Just when you thought it was safe to dive back
into swimsuit season
The rising temperatures mean it is time to break
out the suntan lotion and head for the beach. Unfortunately, many
women will keep themselves covered up, because they are afraid to
shed light on their thighs, hips and buttocks. In case you didn't
know, these are the areas most commonly impacted by cellulite.
If you have problems with cellulite, you are not
alone. Supermodels like Tyra Banks have been known to complain about
it. There was even an episode of Ally McBeal in which Callista Flockhart's
amazingly thin main character tells viewers about her struggles
with the cottage-cheese-like substance.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite actually refers to fat that bulges from
under your skin. However, you don't have to be overweight to experience
this universally disdained kind of fat. You may have lived a good
portion of your life with smooth thighs when, almost out of nowhere,
the telltale signs of cellulite appear.
What's the deal?
What happens is that the fibers which connect your
skin to the layers of fat underneath tend to weaken over time. When
they do, fat cells rise to the surface. Cellulite forms when deposits
of fat bulge through the strands of connective tissue, separating
them into compartments and making them visible through the skin.
This creates a sort of "lumpy" look, which many people
have unkindly compared to cottage cheese or the outside of an orange
peel.
The condition is caused by a complex array of factors
that include hormones and heredity. Cellulite occurs in women of
all shapes and sizes. It does, however, discriminate by gender.
Men rarely have problems with cellulite, because they have thicker
skin, which makes the fat less apparent.
According to the American Cellulite Task Force,
nearly 90 percent of women past age 20 will develop cellulite --
including dancers, athletes and models. Unfortunately, the fact
that cellulite is such a common problem doesn't make it any more
attractive or easier to handle.
Here is a general review of the most commonly used
methods to fight cellulite:
Over The Counter Products
You'll find many over-the-counter products to fight
cellulite on drugstore shelves and cosmetic counters. Many of these
creams and herbal remedies can help dimply skin appear smoother.
Though they may not always offer a permanent solution, researchers
admit that the effectiveness of cosmetic products for fighting cellulite
has greatly improved in recent years.
One of the most notable appears to be the Sublime
Slim line from L'Oreal, which have become the best-selling anti-cellulite
products in Europe. Sublime Slim Day Anti-Cellulite Skin Sculpting
Body Firming Gel and Sublime Slim Night Anti-Cellulite Smoothing
Body Toning Gel improve the skin's condition and tone by stimulating
circulation. Revitol anti cellulite
cream
Laser, Heat And Massage
Cellulite Treatments
Based on the theory that massage is an effective
treatment for eliminating cellulite, Europeans have been using a
procedure called endermology for years. Endermology is a massage
technique performed with a machine that uses vacuum-assisted rollers.
The vacuum action pulls skin into the rollers. The action is said
to improve circulation and to help disperse fat. Endermology has
been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment
that "temporarily decreases the appearance of cellulite"
and is available at many plastic surgeons' offices. The average
cost of endermology treatments is about $100 each, and patients
usually receive two treatments a week for a 10-week period.
A newer device, called VelaSmooth, combines heat
and massage in order to smooth the skin. In addition to the rollers,
this device uses infrared light and radio frequency in order to
send heat directly into the body to break down fat. Apparently,
Velasmooth treatments cost about $200 each, and patients typically
receive two 45-minute treatments every week.
Though the VelaSmooth device is currently being
used throughout Europe and Canada, it is still undergoing clinical
trials in the United States. According to recent reports in the
Los Angeles Times, it is expected to be approved by the Food and
Drug Administration later this year.
A laser device called Triactive was approved for
use in the United States last year. It combines massage with a low-energy
laser in order to stimulate and tighten your skin. The Triactive
treatments can range from $80 to $150 each, and physicians recommend
that patients receive a weekly or bi-weekly series of 10-12 treatments.
After that, most people continue to appear for one treatment every
month.
Mesotherapy
Another popular treatment for cellulite that has
been the focus of much media attention is mesotherapy. Originally
developed in France, this treatment involves injecting small amounts
of drugs or natural ingredients into the fat and connective tissue
under the skin.
Mesotherapy treatments cost about $500 each, and
patients are usually required to undergo a series of 10-15 treatments
with annual follow-up appointments.
The Bottom Line
The "bottom" line: Experts agree: the
safest, most effective way to make cellulite disappear is by trading
the fat that causes it for muscle. And the only way to accomplish
that is with those old standbys, diet and exercise -- in particular,
combining aerobic activity, which burns fat, with strength training,
which builds muscle. Try walking, running or cycling for at least
30 minutes, three times a week, and alternating with strength-training
exercises.
Drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water
each day may also help fade the fat by flushing toxins out of the
body and helping to fuel fat metabolism.
About The Author
Glenn Mueller is the writer of http://eDiets.com
Back to Cellulite
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