Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Efficacy of a designed peloid with anti-cellulite
properties containing bentonite of Porto Santo,
Madeira archipelago
Pena-Ferreira MR (1) , Santos D (1) , Silva JBF (2) , Amaral H (1) , Sousa-Lobo JM (1) ,
Gomes CSF (2)
(1) Department of Drug Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of
Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal
(2) GeoBioTec, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
rpena@ff.up.pt
Introduction and Objectives
Cellulite is defined as a localized metabolic disorder of subcutaneous tissue that
causes an alteration in the female body shape. It appears as a modification of skin
topography evident by skin dimpling and nodularity that occurs mainly in women
on the pelvic region, lower limbs, and abdomen and is caused by the herniation of
subcutaneous fat within fibrous connective tissue, leading to a padded or orange
peel-like appearance. The relevant properties of bentonite and biogenic carbonate
sand of Porto Santo, Madeira Islands, have been investigated in order to be used in
therapeutic applications and topical use in local Spas and Geomedicine centers.
Therapeutic functions of muds and peloids essentially depend on grain size distribution
and composition (mineral and chemical), properties which condition two other
important properties: capacity of adsorbed/absorbed water retaining and capacity of
heat retaining. Smectitic clays, such as bentonites, are the most widely used in
peloid therapy, because of their high specific surface area, ion exchange properties,
plasticity, expansibility, absorbing capacity and spreadability. The aim of this work
was the design of an anti-cellulite peloid using bentonite clay from Porto Santo
Island and two plant extracts (Horse Chestnut Extract and Ivy Extract). In this
study, formulations containing 20% of smectite clay