research

Apigenin (from parsley, chamomile and celery) may help prevent cellulite

Apigenin (from parsley, chamomile and celery) may help prevent cellulite

A new study, published a few days ago (December 2023) looked at the potential antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-cellulite potential of a family of aromatic plants called Apiaceae or Umbelliferae. Common apiaceae plants include ajwain, angelica, anise, asafoetida, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, cow parsley, parsley, parsnip and sea holly…

Pterostilbene, resveratrol and hyperpigmentation

Pterostilbene, resveratrol and hyperpigmentation

Pterostilbene is a chemical found in plants that has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties make it potentially useful for preventing skin cancer and other skin conditions. However, until recently, there had not been any research examining the effects of pterostilbene on pigment production in the skin…

How unhealthy foods cause skin ageing via glycation

How unhealthy foods cause skin ageing via glycation

We know for a few decades now the detrimental role of glycation on body ageing, especially that of blood vessels and skin - and consequently cellulite. (Of course, you will never read that in any “beauty” article in high-end consumer magazines. For them anti-aging is all about using using SPF 50 even in your sleep, exfoliating day and night and having lots of botox and fillers. Oh well…)

Where does fat go when you lose weight?

Where does fat go when you lose weight?

When doctors, dieticians and personal trainers were answered the question "When somebody loses weight, where does the fat go?", the vast majority of them answered that fat becomes energy, faeces or muscle, with all answers being wrong, of course…

Brown fat, white fat, thermogenesis and cellulite

Brown fat, white fat, thermogenesis and cellulite

Have you ever heard of white fat, beige fat or brown fat? I know it may sound weird, but indeed fat comes in three colours and each of them is different. White fat tissue is known to store fat, making you, well, fat. Could you lose that fat, as well as cellulite, by turning your white fat tissue a few shades darker, i.e turning it into "beige fat" or perhaps even “brown fat”?

Is cellulite hereditary?

Is cellulite hereditary?

Is cellulite hereditary? Two studies say yes. There are two studies (both with a control arm) that looked specifically to the influence of specific SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in our genetic code that can significantly increase your chance of cellulite.

How does infrared / red light therapy work?

How does infrared / red light therapy work?

Energy in every single cell of the human body is produced in specialised cell compartments called mitochondria. Mitochondria is where oxygen is utilised to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell. If mitochondria malfunction then the whole cell malfunctions and underperforms. On the skin, this can lead to aesthetic problems (dull, irritated, inflamed or unhealthy skin). In other organs and tissues this can lead to a poorer state of health, lower energy levels, slower recovery from injuries etc…

Western diet, civilisation diseases and cellulite

Western diet, civilisation diseases and cellulite

A 2019 paper published in the journal ‘Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy’, examined the profound impact of Western diets and lifestyles on the global epidemic of obesity, and chronic non-infectious degenerative conditions, collectively termed "civilisation diseases" - to which we might incllude the aesthetic condition of cellulite, as the exact same causes of civilisation diseases also result in cellulite development. These conditions/diseases include type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and others. The paper argues that these conditions (to which we include cellulite), are rare or absent…

Does vaping or smoking cause cellulite?

Does vaping or smoking cause cellulite?

Many women notice that smoking has made their cellulite worse, sometimes in a matter of months. There is a lot of misinformation about everything to do with cellulite, so in this article we will examine how smoking (and vaping) affects cellulite and weight gain…

Collagenase injections "to get rid of cellulite": the delusion is over

Collagenase injections "to get rid of cellulite": the delusion is over

These medicalised beauty procedures have quite often led to an artificial or even deformed look on the face or the body; quite a lot of adverse reactions; and in the end little actual benefit. A good example of this trend for instant results via the unnecessary and irrational butchering of internal tissues, are collagenase injections to literally dissolve down the excess collagen found in cellulite. This is achieved with a collagen-dissolving enzyme found in an injectable called “collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes”…

Christensenella bacteria and weight loss: what we know so far

Christensenella bacteria and weight loss: what we know so far

It is now well known that gut bacteria influence our body weight and that faecal transplants can turn lean people into obese or - vice versa - they can save them obese people from otherwise incurable obesity. Specifically, christensenella gut bacteria have been found to be more common in lean people than the overweight and obese and they are also highly inheritable from parent to child. In the lab, christensenella minuta bacteria have turned obese mice into lean mice, and when they were transplanted into bacteria-free obese mice, they reversed their weight gain….

