Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Dermatology and Venerology

Background: Striae distensae are common dermatological complaint causing a psychological burden on affected patients. Various therapeutic agents have been tried but each has its own limitations. Fractional CO2 laser offers relatively best results among lasers. Photobiomodulation was reported to have healing properties, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, which all could be of benefit in treatment of stria alba or at least help as an adjuvant to fractional lasers. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of low level light therapy using infra-red diode 808nm in the management of stria alba in comparison to fractional CO2 alone and combined both therapies. METHODS: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 patients were randomized equally to either fractional carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser, low level light therapy (LLLT), or combined. Fractional CO₂: 2 sessions were performed with onemonth interval. LLLT: 8-12 sessions, 2 sessions per week. Follow up at 1 and 3 months was done using physician{u2019}s and patient's global assessment of improvement and patient satisfaction score. Adverse events were evaluated both in term of occurrence (pain, erythema, edema, itching and peeling, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and duration in days.RESULTS: The efficacy of LLLT using Diode 808 nm is statistically comparable to that of fractional CO₂ laser, despite numerical superiority of the latter, as evidenced by the median patient global assessment of improvement, the median physician global assessment of improvement, and the patient satisfaction score at the end of study. The results of the combined group showed the least numerical values in all efficacy outcomes, and they all showed statistically significant difference with the fractional CO2 group, in favor of the latter [median patient global assessment of improvement, median physician global assessment of improvement, and median patient satisfaction]

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