Long-term results of the treatment of pregnancy-induced striae distensae using a 1550-nm non-ablative fractional laser

Background: Striae distensae (SD) are a type of dermal scarring that is quite common and difficult to treat. Two forms are known: striae rubrae (SR) and striae albae (SA). Objective: We compared the long-term clinical effectiveness of a 1550-nm non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) in treating SR and SA. Materials and methods: We included 16 female patients (8 with SR and 8 with SA) who had developed abdominal SD during pregnancy. All underwent five moderately high-energy sessions of 1550-nm NAFL treatment at 4-week intervals. The strial widths and lengths were measured before, and 1 month and 1 year after treatment. Results: The mean strial width decreased from 6.94 mm before treatment to 3.25 mm at the first follow-up visit (p = 3.95 × 10−5) and to 3.13 mm at the second follow-up visit (p = 2.44 × 10−5). Similarly, the mean strial length decreased from 6.06 to 2.88 cm at the first follow-up visit (p = 1.7 × 10−4) and to 2.75 cm at the second follow-up visit (p = 9.52 × 10−5). Conclusion: NAFL treatment was effective long term in both SR and SA patients.