title: Safety and patient subjective efficacy of using galvanopuncture for the treatment of striae distensae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Striae distensae are linear atrophic dermal scars with associated epidermal atrophy. This recurrent skin disorder causes a significant cosmetic and psychologic concern and remains a therapeutic challenge, especially when they are mature and hypopigmented (striae alba).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this prospective single-center study, we evaluated the efficacy, safety, and patient's satisfaction of galvanopuncture for the treatment of striae alba.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two female subjects with striae alba present on the buttocks were treated with galvanopuncture once a week over a period of 10 weeks. Photographs and a percentage category scale were used to assess striae improvement and patient's satisfaction. Biochemical analyses were performed to assess possible systemic inflammatory effects or oxidative stress induction by the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients achieved a substantial increase in clinical improvement in their striae within 10 treatment sessions. Galvanopuncture did not induce any inflammatory effect; however, it reduced oxidative injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of galvanopuncture for the treatment of striae alba demonstrated a significant improvement in the lesions with visible results. This study supports the high degree of patient's satisfaction and demonstrate the safe and effective use of galvanopuncture in the treatment of striae alba on several skin types.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Cultura de Células, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Centro Universitário UNIVATES, Lajeado, Brazil.
authors.forename: Shanna
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5854-1550
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bitencourt
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis (Uniritter), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adroaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lunardelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson Henrich
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisa em Biofísica Celular e Inflamação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henrique Bregolin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisa em Biofísica Celular e Inflamação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emerson Soldateli
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisa em Biofísica Celular e Inflamação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jarbas Rodrigues
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D009339:Needles; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057896:Striae Distensae / Q000628:therapy*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: galvanopuncture; inflammation; oxidative stress; striae alba