The effectiveness of Fractional CO2 laser and long-pulsed ND- YAG laser in managing striae

Background: Striae Distansae (SD) are a disfiguring dermal condition, characterized by linear bands of atrophic skin, occurring at sites of dermal damage caused by stretching. They affect adolescents and more than 70% of pregnant females due to stretching of the skin. Aims: To evaluate and to compare the efficacy of 1, 064 nm Long Pulsed Nd: YAG laser and Fractional CO2 laser in the management of SD. Patients/Methods: Thirty female patients with bilateral symmetrical SD were treated with Fractional CO2 laser on one side and long-pulsed Nd: YAG laser on the other side. All patients received 3 sessions at 3 weeks interval. Global Aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) and was used to evaluate improvement 3 months post treatment. Four mm punch biopsies were taken from each side before treatment and 3 months after the last session to measure epidermal and collagen thickness. Findings: More significant clinical improvement was noted with the Nd:YAG laser than Fractional CO2 laser. Both GAIS and satisfaction score were significantly higher in the Nd:YAG laser treated side epidermal and collagen thickness were evidently increased in the Nd: YAG laser treated lesions than those treated by Fractional CO2 laser with no significant difference. Conclusions: Long pulsed Nd-YAG laser is clinically more effective than the Fractional CO2 laser in treating SD without serious side effects, although there was no significant difference between them histopathologically.