horse chestnut / esculin / escin

What exactly is an anti-cellulite cream?

What exactly is an anti-cellulite cream?

So this is what makes a cellulite cream: a fast absorbable cream formulation with - ideally a high concentration of) anti-cellulite active ingredients in it. It’s as simple as that. Without anti-cellulite active ingredients - or with very little in the way of active ingredients - we are talking about a simple body moisturiser. I am sorry to break it to you, but 99% of the so-called cellulite creams on the market are exactly that, basically a body moisturiser…

Escin may reduce water retention and cellulite due to an anti-inflammatory effect

Escin may reduce water retention and cellulite due to an anti-inflammatory effect

Escin may reduce inflammation and oedema by acting as a steroid - without the side effects of steroids. This paper states “the anti-inflammatory effects of escin were related to down-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators (ie, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β), through the increased expression of the glucocorticoid receptor”. In plain English this means that the horse chestnut extract escin (and most probably its chemical cousin esculin, which has similar activity) acts on the same receptor that corticosteroids act.

Cellulite creams: should emphasis be placed on water retention, fat reduction, skin firming of fibrosis?

Cellulite creams: should emphasis be placed on water retention, fat reduction, skin firming of fibrosis?

The four main visual aspects of cellulite are hypodermal fat accumulation, water retention/puffiness, skin looseness and fibrosis. Hypodermal fat accumulation combined with fibrosis is what makes fat globules protrude from the skin surface. Fat pushes up and fibrotic collagen fibres push down, resulting in the mattress effect. Water retention makes cellulite more visible by increasing volume in the hypodermis and dermis. Likewise, loose skin makes it easier for the fat globules to push up…

Compression stockings versus polyphenols for cellulite and water retention

Compression stockings versus polyphenols for cellulite and water retention

Graduated compression stockings can offer some relief from water retention, however there are quite uncomfortable, especially in the summer, when they are most needed. For cellulite, things are even more complicated, as compression leggings helps in some ways and are detrimental in some others. Clearly there must be a better way…