Promising Option for Treatment of Striae Alba: Fractionated Microneedle Radiofrequency in Combination with Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser

Farahnaz Fatemi Naeini, Shadi Behfar, Bahareh Abtahi-Naeini, Shima Keyvan, Mohsen Pourazizi, Farahnaz Fatemi Naeini, Shadi Behfar, Bahareh Abtahi-Naeini, Shima Keyvan, Mohsen Pourazizi

Abstract

Background. A consistent treatment has not been proposed for treatment of Striae Alba (SA). The present study was designed to compare the fractionated microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) alone and in combination with fractional carbon dioxide laser (FMR + CO2) in the treatment of SA. Methods. Forty-eight pairs of SA from six patients were selected. Right or left SAs were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups. The surface area of the SA before and after treatment and clinical improvement using a four-point scale were measured at the baseline, after one and three months. Results. The mean age of the patients was 30.17 ± 5.19 years. The mean difference of the surface area between pre- and posttreatment in the FMR + CO2 group was significantly higher than that in the FMR group (p = 0.003). Clinical improvement scales showed significantly higher improvement in the FMR + CO2 group than in the FMR group in the first and second follow-up (p = 0.002 and 0.004, resp.). There were no major persistence side-effects in both groups. Conclusions. The results showed that FMR + CO2 laser was more effective than FMR alone in the treatment of SA.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow chart of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Striae alba on the right calve one month after the end of study. The purple areas denote the measured area by PictZar Digital Planimetry Software.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The measured SA area at baseline, after treatment and in the follow-up in FMR and FMR + CO2 group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Striae distensae on the buttock of a 30-year-old patient. Significant improvement at 3 months after the end of the study: (a) at baseline; (b) after one month; (c) after three months.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Improvement in clinical appearance of striae alba. Baseline (a) and posttreatment (b) with fractionated microneedle radiofrequency combined with fractional carbon dioxide laser.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Immediate erythema at the site of treatment in a patient in FMR + CO2 group.

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