A Comparison Study of the Nonablative Fractional 1565-nm Er: glass and the Picosecond Fractional 1064/532-nm Nd: YAG Lasers in the Treatment of Striae Alba: A Split Body Double-Blinded Trial.

BACKGROUND

Few effective treatments exist for striae alba, which are the mature stage of stretch marks.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of the nonablative fractional 1,565-nm Erbium-glass (Er:glass) and the picosecond fractional 1,064/532-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers in the treatment of striae alba.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty subjects with striae alba on the bilateral abdomen were treated with either the nonablative fractional 1565-nm Er:glass or the picosecond fractional 1,064/532-nm Nd:YAG laser, with a total of 3 treatments 3 weeks apart.

RESULTS

A 31% (1.25/4) texture improvement was noted for both the fractional 1,565-nm Er:glass laser and the picosecond fractional 1,064/532-nm Nd:YAG laser. The degree of atrophy was improved by 30% (1.19/4) with the 1,565-nm Er:glass laser and 35% (1.38/4) with the picosecond 1,064/532-nm Nd:YAG laser. A 48% (1.9/4) subject overall assessment of improvement was noted with the fractional 1565-nm Er:glass laser and 45% (1.8/4) improvement with the picosecond fractional 1,064/532-nm Nd:YAG laser. There was no significant change in striae density with either laser. The picosecond laser was rated as less painful during all 3 sessions (p = .002) and had a shorter healing time (p = .035). The nonablative fractional 1,565-nm Er:glass and the picosecond fractional 1,064/532-nm Nd:YAG lasers were equally efficacious in improving striae alba.