Effect of Topical Oxygen and LED Light Therapy on Nipple Crack
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Topical oxygen therapy, LED light therapy.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Breastfeeding, Newborn Infant, Midwifery, Breast. Basic parameters: 18 years — 40 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effect of Topical Oxygen and LED Light Therapy on Nipple Crack: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
The World Health Organization and UNICEF define the protection and support of breastfeeding as one of the key determinants of maternal and newborn health. Nipple cracks are common in the postpartum period and cause breastfeeding problems. If not addressed early, they can lead to interrupted or complete cessation of breastfeeding. It is important to develop methods for effective, safe, and mother-friendly care of nipple cracks. Various care approaches, such as lanolin, natural products, and hydrogels, have been described in the literature. However, evidence for non-invasive agents that support wound healing at the cellular level is limited. Evidence for LED light application is limited, and there is no evidence regarding the effect of topical oxygen application on nipple cracks. This project is designed as a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of topical oxygen and LED light therapy applied to nipple cracks on wound healing, pain, and breastfeeding success. The study will be conducted at the Lactation Unit of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, between March and December 2026. The sample size was calculated using the G\*Power program; with an effect size of 0.20, a significance level of 5%, and a power of 80%, a total of 51 mothers will be included in the study. Participants will be divided into three groups using the block randomization method: Topical Oxygen (n=17), LED Light Therapy (n=17), and Control (n=17). Standard breastfeeding counseling will be provided to all groups. In addition to the intervention groups, topical oxygen will be applied at a flow rate of 10 liters per minute for 20 minutes; LED light therapy will be applied at 630 nm red and 850 nm infrared wavelengths, at an energy dose of 15.3 J/cm², for 5 minutes. Interventions will be performed on days 0, 3, and 7. Data will be collected using a personal information form, wound size measurement, Nipple Trauma Score, Visual Analog Scale, and LATCH score. The validity and reliability of the Nipple Trauma Score in Turkish will be assessed within the scope of the project. To reduce measurement and analysis bias, support will be obtained from an independent observer and a statistician.
Interventions
- Procedure Topical oxygen therapy
Topical oxygen will be applied directly to the nipple crack using an oxygen mask. The oxygen mask will be washed and dried before and after use. The mask, which is specific to the individual, will be stored in a transparent, sealed plastic bag until it is reused. In the literature, free-flow oxygen applications are frequently administered at a rate of 5-15 liters/min for 10-180 minutes. The size of the nipple fissure is smaller than most wound types reported in the literature. Therefore, consi - Device LED light therapy
An LED light device based on the photobiomodulation principle, commonly used in clinical dermatology applications, will be used in LED light therapy. The LED light will be applied directly to the nipple crack. The device is recommended to be used at a distance of 3 inches (\~8 cm). The application time was determined by calculating the formulation used in similar studies in the literature: Time (sec) = Energy dose (J/cm²) ÷ Light intensity (W/cm²). Thus, the ideal duration for the device to be u
Primary outcome measures
- Nipple Trauma Severity [Time frame: Day 1 (pre- and post-intervention), Day 3 (post-intervention), and Day 7 (post-intervention)]
- Nipple Pain Intensity [Time frame: Day 1 (pre- and post-intervention), Day 3 (post-intervention), and Day 7 (post-intervention)]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Breastfeeding Effectiveness (LATCH Score) [Time frame: Day 1 (pre- and post-intervention), Day 3 (pre-intervention), and Day 7 (pre-intervention)]
- Infant Weight Change [Time frame: Day 1 (pre-intervention), Day 3 (pre-intervention), and Day 7 (pre-intervention)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Individuals aged 18-40,
- Those who gave birth at term (37-42 weeks),
- Those whose baby was 0-28 days old at the first visit,
- Those diagnosed with nipple fissures,
- Breastfeeding their baby,
- Those who have had a single birth,
- Those without a diagnosis of psychiatric illness and who are not taking related medication.
Exclusion criteria
- Those with infection, mastitis, abscess, etc. accompanying nipple injury,
- Those who have started medical treatment for nipple injury,
- Those who are unable to continue breastfeeding,
- Those who feed their baby by expressing breast milk,
- Those who show any adverse reaction to photosensitivity or exposure to sunlight.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa — Istanbul
Publications
- Chaves ME, Araujo AR, Santos SF, Pinotti M, Oliveira LS. LED phototherapy improves healing of nipple trauma: a pilot study. Photomed Laser Surg. 2012 Mar;30(3):172-8. doi: 10.1089/pho.2011.3119. Epub 2012 Jan 27. PMID 22283620
- Camargo BTS, Coca KP, Amir LH, Correa L, Aranha ACC, Marcacine KO, Abuchaim ESV, Abrao ACFV. The effect of a single irradiation of low-level laser on nipple pain in breastfeeding women: a randomized controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2020 Feb;35(1):63-69. doi: 10.1007/s10103-019-02786-5. Epub 2019 Apr 27. PMID 31030379
- de Smet GHJ, Kroese LF, Menon AG, Jeekel J, van Pelt AWJ, Kleinrensink GJ, Lange JF. Oxygen therapies and their effects on wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2017 Aug;25(4):591-608. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12561. Epub 2017 Aug 7. PMID 28783878
- Sykorova M, Moffatt CJ, Stentiford N, Burian EA, Katsuhiro S, Wei Y. Topical oxygen therapy and singlet oxygen in wound healing: A scoping review. Int Wound J. 2024 Apr;21(4):e14846. doi: 10.1111/iwj.14846. PMID 38522472
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07370051 · 2025/xxx