Biweekly in-office injectable treatment of striae distensae vs a long-term daily use of topical vitamin C

The treatment of striae distensae (SD) is difficult, generally unsatisfactory, and no placebo-controlled study has been carried out to ascertain the effect of different topical treatments. The aim of this study was to control the activity of both an office injectable treatment and a topical treatment of water solutions of vitamin C, betaglucan and hyaluronic acid (active A). A single blind placebo-controlled randomized comparative clinical study was performed on 66 women aged between 18-24, with SD localized over the abdomen and buttocks. The subjects were divided into 3 study groups. Active B was applied at home twice a day for 16 weeks to 24 patients (group A). Twice a week they received also dermal injection of active A for the entire period. 22 patients in group B applied, twice a day, active B for 16 weeks. The remaining 20 patients in group C applied a placebo solution (distilled water) twice daily during the same period. The differences between the results in the different groups were statistically significant at week 12 and 16 (p<0.05) both by visual score and by istological control performed. However, the combined use of injection and topical application (group A) provided superior results (+57%, p<0.05) compared with the group B (topical treatment only) (+32% p<0.05 vs. placebo). No side effects were observed during the treatment period, except a light burning at the moment of the injection. No results from placebo. The combined topical and injectable use of vitamin C, betaglucan and hyaluronan seems to be effective to stimulate cell proliferation provided that the right concentration of the active with the right carrier is used.