Use of a specific anti-stretch mark cream for preventing or reducing the severity of striae gravidarum. Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Synopsis Few studies have tested the efficacy of commercially available cosmetic products for preventing striae gravidarum. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy on prevention of striae gravidarum using a specific anti-stretch mark cream containing hydroxyprolisilane-C, rosehip oil, Centella asiatica triterpenes and vitamin E. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between November 2009 and April 2011. Pregnant women were included and classified as treated group (emollient and moisturizer containing hydroxyprolisilane C, rosehip oil, Centella asiatica triterpenes and vitamin E) and control group (cream without the active ingredients). Overall incidence of stretch marks during pregnancy was 33.3% for the control group and 37.6% for the treated group (n.s.). Severity of previous stretch marks significantly increased in the control group during the study (17.8%, P=0.001), but not in the treated group (6.3%, ns). In women who developed new stretch marks during the study, there was a significantly greater difference in severity' (between baseline and maximum severity) in control group vs. treated group (0.47 [0.57] vs. 0.14 [0.60], P=0.031). In women without previous striae, incidence of these marks was significantly lower for the treated group patients compared with control group (5.6% vs. 35%, P=0.031, OR: 9.2 [95% CI: 1.083.3]). The use of the anti-stretch mark product is proved to be effective in reducing severity of the striae during pregnancy, prevents the appearance of new striae and halts progression of those already present. In women who had no striae at baseline, use of the anti-stretch mark cream was more effective than placebo in preventing new stretch marks. Resume Peu d'etudes ont teste l'efficacite de produits cosmetiques disponibles sur le marche pour prevenir les striaegravidarum (vergetures). Par consequent, l'objectif de cette etude etait d'evaluer l'efficacite de la prevention des stries gravidarum en utilisant une creme specifique anti-vergetures contenant Hydroxyprolisilane-C, l'huile de l'eglantier, des triterpenes deCentella asiatica et de la vitamine E. Une etude randomisee, en double aveugle, controlee par placebo a ete menee entre Novembre 2009 et Avril 2011. Les femmes enceintes ont ete incluses et classeesdans le groupe traite (emollient et hydratant contenant Hydroxyprolisilane C, l'huile d'eglantier, des triterpenes de Centella asiatica et de la vitamine E) et le groupe temoin (creme sans les ingredients actifs). L'incidence globale des vergetures pendant la grossesse etait de 33.3% pour le groupe temoin et 37.6% dans le groupe traite (ns). La severite des vergetures preexistantes augmentait de facon significative dans le groupe controle lors de l'etude (17.8%, P=0.001) mais pas dans le groupe traite (6.3%, ns). Chez les femmes qui ont developpe des nouvelles vergetures pendant l'etude, il y avait une differencede severite nettement plus grande (entre le debut et le degre maximal) dans le groupe controle vs.le groupe traite (0.47 [0.57] vs. 0.14 [0.60], P=0.031). Chez les femmes sans vergetures preexistantes, l'incidence de ces marques etait significativement plus faible chez les patients du groupe traite par rapport au groupe temoin (5.6% vs. 35%, P=0.031, OR: 9.2 [IC a 95%: 1.0 a 83.3]). Le produit anti-vergetures est prouve etre efficace dans la reduction de la gravite des stries pendant la grossesse, et il empeche l'apparition de nouvelles vergetures et la progression s'arrete de celles deja presentes. Chez les femmes qui n'avaientpas de stries au depart, l'utilisation de la creme anti-vergetures a ete plus efficace que le placebo dans la prevention de nouvelles vergetures.