Therapeutic effect of nonablative fractional 1565nm laser for striae gravidarum in abdomen

Objective To explore the effect and safety of fractional 1565 nm laser on white striae gravidarum (SG) in abdomen and observe the influencing factors of treatment effect. Methods Thirty-six patients, aged 24-39 years old, were randomly divided into two groups(group A, n=16, group B, n=20): patients in group A underwent two passes of laser treatment: striae were locally scanned at moderate level energy(35 mJ/μb) with high density(300 dot/cm2), and high level energy (45 mJ/μb)with low density(150 dot/cm2)was adopted for the whole area.Group B received one pass of treatment at moderate energy with high density 35 mJ/μb, 300 dot/cm2). All patients received three laser treatments at a 6 weeks interval. Improvement of SG appearance was assessed by blinded reviewers, 3 months after the last treatment, using a percentage category scale. Meanwhile, patients satisfaction was evaluated. The impact of skin aging on laser treatment was evaluated. Patient satisfaction scores and side effects were evaluated. Results All patients completed the overall trial. The average improvement of scores was 1.69±0.95, which contributed to a fairly good response rate of 88.89%. The patients satisfactory and very satisfactory rate was 58.3%(21/36). There was no significant difference in improvement score between group A(1.88±0.89) and group B(1.55±1.00) (P< 0.01). The operation duration of group B was shorter than group A, (29.6±4.9)min vs.(53.7±5.5)min, P<0.05. There was a moderate negative correlation between aging and laser treatment effect (r=-0.553). The abnormal color of skin(erythema and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) in group A lasted longer than group B, (9.17±4.03)d vs. (6.73±2.29)d, P<0.05.The pain score during treatment was tolerable, with the score of 2.61±0.76. Conclusions The treatment with fractional 1565 nm laser can improve the appearance of SG. It is more timesaving when the entire implicated area treated by one pass at moderate level energy with high density. Skin aging will discount the effect. Key words: Striaedistensae, striaegravidarum; fractional laser, nonablative; scar