title: Treatment of striae distensae using an ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser: a retrospective review of 27 participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Late-stage striae distensae is a type of scar characterized by a loss of collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis. Ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser systems (CO₂ FS) have been used successfully for the treatment of various types of scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of using CO₂ FS for the treatment of striae distensae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven women with striae distensae were treated in a single session with a CO₂ FS. Deep FX mode with a pulse energy of 10 mJ and a density of 2 (percent coverage of 10%) was used. Clinical improvement was assessed by comparing pre- and post-treatment clinical photographs and participant satisfaction rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evaluation of clinical results 3 months after treatment showed that two of the 27 participants (7.4%) had grade clinical 4 improvement, 14 (51.9%) had grade 3 improvement, nine (33.3%) had grade 2 improvement, and two (7.4%) had grade 1 improvement. None of the participants showed worsening of their striae distensae. Mean clinical improvement score was 2.6. Surveys evaluating overall participant satisfaction administered after the treatment was completed showed that six of the 27 participants (22.2%) were very satisfied, 14 (51.9%) were satisfied, five (18.1%) were slightly satisfied, and two (7.4%) were unsatisfied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations demonstrated that the use of CO₂ FS can have a positive therapeutic effect on late-stage striae distensae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young Koo
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dongsik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Sung Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055815:Young Adult