Prophylaxis of Striae gravidarum with a topical formulation. A double blind trial

Synopsis A prophylactic antistriae cream (Centella asiatica extract, alpha-tocopherol, and collagen-elastin hydrolisates) was assessed by a double blind trial in 80 pregnant women. In the placebo group 22 women (56%) presented striae, whereas in the treated group only 14 women (34%) developed striae in this pregnancy; this difference was significant (p < 0.05; chi(2) test). An arbitrary score was designed to assess the intensity of striae (from 0 to 3); this score was 1.42 (sd 0.5) in the treated group and 2.13 (sd 1.32) in the placebo group and this difference was also significant (p= 0.014; Mann-Whitney test). In women with a history of striae during puberty, the active cream induced a significant absolute prevention in 89% of the cases whereas in the placebo group all the women developed striae (p= 0.00014; chi(2) test).