Striae Distensae Workup

  • Author: Samer Alaiti, MD, RVT; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 17, 2011
 

Histologic Findings

In the early stages, inflammatory changes may predominate; edema is present in the dermis along with perivascular lymphocyte cuffing.

In the later stages, the epidermis becomes thin and flattened with loss of the rete ridges. The dermis has thin, densely packed collagen bundles arranged in a parallel array horizontal to the epidermis at the level of the papillary dermis. Elastic stains show breakage and retraction of the elastic fibers in the reticular dermis. The broken elastic fibers curl at the sides of the striae to form a distinctive pattern.

Scanning electron microscopy shows extensive tangles of fine, curled elastic fibers with a random arrangement. This arrangement is in contrast to normal skin, which has thick, elastic fibers with a regular distribution. When viewed by transmission electron microscopy, the ultrastructure of elastic and collagen fibers in striae is similar to that of healthy skin.

Proceed to Treatment & Management
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Samer Alaiti, MD, RVT  Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Medical Director, Miracle Mile Medical Center for Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, Inc

Samer Alaiti, MD, RVT is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Phlebology, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and American Society of Lipo-Suction Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Barbara R Reed, MD  Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Service, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Consulting Staff, Denver Skin Clinic

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD  Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Zein E. Obagi, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

References

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Mature striae distensae on the abdomen following pregnancy (lesions present for 18 y).
Significant improvement following 3 consecutive blue peels (20% trichloroacetic acid to the level of the papillary dermis) completed at 6-week intervals.
Striae distensae on the thigh.
Striae distensae after treatment with topical tretinoin 0.1% cream for 3 months and 2 treatments with the flashlamp pulsed dye laser.
Mature striae distensae on the abdomen secondary to pregnancy (lesions present for 21 y).
Significant improvement is achieved using tretinoin 0.1% daily for 8 weeks.
 
 
 
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