In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (December 2015), researchers Zeinab Abd El-Samad Ibrahim, MD, et al, sought to compare the safety and efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) vs. microdermabrasion for striae distensae.
They randomly assigned 68 subjects with striae distensae to three groups according to therapeutic modality: Group 1 received intradermal injection of PRP alone; group 2 received microdermabrasion alone; and group 3 received a combination treatment of both in the same session. Each patient underwent a maximum of six sessions at two-week intervals. Skin biopsies were taken from some patients at baseline and three months after the last sessions, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain, Masson’s trichrome, orcein, and Van Gieson’s stains in order to study histopathological changes and efficacy of treatment.
There was significant clinical improvement of striae distensae in patients treated with PRP injection and patients treated with combination of PRP and microdermabrasion when compared with patients treated with only microdermabrasion. However, the combination treatment in the same session yielded better results in short duration, and collagen and elastin fibers were markedly increased in the dermis at the end of treatment sessions.
The researchers concluded that when addressing striae distensae, PRP alone is more effective than microdermabrasion alone, but it is better to use a combination of both for increased and rapid efficacy. They also noted that each treatment is well tolerated, safe and cost effective.
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