Thermography in anti-cellulite cosmetic therapy B. Tyszczuk1, R. Dębowska1, K. Bazela1, D. Dobrzycka2, M. Szubert2, I. Eris1 1 Dr Irena Eris Cosmetic Laboratories, Dr Irena Eris Centre for Science and Research, Warsaw, Poland, 2Dr Irena Eris Cosmetic Laboratories, Technological Department, Warsaw, Poland Introduction & Objectives Cellulite (lipodystrophy) is a very common skin problem, which manifested by alterations in the subcutaneous tissue, leading to changes in smoothness of skin surface. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare efficacy of two different anti-cellulite therapy using noninvasive thermography technique. Materials & Methods The study was performed in two groups of volunteers. Both groups tested the same shower gel and scrub and different body care product, twice a day. Group I (n=10) used body massage cream (containing Laminaria ochroleuca extract as a source of natural MMP inhibitors, cocoa soft butter and carrot oil) and group II (n=10) used body balm (containing Laminaria ochroleuca extract, slimming complex Svetline®, peptide Collaxyl®, esculin, Centella asiatica extract, coffein and Lcarnitine). Estimation and changes of clinical stage of cellulite was analyzed by dermatologists according to protocol and by patients according to questionnaire. Anti-cellulite effects were calculated using Therma CAM s.c. FLIR Systems as a decrease in body temperature gradient in the examined body area. The changes in thigh’s girth were measured in centimeters. The skin diagnosis was performed before and after 4 weeks of therapy. Results Clinical stage of cellulite performed by thermography technique showed positive changes in both examined groups. Better results were observed in group II. Thermography reveled -0,6˚C decrease of temperature gradient for 70% of volunteers in exanimate body area and decrease in thigh’s grith -2,1 cm. In group I decrease of temperature gradient was -0,4˚C for 70% of volunteers, and decrease in thigh - 1,7 cm. Fig1. Temperature gradient (ΔT=3,7ºC) before treatment with anticellulite program containing body balm. Fig2. Temperature gradient (ΔT=2,1ºC) after treatment with anticellulite program containing body balm. Results: self-evaluation Self-evaluation of both anti-cellulite treatments confirmed high quality of tested products and theirs high efficacy, especially in skin soothing, firmness, moisturization and nourishing. Skin soothing and moisturization was improved mostly after application of body balm, which was confirmed by 100% of volunteers. 100 80 90 90 100 73 % of volunteers 100 80 91 80 82 0 60 60 -10 40 20 cellulite reduction body fat reduction -27 -27 nourishing volume and number of skin imperfections group II moisturization firmness smoothing group I Fig. 3. Self-assessment of the effects of anti-cellulite programs. [%] -20 0 -30 -40 -48 -50 group I -40 group II Fig. 4. Self- evaluation of the most important factors: cellulite and body fat reduction after 4 weeks of using anti-cellulite cosmetics. Conclusions Thermography is a very useful technique, that provides an objective assessments of the effectiveness of anti-cellulite treatment. It’s also a tool which is sensitive enough to compare anti-cellulite effects of different body care products. Our study showed a significant differences between two tested cosmetic therapy’s. Although massage cream should be more effective (due to skin massage) our research showed, that body balm (containing more active ingredients) was more efficient.