NCT06593067

Skin Surface and Intradermal Temperature Responses to Heat Stress

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 9 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare surface and intradermal skin temperature responses to heat stress with and without evaporative and convective cooling.

Detailed description

Humans have important thermoregulatory responses aimed at maintaining body temperature within a narrow range. These responses are driven in part by receptors located in the skin that monitor temperature changes and provide feedback to the central nervous system. Given that skin temperature can affect the physiological responses to heat stress, it is important to accurately measure skin temperature in response to heat stress with and without evaporative (i.e., sweat) and convective (i.e., air flow) cooling. Skin temperature is most often measured on the surface of the skin; however, this temperature can be influenced by other factors such as the local environment. It is unclear how the temperature of the skins surface compares to the temperature within the dermal layer of the skin. The study team will directly compare skin surface and intradermal temperature responses to heat stress and determine whether these responses area altered by evaporative or convective cooling methods. To accomplish this objective, healthy adults will be exposed to ambient heat stress (no higher than 47°C) with and without evaporative (water sprayed on the skin) and convective (electric fan) cooling. Thermoregulatory responses, inclusive of skin surface and intradermal temperatures, will be assessed throughout the heat trial.

Conditions

• Hyperthermia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Control	Individuals will be exposed to a heated environment (41°C, 15% humidity) for a period of 15 minutes without a cooling modality.
OTHER	Fan	Individuals will be exposed to a heated environment (41°C, 15% humidity) for a period of 15 minutes with an electric fan as a cooling modality.
OTHER	Fan and Water Spray	Individuals will be exposed to a heated environment (41°C, 15% humidity) for a period of 15 minutes with an electric fan and water spray as cooling modalities.
OTHER	Water Spray	Individuals will be exposed to a heated environment (41°C, 15% humidity) for a period of 15 minutes with water spray as a cooling modality.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-10-01
• Primary completion: 2026-10-01
• Completion: 2026-10-01
• First posted: 2024-09-19
• Last updated: 2025-07-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study