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The twenty first century's progress in medicine and cosmetology triggered the search for effective and safe new cosmetics and procedures to fight with such problems as wrinkles or stretch marks. The study aimed to use the synergy of silanols with boron compounds and to develop treatment methods supported by a fractional-ablative laser. Sixty-seven Caucasian people were enrolled in this study: 33 patients with facial and neck wrinkles and 34 patients with stretch marks. Preparations containing methylsilanetriol were pressed into the skin by means of oxygen infusion which were followed by the fractional-ablative laser treatments. The effectiveness of removal of wrinkles was better if combination therapy was used in the form of transdermal delivery of methylsilanetriol combined with laser therapy. The effectiveness of stretch marks removal by combination therapy was comparable to a two laser treatments and more effective than one laser therapy. Moreover, the use of products based on methylsilanetriol stabilized with boric citrate resulted in shortening the period of regeneration after the treatment with fractional-ablative laser by 29–58%. The gel based on methylsilanetriol developed in this study can be successfully used after all laser treatments, but also those related to skin pricking to accelerate regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study was conducted to identify the striae gravidarum (SG) prevalence in primigravid women, the influencing risk factors and the preventive interventions, and also to investigate its effect on body perception. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted on 421 primigravid women who presented to a training and research hospital to have a nonstress test during routine follow-up. The data of the study were collected with the "Data Collection Form", "Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale", "Davey's Severity Score of Striae Gravidarum" and "Body Image Scale (BIS)". Results: SG was found to be present in 67% of primigravid women. According to the results of the logistic regression analysis conducted, the presence of social security, sleep duration, BMI in pregnancy, and a history of striae in the mother and/or sister were found to be associated with SG presence (p < 0.05). A very weak positive relationship was found between SG severity in primigravidas and the score obtained from BIS (p < 0.05). The body perception of the pregnant women worsened in the presence of SG and a very weak negative relationship was found between the number of interventions used for prevention and the BIS score (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SG is seen in 7 of 10 women and affects body perception negatively. We recommend providing training and consultancy services both before and during pregnancy on the interventions and lifestyle changes required and topical preparations that can be used to prevent or decrease the severity of SG while taking the risk factors causing the problem into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Striae distensae are caused by rapid stretching of the skin. They are often secondary to obesity or pregnancy and can lead to significant cosmetic disfigurement. Aim: To determine the efficacy, indications, and side effects of commonly used energy devices in the treatment of striae. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed and Medline databases. Results: A total of 41 relevant articles were identified. Radiofrequency (RF) was the commonest employed modality (11 studies), followed by the CO2, and pulsed dye lasers (10 and 5 studies, respectively). The best results against striae alba were seen with a combination of RF, platelet-rich plasma and ultrasound (either excellent or very good results in 71.9%), followed by intense pulsed light in isolation (very good results in 40%). The response of SR was assessed by fewer studies. The best outcomes were seen after treatment with either the Nd:YAG (excellent results in 40% and good in 40%) or Er:Glass lasers (excellent results in 10% and good in 20%). Conclusions: The therapeutic measures for striae are multiple and no current treatment offers consistent and complete resolution. However, energy devices are a safe and potentially effective modality in the treatment of striae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article utilizes notions of ‘agency’ to explore the relationship between experiences of pregnancy loss and narratives about related skin-based body modifications. The term ‘pregnancy loss’ is used to denote a range of medical events with potentially far-reaching emotional and social consequences. The research from which the empirical content of this article is drawn seeks to bring together feminist interests and the discipline of human geography to examine experiences of pregnancy loss. Different aspects regarding ‘agency’ are attended to through several practices—namely, the acquisition, display/concealment and narration of skin-based bodily marks like stretch marks and memorial tattoos. This includes a discussion on notions of ‘choice’ in terms of receiving/acquiring changes to the skin through pregnancy and pregnancy loss, regarding which stretch marks and tattoos are often pitted as oppositional. A more complex picture of agency is explored and illustrated with the narratives of several women with pregnancy-loss experiences, highlighting that both kinds of skin-based modifications can be framed in more agential ways, including as appreciated reminders of simultaneous love and loss. In doing so, this article constitutes an attempt to engage with pregnancy loss from a feminist perspective, as encouraged by Linda Layne, and to contribute to feminist scholarship on body modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Striae Distensae (SD) is a very common dermatologic condition. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a novel non-ablative fractional 1565 nm laser (ResurFX) on the appearance of SD. Materials and methods: Twelve Caucasian subjects with various stages of SD received three non-ablative laser treatments. Each treatment consisted of two different laser settings, in order to achieve a demarcated dense impact together with a diffused deep impact. Three months after the last treatment, SD improvement was assessed by blinded and non-blinded reviewers using clinical images and 3D image analyses. Results: Good clinical improvement (between 51% and 75%) was observed in all patients. Most patients showed improvement of > 50% in the volume of depressions and in lesion color (91.7% and 83.3% of patients, respectively). The average pain during treatment was generally defined as tolerable and the average downtime was 4 days. Transient erythema and severe edema were noted immediately after the procedure, but long-lasting or severe adverse effects were not observed. All patients noted a good improvement and were satisfied with the treatment and the results. Conclusions: The treatment with the 1565 nm ResurFX laser resulted in improved pigmentation, volume, and textural appearance of SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous abdominal operations might cause severe intraperitoneal adhesions (IPA), which can complicate caesarean section (CS) procedures. When selecting the mode and timing of delivery, obstetricians are also curious about uterine scar healing if the previous operation was a CS. Uterine scar thickness is an indicator of uterine scar healing. We aimed to evaluate the possible predictive value of striae gravidarum (SG) on IPA formation and uterine scar thickness (UST). Methods: Fifty-five women with a previous CS history were evaluated for SG Davey Score. They were investigated for IPAs and lower segment uterine scar thickness during the current CS operation. Results: Out of the patients with no SG ( n = 11), mild SG ( n = 10) and severe SG ( n = 34), 1 (9.1%), 3 (30%) and 17 (50%) had IPA, respectively ( p = 0.044). The mean uterine scar thicknesses in the no SG, mild SG and severe SG groups were 3.82 ± 4.04, 5.20 ± 4.13 and 5.18 ± 3.52, respectively ( p = 0.561). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to investigate the relationship between SG and IPA and uterine scar thickness. The SG status of a patient with a previous delivery and abdominal operation history might help predict IPA status before planning a new operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]