Cellulite Treatments - Vital Facts and Information
Cellulite is a common term used to describe overfilled
fat pockets right under your skin. These are fat cells that have
become enlarged causing these cells to take up more space
between the skin's connective tissues than normal. The fat then
expands these spaces resulting in the overlying skin dimpling,
often called the orange peel effect.
It appears in ninety percent of post-adolescent women and is
rarely seen in men. Common areas where cellulite is found, are
the thighs, buttocks, and the abdomen. Contrary to popular
belief, cellulite is not related to obesity, since it occurs in
overweight, normal, and thin women. Cellulite causes many image
problems and many women avoid wearing short skirts or shorts
because of it.
Some of the contributing factors for developing cellulite
are:
Heredity. However, you can still do a lot to fight
cellulite.
Not drinking enough water. Water helps flush toxins and
waste from your body. Drink seven to eight glasses of water a
day.
Diet. Poor eating habits (alcohol, caffeine, spicy or
fatty foods) contribute to the formation of cellulite because
the toxins they produce get trapped in the fatty tissue.
Saturated fats block the arteries and get trapped in the tissue
as well, preventing sufficient waste and toxin elimination.
Smoking is not only bad for the skin and lungs, but it
weakens the skin by causing constriction of capillaries. It also
damages the connective tissue and can increase the dimpling
effect of cellulite.
Tension and stress can cause a muscle to seize up in
pain; they can also cause the connective tissue that covers that
muscle to seize up. Tension can also block the tissue,
preventing proper waste elimination and purification.
Medication can disturb the body's natural processes,
disturbing the purification system that is naturally in place.
Diet pills, sleeping pills and diuretics can all lead to
cellulite; oral contraceptives, which increase the body's
oestrogen, cause fat cells to enlarge, leading to water
retention. Retaining water inhibits the body from flushing the
system of toxins, leading to the formation of cellulite.
Lack of exercise contributes to the formation of
cellulite. Exercise decreases many health risks and also helps
fight cellulite. It improves muscle tone, circulation and
overall well-being, helping to break blocked tissue and purify
the body.
Cellulite Treatments
There are three main treatments for cellulite; namely,
endermologie, cosmetic surgery, and topical creams or lotions.
Endermologie
The Endermologie machine, developed in France over a decade ago,
has been found to have an effect in fighting cellulite. It uses
rollers and gentle suctioning to deeply massage the affected
areas, increasing circulation. Toxins and abnormal water buildup
are expelled as connective fibres are stretched. Endermologie
also exfoliates the skin, leaving it soft and silky. The
increased circulation may give you a natural energy boost. Many
sessions are normally needed. This can add up to several hundred
dollars.
Cosmetic Surgery
Treatments like liposuction (surgery to remove fat) and
mesotherapy (injection of drugs into cellulite) are either
expensive or may produce only temporary improvement. Many
doctors advise against liposuction to reduce cellulite because
it is designed to remove deep fat instead of cellulite, which is
close to the skin. This is performed by a plastic surgeon and
can be expensive compared to other methods. Consult with your
doctor if you want to explore this further.
Cellulite Creams or Lotions
This is the safest and most popular way to reduce the problem.
Because cellulite is actually little pockets of fat under your
skin, your blood circulation does not easily reach these areas.
Specially formulated creams can help.
Some of the ingredients used in these products include :
Algae extract - which can help break down fat and
increase your metabolism.
Green tea extracts - will back up the algae extract and
increase the rate at which your fat is broken down to form
smooth tissue.
Retinol A - a compound that is a derivative of Vitamin A
and targets your skin and connective tissues directly to
condition and strengthen. Retinol A has a rejuvenating effect on
your skin, and will decrease your cellulite while preventing it
from becoming worse over time. It can improve your skin's
texture, so your skin will become smoother and firmer and this
helps your cellulite vanish even faster.
Creams or lotions are the most economical of the three
treatments, however like the others, it may take a couple of
months to see measurable results.