Subcision, chemical peels, and platelet-rich plasma: Combination approaches for the treatment of striae distensae.

Striae distensae (SD) are disfiguring skin condition causing cosmetic troubles and psychological distress. The aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus its combination with subcision or medium-depth peeling (glycolic acid 70% followed by trichloroacetic acid [TCA] 35%) for SD treatment. Seventy-five female patients with SD were divided into three equal groups with the contralateral side in each patients represented the control group. Group A treated with PRP, group B received PRP + subcision while group C received PRP + combined peeling (GA 70% + TCA 35%). Primary outcome included clinical improvement, patients' satisfaction, and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Striae measurement, skin biopsies were also assessed. Very much improvement was achieved in 28%, 44%, and 36% in groups A, B, and C respectively. The combined groups (B and C) showed significantly higher patients' satisfaction and DLQI than group A (p = 0.03), (p < 0.0001). A significant decrease in all striae measurements was achieved with all groups (p < 0.001); however, groups B and C showed more decrease (p = 0.2 and 0.4). A highly significant decrease in the mean number of sessions was found in group B (p < 0.0001). All groups demonstrated improvement in dermal collagen deposition, which was higher in the combined groups. Side effects were mild and well tolerated. The combination of PRP with subcision or peeling was more effective and offered a higher therapeutic response than PRP alone. Moreover, the subcision has superior efficacy in striae albae and safer in darker skin types.

Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex With Dystonin Gene Mutation: First Reported Case in Saudi Arabia.

We report a case of a 3-year-old Saudi female patient as the first case reported in Saudi Arabia who is homozygous for dystonin c.3370C>T, p.(Gln1124*). At the age of 3 months, the girl started to develop numerous vesicles and bullae involving the dorsum of the feet that were not on a pressure site, with remission and aggravation, but she had no mucosal lesions or nail affection. The patient was diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

Evaluation of carboxytherapy and platelet-rich plasma in treatment of periorbital hyperpigmentation: A comparative clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Management of periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH) is still a therapeutic challenge. Although different therapeutic modalities are available, the outcomes of most of them are unsatisfactory. OBJECTIVES: To investigate and compare the efficacy and safety of two new modalities in the treatment of POH; the platelet rich plasma (PRP) and the carboxytherapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients with POH. Every patient was subjected to seven intradermal injections of PRP on the left periorbital area with 2 week intervals between sessions and carboxytherapy on the right area with 1 week interval apart. Assessments were done by investigators' assessment, visual analogue scale by both patients and doctors, and patients' satisfaction. Side effects were reported. RESULTS: All patients completed the sessions in the carboxy-treated side. In the PRP-treated side, 10 patients refused to complete all sessions because of intolerable side effects. Significant improvement in POH was achieved in both sides (P ≤ .0001). The improvement was comparable with no statistically significant difference between both modalities. Side effects in the carboxy treated side were mild and well tolerated by all patients while they were relatively severe, and persisted for days after sessions in the PRP-treated side. CONCLUSIONS: Both PRP and carboxytherapy are relatively effective and their efficacy is comparable in treatment of POH. Carboxtherapy is simple and slightly more effective modality and well tolerated than PRP. We believe that both modalities are promising but not the ideal solutions of the POH problem which is caused by multifactorial etiology.