Evaluation of subcision as a treatment for cutaneous striae.
BACKGROUND
Treatment options for cutaneous striae are very limited.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if subcision is an effective treatment for cutaneous striae and compare a combination with 0.1% tretinoin cream against a single treatment.


METHODS
14 patients were evaluated, each with 3 white striae. One stria received treatment with subcision, one with tretinoin cream in a 0.1% concentration, and one with subcision plus tretinoin. The length of follow-up was 3 months. Two blind investigators evaluated improvement by comparison of the initial and final digital photographs.


RESULTS
Only 7 patients completed 3 months follow-up. A decrease of width and clinical improvement was observed with the 3 treatments. However, some striae showed no change at all and there was no statistically significant difference between treatments. Three patients presented necrosis in striae treated with subcision.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no studies in the medical literature about subcision for the treatment of cutaneous striae. This is a preliminary study and considering the undesirable effects of necrosis in a high percentage of striae treated with subcision, the subjective way of evaluation, and the small study group, we can not recommend subcision as a treatment for cutaneous striae. Large studies are necessary to corroborate or to discard our findings.
Luis-Montoya
Pilar
P
Dermatologic Surgery Section of Department of Dermatology, Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico.
Pichardo-Velázquez
Patricia
P
Hojyo-Tomoka
María Teresa
MT
Domínguez-Cherit
Judith
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*