© Freepik
May 1, 2025
Barbara Markert
- Health
The new hype about the lymphatic system: beauty secret weapon and alarm system
The human lymphatic system is currently trending and is engaging not only science but also Hollywood
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© Freepik
May 1, 2025
Barbara Markert
The human lymphatic system is currently trending and is engaging not only science but also Hollywood
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Jennifer Aniston is lying flat and is wrapped up in an inflated full-body massage suit, from which tubes emerge at all four corners. In this intermediary between an astronaut suit and an inflatable ironing machine, the slim Hollywood star looks a bit like "Bibendum," the plump white mascot of the French tire manufacturer Michelin.
The bizarre selfie from the gym, published by Aniston herself, went viral in the USA and fueled a true Hype about lymphatic drainage. In the fitness studios, the reservations for the "Body Ballancer" were hot. Some, who could afford it, bought the $8,500 Bibendum drainage suit directly for home use. Because if Jennifer Aniston, who at the age of 56 seemingly can smile away every cellulite dimple, reveals one of her beauty secrets, her fans don't hesitate long and follow her example. Especially when other celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Paris Hilton, or Chrissy Teigen also swear by it.
Professor Michael Detmar is particularly pleased about the newly awakened interest in lymph massages, drainage, and facial massages, for example with the GuaSha stone. Because when the German scientist and Dermatologist wanted to specialize in the field of lymph vessels at Harvard in 1995, he harvested only incomprehension for his choice. "I was strongly advised against it. The field was considered a true career killer. I should rather devote myself to the blood vessels." The lymphatic system was then regarded as uninteresting. It was considered difficult to research and also of little significance. "At the time, it was thought to be solely a kind of sewer system for tissue water."
Today, much progress has been made. Lymph nodes are considered important filter stations of the body, play a critical role as an early warning system to detect emerging diseases, and later to fend off exactly these diseases. The health of numerous organs is linked to the system, and that is exactly why lymph vessels are increasingly coming into focus as well. Cancer- and Alzheimer's research as well as in heart- and lung diseases into focus. "This field of research is currently taking off in the truest sense of the word. Hardly a week goes by without new articles and discoveries," said Detmar.
Some of these discoveries are also attributable to the native Stuttgarter who has been teaching at ETH Zurich for many years. For example, that the brain fluid - the liquor - leaves the brain space not through the blood vessels, but through the lymphatic system, or that Lymph vessels can have potential. "That was once a dogma that we broke with. Today, it is established textbook knowledge. Many discoveries also depend on new technologies or the development of artificial intelligence. Just recently, a new molecule was discovered that is specific to the muscles of the lymph vessels. I am optimistic that someday we will be able to control the lymph vessels to reduce inflammation or contain diseases."
Until then, the lymphatic system otherwise has enough to do. "It permeates the entire human body and has the task of a kind of garbage disposal," says the professor. The very fragile system transports water, released by the blood vessels, and pollutants, such as the metabolic waste of the epidermis, to collection points known as lymph nodes. There are between 600 to 700 of these repositories, commonly referred to as lymph glands, in the human body. Many of them are located in the neck, armpits, and groins. Filtration and cleaning occur at these points. For example, if viruses need to be warded off, these glands swell because they must process more. Figuratively speaking, the system's trash bag then fills. "The entire content of all lymph vessels is then pumped into the shoulder area, where it flows into two major veins that return the purified tissue water to the bloodstream or direct the pollutants to the liver for detoxification and to the kidneys for elimination."
Cancer tumors can disrupt this important cleaning system or use it to spread metastases further. That's why lymph nodes are often removed, especially in breast cancer patients. "However, this method is increasingly critically discussed at conferences today. Whether this will still be the case in ten years remains to be seen," says Detmar. Furthermore, it is a fact that the lymphatic system deteriorates and becomes porous with age for every person. Also Hormonal changes affect functionality. "Although this has not been researched in detail, we know about the influence of estrogens on lymph vessels as well as on blood vessels. The latter become partially more permeable, increasing the amount of fluid in the tissue, which, in turn, can overwhelm the lymph vessels."
