Laser + growth factor improves appearance of stretch marks

(HealthDay)—Laser treatments combined with topical growth factor improve the appearance of stretch marks, according to a small pilot study published online July 29 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Jie Shen, M.D., from Fudan University in Shanghai, and colleagues evaluated the clinical and histopathologic efficacy and safety of the 2940-nm erbium yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG; six times at four-week intervals.) ablative fractional laser with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rb-bFGF; for one week sprayed at home) and light-emitting diode-red light (LED-RL; every seven days for three sessions between the two laser treatments) for the treatment of stretch marks in 30 patients.

The researchers found that all 30 subjects demonstrated clinical improvement after treatment. Skin biopsies showed an increase in epidermal thickness, dermal thickness, and collagen and elastin density after treatment compared to baseline.

"The combination of the 2940-nm Er:YAG laser with rb-bFGF and LED-RL for the treatment of striae alba was a safe and effective approach for improving the appearance of striae alba," the authors write.