Efficacy of recombinant human collagen serum for improving skin dryness and roughness in striae gravidarum: A clinical study

Abstract

Striae gravidarum is common after pregnancy and may be accompanied by skin dryness, roughness, and visible textural irregularity that affect quality of life. This prospective, self-controlled clinical study evaluated whether a topical recombinant human collagen serum could improve the biophysical characteristics of postpartum striae gravidarum. Twenty postpartum women with bilateral abdominal striae applied the serum twice daily to one randomly assigned abdominal side for 4 weeks, while the contralateral side served as the within-participant control. Skin elasticity, firmness, striae area, and surface roughness were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 4 using standardized non-invasive instruments and digital image analysis. Longitudinal modeling showed greater improvement on the treated side than on the control side, particularly for elasticity, visible striae area, and surface roughness. Multivariate analysis indicated that reductions in striae area and roughness occurred in a coordinated pattern, suggesting overall structural improvement of the affected skin. The serum was well tolerated, with only mild transient erythema in two participants.
These findings indicate that recombinant human collagen serum is a promising non-invasive option for improving postpartum striae gravidarum-related dryness, roughness, and skin texture.