Pulsed Dye Laser Versus Carboxytherapy for the Treatment of Stria Rubra: A Randomized Clinical and Histopathological Study.

BACKGROUND

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) and carboxytherapy target the vascular component of Stria Rubra (SR), followed by a secondary rejuvenating effect.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of PDL and carboxytherapy for the treatment of SR.

MATERIALS &

METHODS

Twenty patients with SR were included in this study. Each patient received PDL to one randomly selected SR side and carboxytherapy to the other randomly selected SR side. Clinical outcome assessment was done using number of striae and maximum stria width, Vancouver Scar scale (VSS), Erythema index (EI), and histopathological evaluation.

RESULTS

Significant improvement in VSS, EI, and histopathological scoring was found after treatment with each modality, whether PDL or carboxytherapy. Comparison between both modalities revealed a non-significant difference between PDL and carboxytherapy as regards VSS, EI, and histopathological scoring change. Histopathological analysis showed a significant increase of collagen and elastic fibres following PDL. Collagen fibres and perpendicular blood vessels increased significantly with carboxytherapy. PIH was encountered following PDL.

CONCLUSION

Both PDL and carboxytherapy are effective for the treatment of SR. PDL is proposed to produce a better outcome as regards improving the texture of SR skin. The risk of pigmentation can be avoided by proper PDL dosage.