Can infrared led light therapy enhance lymphatic drainage and fluid balance?

Can infrared led light therapy enhance lymphatic drainage and fluid balance?

At its core, infrared light therapy employs light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit wavelengths typically ranging from 700 to 1,000 nanometers. Unlike the harsh ultraviolet rays that scorch the skin, infrared light penetrates deeper into tissues, reaching muscles, nerves, and even lymphatic structures. The mechanism hinges on stimulating mitochondria—the powerhouses of cells—to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule that fuels cellular activity…

Decoding lipedema: from hidden causes to hopeful treatments

Decoding lipedema: from hidden causes to hopeful treatments

Lipedema is a chronic condition characterised by abnormal fat deposition primarily in the arms, hips, buttocks, and thighs, while sparing the hands and feet. For decades little was known about this condition but in the last two decades and especially since 2015 research into lipedema as well as awareness by doctors and patients has increased exponentially. Lipoedema, first described in 1910 by Irving Phillips Lyon as "adipose" or "lipomatosis," was formally delineated in 1940 by Edgar Allen and Edgar Alphonso Hines Jr. as a distinct syndrome involving fat legs and orthostatic edema. Symptoms include pain, bruising, edema, and subcutaneous nodules, which are resistant…

Astaxanthin and collagen synergy for cellulite and skin elasticity

Astaxanthin and collagen synergy for cellulite and skin elasticity

It is well known that hydrolysed collagen enhances skin firmness, as it provides peptides which are ready for use by skin cells in the production of collagen. Furthermore, it is also well-known that most "antioxidants" (polyphenols and carotenoids) assist in the prevention of collagen and elastin damage and boost it's production…

Hyaluronic acid: anti-aging, cellulite, weight gain, weight loss, water retention and more...

Hyaluronic acid: anti-aging, cellulite, weight gain, weight loss, water retention and more...

Everyone is talking about hyaluronic acid. I have been researching and formulating skin products with hyaluronic acid (HA) since 2003 and I have seen HA starting to gain wider popularity from 2010 onwards. In the last five years hyaluronic acid has become the most well-known cosmetic active ingredient. But what is hyaluronic acid, what does it do, how does it work and what is really the best type of hyaluronic acid?

The 500 Dalton rule for skincare product absorption

The 500 Dalton rule for skincare product absorption

Do skincare and cellulite creams get absorbed? We analysed the subject of natural skincare active ingredient absorption in detail earlier. This article is specifically of one aspect of cosmetic active absorption: the 500 Dalton rule.

Red (and infrared) light therapy: all you need to know

Red (and infrared) light therapy: all you need to know

Infrared and red light therapy, often termed photobiomodulation and mostly applied via LEDs, is a non-invasive treatment that employs specific wavelengths of light to stimulate healing and address a variety of health and aesthetic conditions. This innovative therapy has surged in popularity in the last decade, celebrated for its efficacy, safety, and adaptability. In this article, we will explore the scientific foundations of red and infrared LED light therapy, clarifying its mechanisms, its multiple health benefits and the practical considerations for its application…

Acoustic wave therapy: cellulite is not a good application for it

Acoustic wave therapy: cellulite is not a good application for it

What is now euphemistically called acoustic wave therapy (AWT) goes by several other names: pressure wave therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT, the correct name and the original one coined by scientists), shockwave therapy (the shortened version of the correct name) and lipotripsy (the most ridiculous one I have seen). Before shockwaves were used for (questionable) cellulite removal, they were initially used to break down kidney and gallbladder stones, hence the medical name lithotripsy, meaning breaking down stones. From that, one crafty marketer coined the term “lipotripsy”, i.e. breaking down fat, although shockwaves do NOT physically break down fat…

Foods that reverse glycation: cranberry juice polyphenols, skin aging and cellulite

Foods that reverse glycation: cranberry juice polyphenols, skin aging and cellulite

Glycation is one of the main aspects and causes of cellulite and skin ageing. Glycation is caused when sugars bond with collagens (there are 28 types of collagen in the human body). The end results of sugar-collagen bonding are called advanced glycation-end products (AGEs).

Cellulite laser treatment: does it work?

Cellulite laser treatment: does it work?

There are three types of lasers used for cellulite and skin tightening: hot lasers, i.e. high energy lasers; cold lasers, i.e. low energy lasers and also known as low level laser therapy / LLLT; surgical/invasive lasers. Here we present an analysis of all three types of lasers used for cellulite removal and their effectiveness.