A Comparative Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Microneedling as a Stand-Alone Treatment for Striae Rubrae...

Striae distensae are a common and often emotionally distressing dermatologic condition among adults. While therapeutic modalities are available, none completely resolve the visual or morphological changes of stretch marks.

This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of microneedling as a stand-alone treatment for both immature (striae rubrae) and mature (striae albae) stretch marks.

Fifteen striae rubrae and 19 striae albae regions from 29 subjects received 4 microneedling treatments, spaced monthly. Site-matched regions on opposite sides of the body were evaluated as untreated controls. Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) and Clinician's Global Aesthetic Improvement Assessment Scale (CGAIS) assessments were completed at all visits including follow-up at 3- and 6-months post-last microneedling treatment. Secondary endpoints included length measurements, adverse event monitoring, safety assessments, post-procedure symptom severity, and subject satisfaction.

Both striae rubrae and striae albae showed progressive improvements in clinical assessments across visits, including continued improvement between 3- and 6-months posttreatment. When comparing groups, striae rubrae had superior aesthetic outcomes, including 43.89% and 48.89% MSS score improvements over baseline at 3 and 6 months, respectively, compared with 36.69% and 41.61% for striae albae. While post-procedure reactions were also heightened for striae rubrae, all reactions were transient, and no adverse events were reported.

This study supports microneedling as a safe and effective treatment for striae rubrae and striae albae, offering preliminary evidence that intervening with microneedling in early-stage stretch marks (striae rubrae) can yield better cosmetic outcomes compared to mature stretch marks (striae albae).