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Fractional radiofrequency (FRF) can potentially act as transdermal permeation enhancer for topical tretinoin (TT). This study investigated FRF and TT as a combination treatment for striae albae. Twenty patients were included, each with four anatomically comparable areas that were randomized to (i) TT (ii) FRF (iii) combination FRF\u2009+\u2009TT and (iv) untreated control. Three treatment sessions were performed one month apart, and TT was also applied in-between. The change in striae from baseline to 20-week follow-up (\u0394) was assessed using the Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS, SUM: 6\u201360). At baseline, patients assessed the striae as moderate-severe (POSAS-PT: SUM medians 24\u201325) and at follow-up, they reported an improvement (POSAS-PT: \u0394SUM 5\u201310 points), but only the combination treatment improved significantly better (FRF\u2009+\u2009TT vs. control\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.029). A blinded dermatologist confirmed a tendency towards treatment improvement (POSAS-OBS: \u0394SUM: 0\u20132 point, all treatments vs control p\u22650.269). A subtle tendency was observed in objective measures with 3D photographs. Combination treatment with FRF and TT was tolerable and improved patient-reported striae compared to control. Striae albae remain challenging, but the findings highlight a potential for future combination treatment approaches.\n                  <\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Trial registration number:<\/jats:bold>\n                    NCT05461755\n                  <\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Date of registration:<\/jats:bold>\n                    15.07.2022\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s10103-026-04975-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T02:17:15Z","timestamp":1785464235000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Treatment of striae albae with combination of fractional radiofrequency and topical tretinoin: A randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"41","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6954-4458","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabriela Llad\u00f3","family":"Grove","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katrine E","family":"Karmisholt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter A","family":"Philipsen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Bjerring","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Merete","family":"Haedersdal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"4975_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.13223","volume":"30","author":"S Ud-Din","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ud-Din S, McGeorge D, Bayat A (2016) Topical management of striae distensae (stretch marks): prevention and therapy of striae rubrae and albae. 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