Introduction Cellulite is the lumpy substance resembling cottage cheese that is commonly found on the thighs, stomach, and butt.
It is actually a fancy name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath the skin,and causes the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker and look lumpy.
It is not weight related; average and underweight people have it too.
Cellulite tends to be a little bit less noticeable on darker skin and the condition is not the norm, if you have it, something "abnormal" is happening in your skin and fat cells, especially the subcutaneous (top level) level of the skin tissue.
Some believe cellulite to be a special type of "fat gone wrong," a combination of fat, water, and "toxic wastes" that the body has failed to eliminate, an embarrassing problem that affects 90% of all women.
Affected areas tend to be dehydrated and damaged, and need the extra benefits of moisture, protection, and increased blood supply.
Exercise Smoking, lack of exercise, tight clothes, high heeled shoes, and sitting or standing in a one position for long periods have all been associated with an increase in cellulite.
Dieting alone does not get rid of the dimpled appearance, but a balanced diet and exercise may help to reduce the fat content within the distorted cells, reducing their contribution to the dimpling.
If you and your doctor think that you are overweight, eat fewer calories and exercise more.
Experts agree that an exercise routine that combines aerobic exercise with strength training is the best weapon against cellulite.
It is important to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to prevent the buildup.
Reduction There are a few non-invasive, non-surgical treatments for skin contour irregularities that are approved by the FDA for the "temporary reduction" in the appearance of cellulite.
Injections of various substances, from vitamins to drugs to anesthetics, are used for many ailments and conditions, including cellulite reduction.
Using aromatherapy oils like sage, cypress and juniper helps in the reduction and all of the above things combined will result in cellulite reduction.
Treatments Whatever the cause, it's important to know that there aren't any miracle products, treatments, or medicines that can make it go away.
For example, some salon treatments that promise to get rid of it simply cause your skin to puff up through deep massaging, temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite.
They may leave you feeling invigorated, but long-term results have never been established either clinically or scientifically.
Those that stimulate the blood flow to the skin can have beneficial effects when combined with the other principles of internal and external skin care.
Other exotic, but equally unproven treatments include electrical stimulation of muscle cells and application of an electric current to the fat tissue itself.
Many treatments are largely unsuccessful because they target only the external appearance.
One of the problems with many of the more invasive treatments is that they tend to damage something else, especially the dermis.
Once you stop having treatments, your skin texture and tone will revert to their original state.
Conclusion Cellulite describes a condition that occurs in men and women where the skin of the lower limbs, abdomen, and pelvic region becomes dimpled after puberty and can be blamed on a number of things, mostly due to smoking, stress,sedentary lifestyle and very poor eating habits.
Practically all post-pubescent females display some degree of it.
Hormones play a dominant role in the formation of cellulite and it seems to initiate, and aggravate its development.
Other hormones including insulin, the catecholamines, adrenaline, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones, and prolactin have all been shown to participate in the development of cellulite as have several genetic factors.
Diet has also been shown to affect the development and amount.
Excessive amounts of fat, carbohydrates, salt, alcohol or too little fiber can all contribute to an increase.
There are no supplements that have been approved as effective for reducing cellulite.
You can check to see if you have it by pinching the skin around your upper thigh.
Several factors influence whether a person has cellulite and how much they have.
Your genes, your gender, the amount of fat on your body, your age, and the thickness of your skin are all associated with the amount you have or how visible it is.
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 even warn that liposuction is not an effective treatment because liposuction is designed to remove deep fat instead of cellulite, which is close to the skin.
If you decide that you want to try to reduce the amount you have, the best thing to do is to decrease excess body fat.
When it comes to cellulite, don't expect miracles.