title: An investigation of striae distensae using reflectance confocal microscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Striae distensae, otherwise known as stretch marks, are white or red scar-like streaks on the skin. Although they are not associated with adverse health outcomes, striae are associated with significant cosmetic morbidity. While they have been well characterised histopathologically, a non-invasive method of microscopic lesion assessment of striae would be welcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  To gain insight into the small-scale morphological features associated with striae we undertook an in vivo investigation of nine patients with striae alba and one with striae rubra utilising reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we demonstrate that features known to be present using light microscopy, such as parallel collagen bundles in the dermis, and some features that are not well recognised by light microscopy, including distortion of dermal papillae, are demonstrable using RCM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Characterising the features of early and established striae distensae with confocal microscopy is an important foundation for future work. The potential ability to reliably identify the earliest pathological changes in skin in early lesions or before clinically manifest striae develop--a task facilitated by our findings--will increase the understanding of their pathogenesis and will have significant practical utility in monitoring the impact of future preventative interventions.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rolfe
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wurm
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilmore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D057896:Striae Distensae / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult