profile over the 12-week period.

A Study of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety of 20% Cassia Alata Extract Against Tinea Versicolor