Study of Topical Cryotherapy to Ease Pain from Steroid Injections in Adults with Keloid or Hypertrophic Scars

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether applying brief topical cryotherapy just before steroid injections can reduce pain and injection resistance in adults with keloid or hypertrophic scars. The study compares pain and injection resistance between scar areas treated with cryotherapy plus steroid injections versus steroid injections alone. This research aims to improve comfort and treatment experience during routine scar care. Participants will have one keloid or hypertrophic scar divided into two halves. One half will receive a short spray of liquid nitrogen for cryoanesthesia followed by a steroid injection, while the other half will receive only the steroid injection with the same technique and dose. The cryotherapy is applied for about 10 seconds, and steroid doses range from 10 to 40 mgmL. This split-treatment approach allows direct comparison of the two methods on the same scar. During the treatment visit, participants will rate their pain after each injection using a 10-point scale. Providers will also rate the injection resistance using a similar 10-point scale immediately afterwards. These assessments are done during the same visit. The study primarily measures pain perception and injection resistance to understand the impact of cryotherapy on these outcomes.

Topical Cryotherapy and Keloid/Hypertrophic Scars