Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Added to Six Specific Amino Acids in the Treatment of Striae Alba (SA): An Observational Study

Abstract

Striae distensae or stretch marks are a common complaint among women and can be distressing. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of a mixture of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and six amino acids when applied with a specific intradermal injection technique known as intra-mural fluid technique. A clinical study was carried out in 32 patients (with a dropout rate by 9.4%) with striae distensae alba (SA) in one or more of the following anatomical areas: breast, abdomen, inner thigh, trochanteric area, gluteal area, posterior supra-iliac area, and lumbar area. Product efficacy was assessed by the investigator using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, while a Likert scale was used to evaluate to score the treatment tolerability and a QoL stretch marks questionnaire was used to investigate the patients' self-body image. The treatment was effective in improving the appearance of SA fifteen days after the second treatment and 6 months after the first treatment (and after a total of 4 treatments). The product efficacy and tolerability were also perceived by the patients during each treatment session. Our results suggest that the test treatment is a valid treatment option to decrease the appearance of SA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors https://www.springer.com/00266.

Keywords: Amino acids; Hyaluronic acid; Intra-mural injection; Striae distensae.

Fig. 1

Intra-mural Fluid Technique (ImFT). The technique consists of the injection of 0.2–0.4 ml of the LMWHA + AA mixture using a 32–34 G needle. The inclination of the needle is 30/40° while the depth of penetration inside the wall of the SA was 3/4 mm

Fig. 2

QoL-SM questionnaire

Fig. 3

a Global esthetic improvement by GAIS scale. b Tolerability of the treatment by Likert scale. c QoL-SM questionnaire. Above the bars is reported the statistical analysis. Data are mean ± SE. *** p < 0.001.

Fig. 4

Improvement of clinical appearance of SA. a Subject 10 (21 years old) treatment of SA in the thigh area. b Subject 9 (19 years old) treatment of SA in the trochanteric-subgluteal area. c Subject 24 (60 years old) treatment of SA in the trochanteric-gluteus area

Fig. 5

Improvement of clinical appearance of SA. a Subject 8 (41 years old) treatment of SD in the gluteal area. b Subject 11 (35 years old) treatment of SD in the abdomen area. c Subject 5 (26 years old) treatment of SD in the breast area

Fig. 6

Improvement of clinical appearance of SA. Subject 25 (44 years old) treatment of SD in the hips area