Stria alba , also known as white lines or stretch marks, is one of the most common skin problems that many people suffer from, especially during pregnancy, adolescence, and sudden weight changes. These lesions typically appear in areas such as the abdomen, thighs, breasts, and buttocks, and in addition to the physical effects, they can cause psychological problems and reduce self-confidence in people. For this reason, various treatments are used to reduce and improve the appearance of these lesions, but none have been completely effective.
In this regard, the use of microneedling as a new treatment method has received great attention. Microneedling is a therapeutic technique that uses tiny needles to stimulate the skin to produce collagen and elastin, which causes the skin to repair and improve its texture. In this study, published in Springer by Dr. Reza Moeini and colleagues , the effectiveness of microneedling in the treatment of stria alba lesions was evaluated.
Microneedling treatment method
In this study, patients with stria alba lesions underwent microneedling treatment in 1 to 3 sessions, two weeks apart. The treatment was performed on various areas of the body, including the abdomen and thighs. Images of the lesions were taken before and 3 months after the start of treatment to monitor the degree of improvement. All side effects, such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and skin infections, were carefully recorded.
One of the methods of assessing improvement in this study was the use of a visual scoring scale , which was used by physicians and patients to assess the degree of improvement. According to the patients’ self-assessments, the average improvement score was 5.3 ± 1.3 (on a scale of 4 to 8). The physicians’ assessment also showed a score of 5.6 ± 1.2 (range 3.5 to 8), which indicated a significant and dramatic improvement in the condition of stria alba lesions.
Study results and side effects
In this study, the rate of adverse events observed among 32 patients was 25%. Complications included seven (21.9%) cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and one (3.1%) case of skin infection. Although these complications were observed in some patients, overall, microneedling is considered a safe method for treating stria alba lesions. The low rate of adverse events and relatively mild complications make this procedure an acceptable option for many patients.
Benefits of microneedling in the treatment of stria alba
Microneedling has been shown to be effective in improving the appearance of stria alba lesions in this study. In addition to improving skin texture, this method is also cost -effective. One of the most important advantages of microneedling is that it can be easily applied to large areas of skin and, unlike some other treatments, requires a shorter time to see results.
Various studies show that microneedling is less expensive than other treatments, while its effectiveness in treating various types of skin lesions, including stria alba, has been confirmed. In addition, the procedure has minimal side effects, and many patients have seen significant improvements in the appearance of their lesions after microneedling treatment.
Final results and suggestions
In this study, microneedling was found to be an effective treatment for improving stria alba lesions. The results were particularly positive in younger patients and in breast lesions . Also, the improvement of lesions in people with skin type 3 was better than in skin type 2, according to the doctors’ assessment. The study also showed that younger age and more sensitive skin areas can affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
Overall, microneedling, with its relatively low cost, ability to be used on large skin areas, and high safety, is an effective and safe treatment option for treating stria alba lesions. In the future, more research is needed to compare the effectiveness of microneedling alone and as an adjunct.
For further reading, the full article by Dr. Reza Moeini and his colleagues has been published in Springer .