Particularly damaging to the human wastewater system are UV rays. "Studies have shown direct damage here: The lymphatic vessels become porous. This results in a subclinical inflammatory reaction that can significantly limit the system's functions." The result is skin aging. The extensive lymphatic system in the skin is located in the dermis, where it anchors to connective tissue fibers and provides elasticity. If it is unable to transport tissue fluid and toxins away sufficiently—whether because collagen and elastic fibers die, the system has become leaky, or it has been injured—deposits, swelling, and decreased elasticity occur.
Above all Breast cancer patients often complain of swollen arms and lymphedema after surgeries, caused by damage to the lymphatic vessels during the procedure. In search of the cause and a medication, Prof. Michael Detmar, together with his then doctoral candidate Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos, investigated over 2000 plant extracts. While they did not find the appropriate medication, they did discover an active complex that positively affects the lymphatic vessels and can thus delay skin aging.
Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos finally had the idea to develop a cosmetic care line from this discovery: Iräye came onto the Swiss market in 2020 and is now also available in Germany. Professor Michael Detmar is still surprised today by this step from science into the cosmetics industry: "If someone had told me that I would one day launch a skincare line, I would never have believed it. The discovery was a side effect of our research, nothing more. We could have sold the findings to a well-known beauty brand, but then we decided to bring them to market ourselves."
The new Dr. Brand received high media attention from the beginning, which in turn reflects positively on the field of research. Prof. Detmar: "Interest in the lymphatic system is now increasing even in dermatology. I see this in the invitations to conferences and lectures. People have become extremely curious. Because most don't even know that they have a lymph vessel in their skin."
Professor Dr. Michael Detmar on the care cocktail for the lymphatic system he developed
What does the name Iräye mean?
It is a creation from the English word "I" and "radiance", meaning "I radiate". Because the Pflege should make the skin glow.
Was the basis of your research for Iräye a collection of plant extracts?
Yes, we received a collection of plant extracts from a colleague. But first, we had to develop a test that could prove that lymph vessels can be activated. That alone took almost three years. Then we examined 2000 plants to eventually find a combination of five extracts that work best together. Overall, we are talking about ten years of research.
Does this cream with its plant cocktail consist entirely of natural products?
It consists of 96 to 98 percent natural products. Serum, cream, and eye cream each have different percentages. Skincare, which is supposed to work really well, in my opinion, can never be 100 percent natural. You have to add certain other ingredients, otherwise, users would not be completely satisfied.
Do you mean, for example, hyaluronic acid or retinol?
Exactly, that's almost standard today. We use a bio-retinoid, which is extremely important to activate collagen synthesis. This tightens the skin. In addition, there is vitamin E and vitamin C as antioxidants to reduce skin damage from external influences. And caffeine is also used in eye care. Just activating the lymphatic vessels alone would not be enough to see effects.
What exactly does the plant complex do?
I always explain it with this example: Many people go to the gym to train. If you stop doing this, muscles age. The skin also needs to be trained, but hardly anyone comes up with this idea. With our skincare, we train the lymphatic vessels so that they stay fit and age less.
How does this show outwardly?
There are three different effects. With the eye cream, the first acute effect is the most visible: eye swelling decreases relatively quickly. The second effect is an anti-inflammatory effect: redness or swelling of the skin subsides over time. Third, the preventive effect: The aging of the lymphatic vessels is delayed by constant activation.
But the cream cannot repair leaky or porous vessels?
We can act on lymphatic vessels that are still there. Those that are no longer there, we can't magically bring back. They are lost forever.
Does the cream also show effects on medical skin problems, such as acne or rosacea?
Iräye is more than just an anti-aging cream because it also shows other effects. The activation of the lymphatic vessels is directly reflected in the appearance: The skin becomes more radiant, firmer, and swelling decreases. But we can't and don't want to claim that we have a medication. This distinction is strictly regulated. We know from user feedback that problems like Rosacea – so a reddening in the facial area with very sensitive and easily inflamed skin – may improve, but we did not conduct a controlled study on this because we did not intend to develop a drug.
So what does a woman do who has injected Botox and thereby paralyzed the whole system?
Botox paralyzes the muscles that we actually need to support the lymphatic vessel action. Therefore, many Botox users also often have swollen skin areas, because the lymphatic vessels can no longer transport the fluid away as well. The idea is to combine Botox with our cream or serum to counteract this. This could achieve that Botox users appear less "puffy," i.e. bloated.
Ten years of research work are embedded in the products of Iräye. An active ingredient complex made from five plant extracts stimulates the lymphatic activity of the skin, making it radiant again.
