New Progress in Therapeutic Modalities of Striae Distensae

Abstract

Striae distensae (stretch marks/striae gravidarum) is one of the common cosmetic problems that can cause psychological distress and anxiety to patients due to its disfiguring damage, especially for women. The etiology of striae distensae is currently unknown, and risk factors include low maternal age, family history of stretch marks, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and high neonatal weight. This article reviews the latest literature on the most commonly used, most popular, and novel treatment modalities and analyzes the hot spots and difficulties in striae distensae treatment in recent years. Topical treatment modalities are mainly used as an adjunctive treatment. Ablative lasers and non-ablative lasers are the most popular, among which picosecond has been tried in striae distensae treatment in the last two years. Combined treatment modalities are currently a hot spot for SD treatment, and microneedle radiofrequency and fractional CO 2 laser combined with other treatments are the most common. Microneedle radiofrequency is the most commonly used and achieved therapeutic effect among the combined treatment modalities.

Striae distensae treatment: evaluating laser efficacy and safety

“…Research has primarily focused on combining different modalities, such as radiofrequency (RF), laser, platelet‐rich plasma (PRP), needling, and topical treatments, rather than specifically combining different types of lasers. Nevertheless, the evidence supports the potential of the combination approach in the treatment of SD 1,9 . Combined ablative and non‐ablative lasers have shown impressive results in some previous studies treating various skin conditions, but these studies used separate devices and required a split protocol 6 .…”

“…Nevertheless, the evidence supports the potential of the combination approach in the treatment of SD. 1,9 Combined ablative and non-ablative lasers have shown impressive results in some previous studies treating various skin conditions, but these studies used separate devices and required a split protocol. 6 More recent studies have reported positive results with hybrid laser platforms, which combine both ablative and non-ablative lasers in a single protocol, for a variety of skin conditions.…”

“…9 While there is currently no accepted gold standard, fractional ablative and non-ablative lasers are among the most popular options. 1,9 The combination of both techniques in one system offers the superior efficacy of ablative treatment, along with the faster healing time and minimal discomfort associated with non-ablative methods, and has proven beneficial for a variety of skin conditions. 7,8,10,11 In conclusion, findings from this study demonstrate the potential of the hybrid fractional laser system as a safe and effective method to achieve satisfactory aesthetic results with minimal downtime, making it a promising treatment approach for SD.…”

“…The treatment of SD has been a major focus of research due to its high prevalence and the psychosocial difficulties it causes, which severely impact quality of life 9 . While there is currently no accepted gold standard, fractional ablative and non‐ablative lasers are among the most popular options 1,9 .…”

Fractional CO2 Laser versus Fractional Radiofrequency for Skin Striae Treatment: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Skin lasers have improved, even more so after the development of fractional laser treatment, which is characterized by reepithelization due to the migration of viable cells from undamaged sites to the injury site [ 9 ]. Laser categories include non-ablative fractional laser, radiofrequency (RF), long pulsed Nd:YAG, fractional CO 2 laser, fractional bipolar RF, fractional ablative microplasma RF, and intense pulsed light (IPL) [ 13 , 14 ]. Laser therapy represents a great advance in treating stretch marks, specifically striae rubrae, since there is an increase in the vascularization of the lesions [ 10 ].…”