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. 2022 Nov 25;10(12):2372.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122372.

Fractional CO2 Laser versus Fractional Radiofrequency for Skin Striae Treatment: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Nuno Mendes  1   2 , Paulo Jorge Alves  3 , Mafalda Barros  2 , Jorge Machado  1   4
Affiliations

Fractional CO2 Laser versus Fractional Radiofrequency for Skin Striae Treatment: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Nuno Mendes et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Striae are common dermal lesions associated with physiological and psychological alterations, affecting the quality of life. This proposed randomized controlled trial protocol will evaluate the clinical efficacy and treatment safety of fractional CO2 laser versus fractional radiofrequency (FRF) in clinical trials. We will randomly allocate 60 subjects who present abdominal striae into two different groups for the treatment, which will be performed once a month for a 3-month period. The results will be assessed by quartile scoring criteria; by comparing digital photos taken before and after each treatment; and also, by the measurement of cutaneous temperature, skin pH, and elasticity before and after the treatment. This paper describes the rationale and the design of the randomized controlled trial, which may provide evidence for clinical application of the methodology and the quality related to the efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 laser versus the FRF protocol for striae treatment.

Keywords: CO2; efficacy; radiofrequency; safety; striae.

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Conflict of interest statement

These authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial Flow Chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relative penetration of the most common wavelenght in all layers of the skin. This image was designed based on the literature [29].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hyperspectral skin image in the visible light range. This image was designed based on the literature [30].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Before (A) and after (B) control photos of abdominal striae of an individual subjected to laser CO2 treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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